John 1:19

“And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’”

               The author of the gospel, John, goes back to mentioning John the Baptist for the third time in the chapter. This is the start of the actual story. What John has been talking about up to this point is context so the reader can understand who Jesus is, God come in the form of flesh, something that is assumed by the other gospel writers. With the actual start of the story, we see John first, the man who will be declaring the arrival of the God man. John says that this is the testimony of John the Baptist. The testimony of John the Baptist will be the next seventeen verses with his interaction with the Jews and Pharisees, then he will fade from the story as Jesus becomes the focal point for the rest of the story.

               When the author references John the Baptist, he has already started his ministry, and we can almost picture this as a normal conversation he had with the pharisees. The testimony of John the Baptist does not start with him doing something but the pharisees coming to him. We can infer from the context that John is making a name for himself, that the Jews would specifically send people out to ask him who he is. These Jews who are sent out from the priest and the Levites are important too, not necessarily who they are but what they represent, as multiple times throughout the gospel this same thing will happen where the Jews send out priests and Levites to ask who Jesus is. Questions that we should be asking here are, “Are the priests and Levites honest seekers of truth?” and “Who has sent them?” These are questions John will answer in the next couple verses. As we will come to find out, they are men not trying to know the truth but trying to figure out John the Baptist to see if he will be a threat to their power.

               As Christians, sometimes it can be hard for us to understand the animosity of those who do not have the truth feel towards us. When we are speaking the gospel, it is important to keep in perspective that two types of people exist—seekers and mockers—in order for us to assess their character. This is not something for which we have an official test, of course, but as we tell the truth the response will inform us. As we have already seen from John the Baptist, we proclaim Jesus to everyone that will hear but it is important to not get discouraged when those that hear do not listen as some are not ready to receive it. John understood this and so did Jesus, and we must also but not get discouraged by it but rejoice in the opportunity to be with Jesus our Savior in the same things He had to deal with.

               To non-Christians, what is the meaning behind your inquiries of Jesus and salvation? Are you truly asking to know God or are you asking that you might have power over a person or persons? If you wonder why you cannot accept Jesus as God and bring yourself to submission to God, this is the problem. You do not want to give up your own knowledge and power to God which is the very definition of sin. There is a way, though, and that way is Jesus. You will never understand Jesus from the outside, only by coming into the community of faith will you understand how you can change your whole way of being to follow Jesus.