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John the Baptist was a great promoter for his cousin Jesus. He isgone. Who takes his place today? Are we up to the task?

John 1:1-18 can be considered theTheological Introduction to Jesus Christ.

Verse 19 begins the next section of Johns

presentation, a list of witnessesto the lifeof Christ. The word for record in verse19 is the same Greek word translatedwitness in 1:7-8 and15. It is the wordmartureo, from which we get our Englishword, martyr. John the Baptist wasmaking waves. He was getting peoplesattention. The Jewish authorities senta delegation to investigate who he was

and what he was doing (vv.19, 24). Johnexplained his ministry in verses 20-23.He told the religious examiners that hewas not the Messiah, neither was heElijah (Malachi 4:5), or the Prophetpredicted to be greater than and comingto replace Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15.John simply referred to himself as thevoice (see Isaiah 40:3). Notice that John

the Baptist was increasingly terse withhis questioners, answering in five wordsin verse 20, three words in verse 21aand only one word in 21b!

John informs us that the Jews (v. 19)who sent these men were from thesect known as the Pharisees (v. 24).

The Pharisees were more conservativetheologically than the Sadducees. ThePharisees were the pastors in the localsynagogues and therefore would be moreconcerned about the pastoral nature ofJohns baptizing ministry. Notice that theauthor includes somewhat unnecessarydetails in verse 28. This is a mark ofauthenticity because writers who invent

stories would not naturally include suchdetails whereas an eyewitness justshares what he knows to have been thecase. Bethabara means the House ofthe Ford and elsewhere is also calledBethany. Baptism by immersion wouldbe the reason for baptizing in such aplace with much water.

Bahrain Bahrain has more social freedom than most other Arab states. Pray thatthere would be even more political and religious freedom to help spread the Gospel.

John 1:19-28

What is the writer saying?

How can I apply this to my life?

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Jesus own brothers and sisters did not believe His claim tobe the Son of God, but his cousin John did. What made thedifference? What kind of testimony are we to our brothers, sistersand cousins?

Another marker of authenticity in thisaccount is the noting of days in whichcertain events occur (29, 35, 43 and 2:1).

In verse 29 John announces that Jesusis the Lamb of God, which taketh awaythe sin of the world. The Jewish peopleknew a lot about animal sacrifice. Adamand Eve had their fig leaves replaced bysacrificed animal skins. Abel brought abloody sacrifice. God provided Abrahama ram to kill in place of his son, Isaac(Genesis 22:13). At the Exodus from

Egypt God spared the children of Israelfrom the death angel by having themsacrifice a spotless lamb (Exodus 12:4-6; 1 Corinthians 5:7). Isaiah 53:10-12anticipated that the Messiah would be atrespass offering. In Revelation 5:5-6, aswe get ready for eternal life in heaven,we see Jesus as both a lion and a lamb,

in fact, a lamb as it had been slain.Amazingly, three and one-half years afterJohns proclamation here in John 1, on

the very afternoon that Jewish fatherswere taking their Passover lambs to thetemple to kill them for the Passover mealthat night, Jesus the Lamb would behanging on the cross!In the Garden of Eden, God killed ananimal for a man. At the Exodus, ananimal died for a family. On the Day of

Atonement, every year an animal died

for the Nation of Israel, but on the cross,Jesus died for the sins of the entireworld!John explains that He knew who Jesuswas because of the events that tookplace in His baptism. This implies thatJohn had recently baptized Jesus, eitherthe day before (v. 26) or this day.

Pray for opportunities to witness to your unsaved friends and loved ones.

John 1:29-34

What is the writer saying?

How can I apply this to my life?

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