1v19-28 The testimony of John
the Baptist
John
had caused quite a stir in the nation as multitudes flocked to hear him down by
the Jordan river. No prophet had arisen
in Israel for almost 400 years, and the expectation of Messiah coming was at
fever pitch, especially because of Roman occupation, now for 60 years. The land of Israel was sacred to them and it
was a matter of disgrace, and evidence of Divine judgment on them for a foreign
empire to occupy the land God had promised to them. Such was the clamour that the Jews sent
priests and Levites from Jerusalem to question him. The rulers viewed any radical preacher,
particularly those not taught in their schools, to be a threat to their position. The term “the Jews” occurs 65 times
throughout the gospel, and mostly in a derogatory sense. It appears to refer to the unseen rulers of
the Jewish religion who zealously guarded the externals of their religion, and
wanted to control the public.
2v6
“After the manner of the purifying of the Jews”
2v13
“The Jews Passover was at hand.”
2v18
“The Jews asked…what sign shewest thou?” They questioned Jesus also in
everything.
4v9
“The Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans”. Contrary to the mind of the Lord they had divided
the twelve tribes and maintained a 400 year feud.
All
this represents man’s religion without God.
Strange, isn’t it? we seem to have these unseen hierarchies in every
generation. You can’t name them, they
remain invisible, yet they control the minds of the masses. Where does all this come from? Certainly not from God, since all His
emissaries were named and known, and everything was above board and scriptural.
“Who
are you?” they ask; John told them the truth, something that is often in
short supply. He sought no personal gain
from his sudden popularity, and confessed He was not the Messiah. When pressed further he said “I am not the
Christ, nor Elijah nor that prophet(referring to Moses prediction
that “a prophet like unto me shall the Lord our God raise”). They knew he was special, and a significant
threat to those who cared only for their own status. The man sent from God will always have that
effect on a rebellious people.
Instead
he said, I am a nobody, I am just a voice crying in the wilderness, and the One
whom I represent is greater than I. “Why
are you baptizing then? What right
have you to impose this rite on the people without the authority of the rulers
of the temple? John’s answer was
simple-God sent me, but my message is of One coming greater than I. “There standeth one among you whom ye know
not, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose.” This referred to the most menial task of
slavery by the lowest ranked slave. The
great One is here and I only have a very humble part to play. He has come, that is my message. “These things were done in Bethabara,
beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.”
This was about 70 miles from Jerusalem in days when there was little
or no public transport. Such was the
effect of John on the nation, who, tired of the weary and outdated religion
sought for some reality.
The message of this is important, that we are not here to parade ourselves but the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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