![[Valid RSS]](valid-rss-rogers.png "Validate my RSS feed")
Episode 5: John (the Baptist)
A single man named John appeared.
JOHN
Other gospels distinguish the first John encountered in the Gospel narrative from the son of Zebedee by calling him “the one baptizing.” Yet in the Gospel of John, only this first John is ever named. The significance of this absence of a qualifying description points to the more crucial role that John (the Baptist) plays in the activity of God. What might that role be?
A single man named John appeared,
having been sent by God (1:6)
Jesus is not the only person in the Gospel of John to have been sent by God. His cousin-as identified in the Gospel of Luke-is also identified with this significant role. But why was John sent?
John came as a witness
whose testimony concerned the light,
so that everyone would believe through John. (1:7)
John serves as a witness, indeed the first witness that this Light, described in the first 5 verses, is for humanity. Thus, one crucial element in John’s identity is found in the testimony he provides regarding God’s powerful Word. But he remains only a witness.
John was not the light,
rather his testimony concerned the light. (1:8)
John was not sent representing the end of God’s activity, but was sent as a reminder of God’s activity.
As the Gospel narrative opens following the Prologue we learn more about the testimony of this individual. We have no descriptions of John such as are found in other Gospels. There is no eating of wild honey or wearing scratchy, leather garments. Instead, the crucial role in this account centers on his testimony.
I am not the Messiah! I am not Elijah!
I am not the Prophet expected! (1:20-21)
I am a Voice crying out in the wilderness! (1:23)
John’s testimony begins with denials of an identity others might wish to give him. Instead, he claims only to be a voice in the Wilderness, as the prophet Isaiah indicated.
In The Old Testament
As is so often the case, we rarely understand the complete meaning for a word or series of words. Since they are used in a context, they are only understood by those who know the context. Such is the case here. Isaiah 40 begins with God’s message.
God says, “Bring comfort to My people.
Priests, speak to Jerusalem’s heart and comfort her;
her humiliation is completed,
her sins are forgiven;
She has received at the hand of the Lord
double for her sins. (40:1-2)
Then comes the words echoed by John with a call for activities by the mountains and hills and valleys and ground both even and uneven because “The glory of the Lord will be seen and everyone will see the salvation of God, the Lord has spoken.” (40:5) It comes as no wonder that those in proximity to John’s voice were responding to his words. Something good is about to happen, something good is on its way, something that hasn’t been seen for a long time.
But these who heard John’s response to their interrogation were not satisfied. Their continued inquiry lets us know that John did more than speak, he also baptized. The common folk seemed to understand the spiritual significance of John’s testimony, and responded appropriately. Yet the leaders, who were sent from Jerusalem and not from God, did not understand.
Back to the Gospel of John
There is more to John’s testimony than mere repetition of a dead prophet’s message. John came to testify concerning the Light—and he does so.
John testified concerning this one as he heralded,
“This one is the one of whom I spoke,
‘one will appear after me who has always been before me,
because he is of greater importance than I am’” (1:15)
John’s first testimony in this Gospel was that one is coming, an idea he repeats to those making inquiry while expanding on the tremendous significance of this coming person.
“I baptize with water;
someone is standing in your midst
whom you do not know,
the one who comes after me,
I am not worthy to even remove
the sandals from his feet.” (1:26-27)
This man who was forcing the urban leaders in the important city of Jerusalem to send messengers out into the rural wilderness area to find answers to their questions received the message that One was yet to come who was of incomparably more significance. How would these urban leaders respond to the Light?
John identifies Jesus 1:29-34
John’s opportunity to give further testimony about this Coming One arrived quickly. He saw Jesus coming toward him and provided more information.
Behold, God’s lamb who will take away
the world’s sins! (1:29)
Heard within the context of Isaiah 40 as seen above, the words of this Voice crying out in the wilderness regions can be more fully comprehended. John follows this declaration by repeating his testimony from the Prologue, “a man is coming after me who has been before me, because he was greater than I” (1:15, 30).
John now provides a direct answer to a question from the previous episode, he is baptizing so that this Coming One “might be revealed to Israel.” For the one who reads further in Isaiah 40 the words of John find a fuller context and are somehow less mysterious.
Climb a high mountain,
Zion who proclaims the gospel!
Lift your voice loudly,
Jerusalem who proclaims the gospel!
Lift your voice without concern
and say to the cities of Judea,
‘Behold your God!” (Isaiah 40:9)
The testimony of John is no longer spoken in riddles, I have seen and have given witness that this one is the son of God (John 1:34).
Elsewhere In John
John does not silence his Voice in the Wilderness after two of his followers leave to go after Jesus, the Lamb of God. Instead, he continues to proclaim the cry to prepare the way for God’s coming. At some point later in time the paths of Jesus and John cross once more. John is still baptizing and there is a point of concern between those still following John and some others about this purification he pronounces. The disputers come to John with a question about Jesus’ activities rather than directly about purification. John reminds them of what he said previously in John 1.
I am not the Messiah! I am not Elijah!
I am not the Prophet expected! (1:20-21)
I am a Voice crying out in the wilderness! (1:23)
John uses additional language to describe his position, the language of marriage betrothal. He claims now, I am not the Bridegroom! before closing his testimony with a validation of their claim that more people are going to Jesus for baptism. The Messiah must gain more attention and I must receive less attention.” (3:30).
Concluding Thoughts
The testimony John (the Baptizer) provides in the first part of the Gospel sets the stage for the conflict in Jesus’ life. John and Jesus are sent from God, those questioning John are merely sent from those in Jerusalem. John recognizes Jesus because he expected him and understood Isaiah 40, those questioning John do not recognize the one standing in their midst. John identifies Jesus as indescribably greater than himself, yet those questioning John will later question Jesus’ authority for his actions. John identifies Jesus as Messiah and Bridegroom, yet even some of those hearing his words do not respond well to the increasing popularity of Jesus’ activities. Yet, through all of this John consistently testifies to that which he was told and that which he observed concerning God’s Son. What more can a faithful witness do?
Take 5 Minutes More
In our rush to get to the important person at an event, we often bypass others who are major contributors to the person we seek to meet. In fact, it would have been difficult for the “star” to be born without the labor of these other key figures. John the Baptizer is one such background player for Jesus of Nazareth. John prepares the way in the hearts and minds of many during his ministry for the true Messiah who is about to be revealed.
In what ways do you relate to John? Have you ignored him? Have you questioned his message? Do you envision John as some necessary rung on the ladder of progress so Jesus could finally appear? As you hurry and scurry through life, what messages from God are you minimizing because they aren’t grand enough? Or perhaps they are not demanding enough?
Take a moment to consider what you miss in life in your hurry to gain your goal. Write down a short motto that could help you slow down and hear the fullness of God’s message, or experience the fullness of God at work in those around you.
Podcast