John 1:24-28

(24)Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.
(25)They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

The priests and Levites recognized baptism as identification with their faith in, and covenant with, God. They were questioning John’s authority to baptize, and into what he was baptizing people. The Pharisees, Priests, and Levites were knowledgeable in the scriptures, and knew and understood the prophecy that Isaiah had made regarding one preceding the Messiah.

Isaiah 40:3
A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

The question was most likely a result of the Pharisees lack of knowledge regarding John’s ministry, not a lack of knowledge of the scriptures.

The Pharisees had sent priests and Levites to John to question Him. In those days there were many self-proclaimed religious cult leaders who would rise up and call themselves sacred. The Pharisees could not personally investigate every one. Most were short lived and never received the attention of the Pharisees. When one would last longer than usual or gain more attention than usual, the Pharisees would begin by sending delegates with certain questions that would help the Pharisees gauge whether or not there was any real threat. The majority of the Pharisees were so self-absorbed that they probably did not seriously consider that any of these cult leaders were Biblically legitimate. The appropriate response from educated religious leaders would have been to go to the scriptures first to see if any particular cult leader bore any Biblical relevancy. The questions sent to John the Baptist were probably pretty routine questions. The answers the Pharisees received were most likely less common and certainly not anticipated. We see in later accounts that the Pharisees themselves visited John and asked Him questions personally. What we can learn from this is that even though we are no longer looking for or anticipating the coming of the Messiah, we should view all of our life circumstances from a Biblical perspective first. We must realize that all of life’s circumstances are ordained by God for our growth and sanctification. We would probably avoid most of our difficulties and problems if we maintained this perspective.

(26)John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.

John states that he baptizes in water. In verse 33 he speaks of the Lord who will baptize in the Holy Spirit, emphasizing that this is a greater baptism. Baptism in water is the sign and symbol that identifies us as belonging to Jesus. It is important, even critical, but it does not change us. Baptism in the Holy Spirit changes us; it draws us into true communion with God. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is God dwelling within us; it has been God’s goal and purpose from the beginning to dwell with His people. Christ’s accomplishment of redemption on the Cross has made it possible for God to dwell in us as Holy Temples.

John boldly proclaims what he was sent to proclaim. He does not consider or worry about the social or political impact it might have on him. He also, as in so many other accounts, gives all the glory to God alone. Throughout John’s life and ministry, he had many opportunities to build his own little “kingdom”, but he never wavers from his assignment or his role. This must have had a lot to do with the Lord himself exalting John to the position of being the greatest man alive.

Matthew 11:11
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

(27)“It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
(28)These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The same as in the preceding verses, John acknowledges his assignment and position. He does not take advantage of an opportunity to exalt himself above the position in which the Lord has placed him. What a great lesson for so many of today’s shepherds. So many of today’s Pastors and Church leaders lose sight of this principal and fail in this respect. I know of local churches that do many good and wholesome things, but put little (or no) emphasis on discerning the Lord’s specific assignment for their lampstand and focusing on that. Unfortunately there are many churches today that put very little focus on the basic principals of the purpose for the Church God has laid out in His Word. One area in which this becomes painfully obvious is in the structure of church government most churches today have adopted.