Notes on John 1:19-34
One of the major accusations leveled at Biblical Christianity over the centuries is that the doctrine of Jesus as God was contrived decades or centuries after the time of the apostles. This criticism hasn’t died, as the good teacher or misunderstood prophet labels are given to Christ by those who acknowledge His existence but deny His divinity. The prologue of John attested to Jesus’ divinity in theological terms, and the next passage handles the matter in the context of the theological narrative.
John the Baptist is the focus of verses 18-34. His ministry was incredibly similar to that of the Old Testament prophets. However, his particular role was to serve as the direct harbinger to the most positive part of the prophets’ message: the ushering in of peace, the consolation of Israel, the Messiah.
The Jewish people longed for the coming of the Messiah, but there had been so many other “messiahs” to come through Jerusalem in the years and decades before Jesus. These men were often religious/political zealots raging against the Roman machine. Upstart messiahs would rally common Jews to their cause, storm a Roman outpost, and be struck down in a bloody rout. It was no surprise that the Pharisees, who saw themselves as the protectors of Israel, wanted to know if John was on that same path – and dragging the Pharisees’ followers along with him.
John assured them that he wasn’t the Christ. This was made clear in the prologue, and is made manifest only a few verses later by John the Baptist himself. He also claimed he wasn’t Elijah or the prophet. These two figures are tied to the coming of the Messiah, the restoration of Israel, and the end of the age. Both men played vital roles in God’s work with His covenant people. They both performed miracles, relied on the Lord for sustenance, and confronted the apostacy within Israel. Later, they will be seen alongside Jesus at His transfiguration.
John the Baptist reiterates that his ministry is one of preparation for the Christ, the Chosen One of God. The focus of all of this anticipation culminates as Jesus comes to John, is baptized as prophetic fulfillment, and is then identified as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
The gospel of John is, in many ways, a hinge between the Old and New Testaments. The ministry of John the Baptist serves as the penultimate examination of the old covenant before it is fulfilled in Jesus. God was once again dwelling amongst His people, and was ushering in a new covenant. The Messiah was here, and would bring about a new baptism for the repentant and elect: a baptism of the Holy Spirit.