John 1:24-28 (WEL) Those who had been sent were from the Pharisees. 25 Then they asked and said to him, “Why do you baptize then, if you are not the Christ, Elijah, or the prophet?” 26 John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands among you one whom you do not know. 27 “It is he who comes after me who ranks ahead of me. I am not worthy to loosen his sandal strap.” 28 These things happened in Bethabara on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
V24 Those who had been sent were from the Pharisees.
The Sadducees were not interested. The Pharisees were a religious group differing from the Sadducees and Essenes. The Pharisees were very strict in minute points of the law, especially tithing, rituals, etc. The Lord Jesus condemned them for placing emphasis on man-made laws instead of God’s laws (Mark 7:7-8). The Apostle Paul was a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5).
V25 Then they asked and said to him, “Why do you baptize then, if you are not the Christ, Elijah, or the prophet?”
These are the three main prophet figures of Old Testament prophecy—Messiah, Elijah (Malachi 4:5), and the prophet (Deuteronomy 18:18). There was also the forerunner of Messiah (Malachi 3:1). These three were authorized to baptize by prophecy. Since John was not one of the three, who authorized him to baptize? In the next verse, John explains.
Dake (beware): “(Dake Study Bible Notes) Jews were accustomed to making converts by ceremonial cleansing, but never without an order from the Sanhedrin or before three magistrates or doctors of the law. They therefore felt jealous of John who not only baptized without Jewish authority, but baptized Jews contrary to the practice of the Pharisees.”
Ryle: “One thing is very clear from this verse. The Jews were not unacquainted with baptism as a religious ordinance. It was one of the ceremonies, according to Lightfoot, by which proselytes were admitted into the Jewish Church. Moreover, it is worthy of notice that when proselytes were so admitted, their children were baptized together with them. It was not therefore the fact of John baptizing, which the Pharisees here called in question, but his authority for administering baptism.”
Another interpretation, IVP Background commentary: “Of the many kinds of ceremonial washings in Jesus’ day, the most significant once-for-all kind of washing was proselyte baptism. Gentiles were usually baptized when they converted to Judaism; this was widely known and even mentioned by the Greek philosopher Epictetus. By reporting that John asks Jews to be baptized in an act of conversion, the Gospel writers declare that John treats Jews as if they are pagans, which was unheard-of (see comment on John 3:3-5). The Fourth Gospel often contrasts water rituals and the Spirit (John 3:5; see comment on John 4:7-26).”
V26 John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands among you one whom you do not know.
John teaches a more important baptism. The Pharisees knew about water baptism and the many washings/bathings required by Mosaic Law, but the baptism required by Messiah is different. Since Messiah is to be revealed shortly, they better have prepared their hearts.
Perhaps there is a hint from this verse in Amos 4:12-13.
The Messiah was not yet revealed. He would at the proper time, which was very near.
V27 “It is he who comes after me who ranks ahead of me. I am not worthy to loosen his sandal strap.”
John teaches these Pharisees some important truths that Messiah is not just a man or prophet for “He is much greater than me. So much more important that I, a prophet, am not worthy to even loosen His sandal strap.”
V28 These things happened in Bethabara on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Seems the writer has a firsthand witness of events. John, the Apostle, was baptized by John the Baptist (John 1:35-36).
We learn:
- Who is John the Baptist?
- The importance of the forerunner.
Questions:
- How is your attitude towards Jesus, the Messiah? Is it similar to John the Baptist’s view?
- Did John the Baptist tell the truth?