#DailyDevotion Do You Believe The Baptist? Do You Know Jesus?
John 1:24-28 24 Some who had been sent belonged to the Pharisees. 25They asked him, “Why, then, do you baptize if you’re not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet? 26“I baptize with water,” John answered them. “There is standing among you Someone you don’t know, 27the One Who is coming after me. I’m not good enough to untie His shoe strap.” 28This happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Well I guess they thought only the Messiah could start up something kind of new like baptism, which is why they asked John why he was baptizing if he wasn’t the Christ, Elijah or the Prophet. I guess they didn’t understand the importance of being the “voice crying in the wilderness.” However, being that “voice” is being the voice of God, the LORD. It was through preaching repentance and baptizing that John would be preparing the way for the LORD to return to his people. The Pharisees, the Scribes and the Priests however did not accept John’s testimony. They however should have been first in line.
John lets them know there is One Who is coming after him. He would not be good enough to untie His shoe strap. John also lets them know that the one they are expecting has arrived. John had already baptized Jesus, heard the Father speak and saw the Spirit rest on him. Jesus had not yet started his public ministry. At this point he is perhaps still in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. Many people followed John and became his disciples. He lets his opponents know and his disciples know here the one that follows him is of greater worthiness.
For remember, John was preparing the way for the LORD according to Isaiah. That is to say, the one who follows John is the LORD, the God of Israel, YHWH tabernacling among them in human flesh. (John 1:14) The One who follows John is the One as in, “The LORD our God is One.” That is whose way John is preparing. As great as John was, he was a fallen human being just like us, as he himself confesses to Jesus, “I need to be baptized by you and you come to me?” Jesus who follows John is the Holy One.
When Jesus does make his public appearance the Jewish leadership still does not know him. They did not know him when they spoke to John. They did not know him as he preached to them and did many miracles and signs demonstrating who he was. They did not know him when they tried and crucified him. Knowing Jesus or not knowing Jesus is a big theme in John. We can see that in the following passages: 1:10, 1:31, 7:28, 10:14, 14:7, 14:9, 14:17, 15:21
So the question this day to you is, do you know Jesus? Do you recognize him as being the LORD in the flesh? Do you know his great love for you he demonstrated by suffering and dying on the cross for your sins? Do you know his mercy shown to you by offering you freely his life in baptism and the LORD’s Supper? Do you recognize like John your own unworthiness to untie his shoe strap? Trust Jesus has done these things for you this day and you will begin to know the LORD Jesus Christ and understand his great work of your salvation. Believe Jesus has won for you this great salvation and you will know him.
Merciful God and Father, you revealed through John the Baptist our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. Grant us your Holy Spirit that we may truly know Jesus and by knowing him learn to know you as well. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.