Journey Through John, John 1.29-34 — I have seen and I testify
Dear Friend,
When it comes to the things of God, God must reveal Himself. He is doing this all the time. Often we miss Him, and we need someone to point and say — Look!
Here’s our text for today: John 1:29-34
29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
John the Baptist is pointing to Jesus with humility and hope. He is clear. John is a faithful prophet. He is fulfilling the work of God by testifying to what he has seen.
Each statement by John about Jesus deserves more reflection, but for now let’s capture them and see them with John. Every statement from John’s mouth is packed with power to disrupt the mind and heart.
These would have been disturbing statements to declare about anyone. Remember John is on the other side of the Jordan from Jerusalem. He is on the fringes and folks have been coming out to him to see what’s going on. Now the pinnacle of what’s going on from his perspective is about to happen.
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look…” So let’s look with John the Baptist. Look!
Look! Jesus is The Lamb of God.
“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (verse 29)
Look! Jesus is the one who “was before me.”
“This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.” (verse 30)
Look! Jesus had to be revealed to John and now Jesus is being revealed to Israel.
“I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” (verse 31)
Look! Jesus has the Spirit of God abiding with him.
“I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.” (verse 32)
Look! Jesus is going to baptize people with the Holy Spirit.
“The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” (verse 33)
Look! Jesus is God’s Chosen One.
“I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” (verse 34)
Wow! John says that when we look at Jesus the man, we see the preexisting one, coming from God according to His purposes, to sacrificially offer Himself and take away the sin of the world and then He will include people in the communion of God by baptizing them with the Holy Spirit!
Wow!
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father,
Oh how we need your revealing work to continue! Come Holy Spirit and disrupt our dark minds and hearts. Let our minds be shaken to consider the glory of Jesus again. Let our affections be disturbed that we might embrace Jesus fully. Oh Lord we would see Jesus and receive Him as the Lamb of God — take away our sin. We would receive Him and the gift of communion with You. Immerse us in your Spirit that we may see and testify of Jesus as well. Thank you for granting this grace to us.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Take a moment to pause and write your own prayer of response to God.
Our next reading will be from John 1:35-43.