The Gospel of John, Day 8: ch. 1, vv. 29-31

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

John repeats what he said before.  Jesus was before and after John so he has surpassed John.  Jesus is the lamb of God, so he can take away the sins o the whole world.  The whole reason why John was baptizing was so that Jesus might be revealed, might be magnified to Israel.

All John does is talk about Jesus. He baptizes and preaches to talk about Jesus and how he has surpassed and is greater than John. He even baptizes just to get people's attention so that he can talk about Jesus. One of the first Jesus freaks. And an example of what our life's purpose should be.

The Gospel of John, Day 7: ch. 1, vv. 24-28

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

Baptism seems to be a very important thing to the Pharisees. This was different than the traditional ritual cleansing that was performed by the Jews, so it was a notable practice done by John.

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

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

Even though baptism is mentioned several times, we get the sense that it is not the most important thing. Jesus is greater than all this, even John the great prophet is unworthy to even untie this man's sandals.  Christ is worth more than anything.

Summary-John continues to baptize at the Jordan River. The pharisees have lots of questions about that (as do I). However, John keeps pointing back to the greatness of Jesus, the one to come after him. We are unworthy of Jesus' presence also. Yet we can come to him, because of the truth and grace that He brought us.

The Gospel of John, Day 6: ch. 1, vv. 19-23

19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders[c] in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

The Jewish leaders are antithetical to Jesus; they ask John if he is the Messiah, but he freely admits that he is not.  John has humility, yet he also has boldness.

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

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

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

These leaders really want an answer.  There seems to be a hidden agenda for the pharisees.

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

John uses the words of Isaiah to tell who he is.  This is a bold statement, but a humble statement.  He is in essence challenging these leaders and telling them to make a path for the Lord. It is a great comeback.  John is asked loaded questions, so he returns with a loaded answer. Like the Pharisees, we need to make a straight path for the Lord in our own lives.