Witness and Revelation: John the Baptist's Testimony
John 1:19-34
Introduction
John started with a prelude about the divine nature of Jesus. Jesus is our Lord and Saviour. He is the Word (Logos/Memra) of God, the manifestation of God in the flesh, brings us grace and truth, and through him we become spiritual children of God by having faith in what he did for us and receiving His Gift. Jesus is now stepping into His public revelation, and the voice prepares the way.
The Interrogation: Who Are You?
John 1:19-21
And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
And he answered, “No.”
The Jews sent the priests and Levites. Here, John the apostle (the author) meant by the Jews, the religious leaders. And why did they send priests and Levites and not anyone else. Probably because John the Baptist was from the tribe of Levi, the priestly tribe of Israel. We know that because his father, Zechariah, was a priest, and his mother, Elizabeth, was also of priestly descent
Luke 1:5
“There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.”
So, John, the Baptist was a Levite by birth. The priests and Levites asked him “Who are you?”. The first thing he utters is “I am not the Christ”, and it is important to note that Christ is Christos Χριστός in Greek, which is Messiah (Ma- SHEE-ah-kh) מָשִׁיחַ in Hebrew, meaning the Anointed One. He knew that the religious leaders were expecting a Messianic deliverer, based on prophecies like Isaiah 9:6–7 – a ruler from David’s throne, and Daniel 7:13–14 – the Son of Man given dominion. So, John humbly and clearly denies it. His mission was not to take the spotlight but to point to Jesus.
And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”
That could sound weird, but the Old Testament shows us it is not. Elijah didn’t have a normal death and burial, but he was captured up to heaven (2 Kings 2). Malachi, the prophet, prophesied that Elijah would come back.
Malachi 4:5-6
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
The day of the Lord is commonly related to the second coming of the Lord Jesus. So, we see this as referring to the return of Elijah at the end times.
But, Jesus referred to John the Baptist as Elijah.
Matthew 11:13-15
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
And when the angel told Zechariah, John’s father, he will have a son. The Angel said:
Luke 1:17
“He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah...”
“In the spirit and power of Elijah” could mean that John came with the same boldness, call to repentance, and prophetic authority as Elijah. Bible scholars refer to this as the Law of Double Reference.
The Law of Double Reference in the Bible refers to a prophetic or scriptural passage that has two levels of fulfilment: one that is near-term or immediate, and another that is future or ultimate. It's a way in which Scripture sometimes describes two distinct events (or persons) in a single passage, often without a clear break between them.
These passages refer to David’s or Israel’s suffering, but clearly extend to the suffering of Christ.
God's covenant with David includes a son who will build a house.
Near-term: Refers to Solomon.
Ultimate: Refers to Jesus, the eternal King whose throne is forever (cf. Luke 1:32–33).
Matthew 24
Partial fulfillment: A.D. 70 destruction of Jerusalem.
Final fulfillment: End-times events at His Second Coming.
So, the law of double reference can be applied to Malachi 4:5 prophesy.
Jesus affirms that John the Baptist came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17), fulfilling this prophecy in a spiritual sense (Matthew 11:14; 17:12–13).
Future/Ultimate Reference:
Some interpret Malachi’s prophecy as also pointing forward to Elijah's literal return before Christ’s second coming, especially in connection with Revelation 11:3–6 (two witnesses with Elijah-like powers).
But when asked if he was Elijah, John replied “No”. Then they asked him, “Are you the Prophet?”
Who is the Prophet, they are asking about? It was the prophet, Moses mentioned in Deutronomy.
Deuteronomy 18:15
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,”
Moses prophesied that a prophet would come after him, from among the brothers, the Jews. And they must listen to him. We believe Moses was referring to the Messiah, this can be further strengthen by what happened on the Transfiguration mount (Mattew 17:1-8), where Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus and a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”.
John also answers in the negative to that question.
John the Baptist’s Declaration
John 1:22-28
He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,”’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
When asked to reveal who he was, John, the Baptist, simply and humbly said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’
John answers with scripture, Isaiah 40:3, the scripture that his life fulfils.
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert. A highway for our God.
He identifies himself as the forerunner, not the Christ. He came to rectify the mistakes of the people concerning the ways of God. The scribes and Pharisees had made them crooked. Now John calls people to return to the original rule.
Next, they questioned him about his actions, baptising people and where he got his authority to do that. He answers, elaborating on his preparatory role, to prepare people for Jesus’ arrival.
His baptism with water is external—a sign of repentance. But it is limited. It cannot transform hearts or grant the Holy Spirit. It’s a symbol pointing to something greater yet to come.
Then John points to the Pharisees that the Messiah is already present—He’s standing among them, but they do not recognise Him.
Then, John acknowledges Jesus’ preeminence. Though Jesus came after him in the human timeline, He existed before him in eternity.
John 1:15 – “He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.”
John’s dialog with the priests and Levites was an great example of clarity and humility—he knows his place in God’s plan. He doesn't seek attention but points everyone to Jesus.
He humbly tells them that The One who comes after him “Whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”
In Jewish culture, untying sandals was the job of the lowest servant. John, the greatest of the prophets (Luke 7:28), says he isn’t even worthy of that role when it comes to Jesus.
Before we continue let’s halt for a moment and reflect on John the Baptist testimony:
- Are we content to be just a voice, pointing to Christ?
- Do we truly recognize His presence? How often might we miss the presence of Christ in our midst—too distracted, too self-assured, or too blind to see the spiritual reality before us?
- Do we serve with the same humility as John, knowing He must increase, and we must decrease (John 3:30)?
Jesus declared as The Lamb of God
John 1:29-31
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”
When John the Baptist saw Jesus approaching, he did not say, “Behold the King,” or “Behold the Judge,” though Jesus is both. He said, “Behold the Lamb of God.” This was a powerful and loaded declaration.
The Jewish audience would immediately recall, the
- The Passover Lamb: (Exodus 12) – whose blood saved the Israelites from death. Jesus is our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7)
- The Daily Temple Sacrifice: A lamb was offered morning and evening for the sins of the people. Jesus is the once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10–12)
- Isaiah 53:7: “He was led as a lamb to the slaughter…”. A prophetic picture of the suffering Messiah
John is declaring that Jesus is the fulfilment of all these prophesies—the innocent substitute who would bear the sin of the world, not just Israel. The sinless who will carry the sins of the world.
2 Corinthians 5:21:
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
The sacrificial lamb in the Old Testament merely covered sin, and that’s why the Jews had to repeatedly sacrifice an animal. However, there are several verses in the OT where it is made clear that what God truly desires is a repentant heart, obedience, and mercy, not ritual alone.
Psalm 51:16–17
You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.”
Hosea 6:6
And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”
1 Samuel 15:22
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.”
Proverbs 21:3
Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”
(Summary: God rebukes Israel’s empty rituals)
“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” says the Lord... Bring no more futile sacrifices... Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean... Cease to do evil, learn to do good.”
“I hate, I despise your feast days, and I do not savor your sacred assemblies... But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the High God?... He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Jesus came not merely to cover sin as the Old Testament sacrifices did, but to take it away — to deal with it once and for all. And He did not come for the righteous or for Israel only — He came for the whole world. This is the global mission of Christ’s redemptive work.
And on the cross he cried out, “It is finished”. This statement echoes the completion of God’s redemptive plan through Christ. The Greek word is τετέλεσται (tetelestai) – meaning "paid in full."
It was used in commerce to indicate a debt fully settled. Jesus wasn’t just declaring the end of His suffering.
No.
He was declaring the full satisfaction of God’s justice and mercy. No more animal sacrifices, no more priestly rituals, He is the Lamb once and for all. And that was what John was declaring the moment he saw Jesus.
The Holy Spirit descends remains upon Jesus
John 1: 32-34
And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptise with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptises with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”
John testifies that the Spirit descended and remained on Jesus—a sign from God confirming His identity. In the Old Testament, the Spirit would come upon people for a time. But with Jesus, the Spirit remained — because He is the divine Son, and the one who baptises with the Holy Spirit.
John’s role is now complete: he has seen, and now he testifies. The Lamb has come. The Spirit has confirmed.
And now the world must decide:
Will we behold Him?
Will we trust in the Lamb who takes away our sin?
Will we, like John, point others to Him?
Let us go, then, not just as hearers of this testimony, but as living witnesses—pointing always to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. May we decrease, that He may increase. (John 3:30)
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