THESE verses contain John's account of the ministry of John the Baptist, and like all of John's Gospel we have details which go further than the other Gospels.

Verses 19-28

These verses contain John the Baptist's testimony to himself and his ministry rising out the challenge to him made by the priests and Levites. This was a deputation sent by the Jewish authorities in the light of John's ministry and its popularity.

When asked by the priests and Levites as to who he was, John states clearly the truth – he confessed freely. He states he was not the Christ, that is the Messiah. He also denies that he fulfils the prophecy of the return of Elijah, or that prophet. This question was based on the prophecy in Malachi 4:5 for Elijah, and Deuteronomy 18:15 for the prophet. This denial concerning Elijah seems strange for he did come in the power of Elijah, and Jesus said Elijah came in the person of John the Baptist. From this we must understand that there is still a fulfilment to come of the prophecy that Elijah would return, which no doubt will be before Christ's second coming at the end of the world, and no doubt Elijah will come in person.

When pressed to say who he was, John states clearly the ministry he has been given by God. This was to prepare the way for the Lord, that is the Messiah. Mark tells us in the opening of his gospel that John's ministry was the fulfilment of Isaiah 40:3.

This ministry of John is very full of instruction for us and for Christian ministry in every age. Like John ministers are meant to point people to Christ, and prepare them so that they may appreciate Christ, and so turn them in faith to him. Ministers like John must be self effacing. The ministry is to exalt Christ, and cause people to look to Jesus, believe on him, and revere him.

When asked why he baptised when he was not the Christ, John gives a wonderful testimony to, and revelation concerning, Christ. John prepared people to receive the Christ by showing people their need of Christ. He did this by bring people to repentance. John's ministry was one of conviction of sin, so that people may see their need of a Saviour. Christ will only be truly appreciated when people see their sin, and what sin brings upon them i.e. God's judgement, condemnation at the end, and in life bondage and darkness.

John makes it clear he can't save a soul, but his ministry prepares people to receive the salvation provided by Christ. Christ's baptism is one whereby he bestows upon his faithful people the gift of the Holy Spirit to dwell within the soul. We can't be a Christian and converted without experiencing the baptism of the Spirit, which brings about regeneration – new birth, spiritual birth.

John's testimony to Christ is clear and glorious. Christ far exceeds John in excellence and honour and glory. John says that Christ is so highly exalted above him that he is unworthy even to be his slave. This shows the glory of the person of Jesus, and how far above every Christian he is in glory.

Verses 29-34

These verses tell us the other side of John's ministry. He was to prepare people, through conviction of sin, to receive Christ. The other part of his ministry was to point people to Jesus as the answer to the problem of their sin.

When Jesus appears as John is active in his ministry, John immediately points to Jesus as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. By this expression John the Baptist was revealing Jesus as the one who fulfils all the sacrifices of the Old Testament, and is the perfect, all sufficient, sacrifice for sin. The meaning and use of the Old Testament sacrifices are a commentary on the meaning and purpose of Christ as the true Lamb for sacrifice. By this the meaning of the cross of Jesus is made clear. Jesus, as the Lamb of God, was offering himself as the perfect and wholly effective propitiation for the sins of the world. In other words, where the Old Testament sacrifices all failed, the sacrifice of Jesus was and is effective. The sacrifice of Jesus does turn away the wrath of God from the sinner, and saves the believing sinner from the wrath of God against sin, washes away sin totally for all who believe, and so reconciles the sinner to God.

The verses that follow need some explanation which is not easy to get at.

In verse 31 and in verse 33 John confesses that he did not know Jesus before he saw the Spirit of God descending upon him at his baptism. This is difficult. John would have known Jesus all his life being closely related to him humanly speaking. Then when Jesus came to be baptised by John, and before John saw the Spirit descending on him after his baptism, John plainly says he knows the superiority of Jesus over himself, and how he feels unworthy to baptise him. Many and various ways have been put forward to explain this apparent contradiction, but the simplest is that before God gave special testimony to Jesus after his baptism, John knew the superiority of his person, but did not know him as the Son of God, as divine and one with God the Father.

The descending of the Spirit on Jesus brought the extraordinary revelation directly from God, that Jesus was one with God, and, by the descent of the Spirit, as the one appointed by God to work everlasting salvation.

So our verses for this study record John the Baptist testifying to this fuller and more complete knowledge of Jesus. John's witness is "I have seen and testify that this is the Son of God."