Sun., Sept. 26 Bible Class Notes — John 1:24-29

John1:24-28

And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.  (25)  And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?  (26)  John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;  (27)  He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.  (28)  These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

v.25  And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

• Their question shows that baptism was not a new thing
• Their question shows that they knew the significance of baptism.
• Their question was about where did John get the authority to do what he was doing. He was a Levite, but who inducted him into the prophetic office?

Where did John get his authority?

v. 26  John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

Jesus was not then physically and locally present. The assertion is figurative.

"whom ye know not" — Why?

What was their conception of what the Messiah would be?

Mat 11:27  All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

v.27  He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

Jesus was before John in time, honor, and position.

John was truly a humble man, recognizing his unworthiness to even untie Jesus' sandal laces, a job normally performed by servants.

v. 28  These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Origen, not being able to find the Bethany to which this passage referred changed the name to Bethabara, which he was able to locate. This is not the Bethany in which Lazarus lived, but is most likely in the province belonging to Reuben.

v.29  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Many commentators believe that Jesus had already been baptized and here is returning to visit John after having been tempted in the wilderness.

This is "The next day."

The previous day John had spoken of one coming. Today he points out who that One is.

"Behold the Lamb of God"  

Jewish girl, hearing this on radio, recognized the truth of Jesus being the Messiah and savingly believed.