JOHN THE BAPTIST VS THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
John 1:
- The Jews send priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him:
“Who are you?
- And he admits it and does not deny it, saying: “I am not the Christ.”
- And they ask him: “What, then? Are you Elijah?”
- He replies: “I am not.”
- Are you the Prophet?”
- And he answers: “No!”
- “Who are you? Tell us that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
- He says: “I am a voice of someone crying out in the wilderness, “Make the way of God straight,” just as Isaiah the prophet said.”
- Now those sent are from the Pharisees. So they questioned him and say to him: “Why, then, do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”
- John answers them: “I baptize in water. One is standing among you whom you do not know, the one coming behind me, the lace of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
- These things take place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John is baptizing.
- The next day he sees Jesus coming toward him, and he says: “See, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one about whom I said: Behind me there comes a man who has advanced in front of me, for he existed before me.” Even I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing in water was so that he might be made manifest to Israel.”
- John also bears witness, saying: “I viewed the spirit coming down as a dove out of heaven, and it remained upon him. Even I did not know him, but the very One who sent me to baptize in water said to me: “Whoever it is upon whom you see the spirit coming down and remaining, this is the one who baptizes in holy spirit.” And I have seen it, and I have given witness that this one is the Son of God.”
- Again the next day, john is standing with two of his disciples, and he looks at Jesus walking, he says: “See, the lamb of God!”
- Everybody was waiting for the Christ to come at this time and especially the religious leaders that’s why they send people to John. But at their difference, he recognizes Jesus as the Christ. But they refused to recognize him because he said who they really were and he opposed them and he clearly condemned them!