Reading for June 7: John 1:19-23

19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."

21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?"

He said, "I am not."

"Are you the Prophet?"

And he answered, "No."

22 Then they said to him, "Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?"

23 He said: "I am

' The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

" Make straight the way of the LORD,"'

as the prophet Isaiah said." John 1:19-23 (NKJV)

Discussion Questions:

• What do you think John the Baptist means by crying out for the people to "Make straight the way of the LORD"?
  
• What message is John the Baptist sending back to the Jews that sent the delegation to integrate him?
  

(there were no questions in the book to match this passage so I made some up)

Comments:

This passage begins a discussion about John the Baptist, who we met a few verses back. In this opening scene John is confronted by some "priest and Levites from Jerusalem" trying to determine who he is. Because of John's unusual behaviors (see Mark 1:6) and more importantly what he was preaching (a call for repentance and warning of coming judgment) the Jews thought that he could be someone that the Old Testament prophesized about. John goes on to emphatically deny being the Christ, or Elijah, or "the Prophet" (likely referring to the prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:15-18). Frustrated by John's negative answers, they ask him, "Who are you?" He responds by quoting a prophecy that is connected to John the Baptist in all 4 gospels, Isaiah 40:3 (see Mt 3:3, Mk 1:3, and Lk 3:4). This humble response quickly takes the emphasis off of Him and appropriately places it on the Messiah.