John begins his gospel by stating that Jesus was God, not from God, but God, himself. This is two of the parts of the trinity. In verse 4, he says that, “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” He goes on to say that through Jesus, we are given the right to become children of God.
John uses the term life, 36 times. It’s an important concept in this gospel. No other New Testament book uses it more than 17 times and the most it is used in the other Gospels is three. He also uses the term testify, 33 times, also more than any other New Testament book. The term believe, is used 98 times.
While Matthew begins with a genealogy of Jesus and Luke begins with the birth of John the Baptist being foretold, Mark and John go right to the teaching of John the Baptist.
He tells us from the start, that John the Baptist was not the Messiah the Jews were looking for. Let’s get a little background here. John the Baptist, was different. His birth was touched by the Divine. His parents were well beyond child-bearing years, when his father Zechariah, who was working in the temple at the time, was visited by the Angel Gabriel. Gabriel told him his wife, Elizabeth would become pregnant. He didn’t believe the angel and apparently angered him, so he was not allowed to speak until he child was born. (Don’t mess with Gabriel!)
Gabriel also told him the child was never to touch wine or alcohol and would be filled with the Holy Spirit from the day he was born. We also know that when Mary visited Elizabeth while pregnant with Jesus, John “leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” This is all pretty miraculous, supernatural stuff.
Gabriel told Zechariah that John would prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. Let’s keep in mind the small towns and villages these people lived in. Everyone had to have known about the miraculous birth of John. The Jews desperately wanted a Messiah to come and rescue them from the horrors of being Roman subjects. They knew of all of the prophets of the past like Elijah who never died, but was “taken up to heaven.” They were hoping John might be their guy.
But, in verse 19, John is very clear on his answer. He’s an unauthorized preacher out in the wilderness who doesn’t cut his hair and eats honey and locusts. He’s baptizing people in the river who repent. The Jewish leaders, you know our friends the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin, have sent a delegation to investigate. They can’t have folks just baptizing people because they are “led by the Holy Spirit.” Religious leaders required proper training and a stamp of approval by those in charge.
They ask him if he’s the Messiah, if he’s Elijah, if he’s the Prophet. No, to all three counts. Now they are annoyed as he quotes from the Prophet Isaiah, ” I am the voice shouting in the wilderness, clear the way for he Lord is coming!” This does not satisfy them. They ask him, if he is none of those people, then what gives him the right to baptize? He replies that he baptizes with water, but there is one coming who is way greater than himself.
I love the way John the B is always so straight to the point. He never plays games with the people in charge. They have only law to rely on, but John already has the understanding of grace through the Holy Spirit. He readily states that he is working for someone much greater than himself, a message we can all learn from.
What do you think about John the Baptist and the first 28 chapters of John? I’d love to hear from you.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂
