More thoughts on John 1: 14 -- 28

I read more of John 1 last night. Instead of going verse by verse, I'll just write down a summary of some of my thoughts.

This section is about John the Baptist. I recall that the end of the Jews for Jesus Christ in the Passover script that there was this closing line: "The prophet, the forerunner has come and so has the Messiah."

Now, I also recall holding up Elijah's cup and saying something about Elijah being John the Baptist, so this section, where John the Baptist says he is NOT Elijah is confusing.

I also see that people wondered if John the Baptist was the messiah. How come? Was he performing miracles or teaching?

I also wonder what it was like to be there then. Did some people think this character was just some crazy guy?

15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’” 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,^e,f who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

John the Baptist Denies Being the Christ

19Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.^g”

21They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

22Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”^h

24Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26“I baptize withⁱ water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

28This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.