The Gospel of John: John 1.19-28

Read and meditate on John 1.22.
We feel the exasperation rising in the priests and Levites who have come to inquire of John. They really want to know who he is, and there’s a good reason: “Higher-ups” want to know, and people with power will not accept an uncertain reply to their query. The tension continues to rise.

                                                                              ²²But they
kept at him: “Who are you? What do you say
about yourself? We need an answer for
the ones who here have sent us. So once more:
What do you say about yourself?”

- John 1.22

Reflect
1.  The inquisitors have grown weary of this “20 Questions” approach to fulfilling their assignment. What reason do they give for pressing the matter? Is this meant to intimidate John? Do you think John was intimidated? Complete this prayer: Lord, when people seem to be getting nervous or upset about my faith in You…

2.  They put their question to John two ways, one more objective and one more subjective – “Who are you?” and “What do you say about yourself?” Is there a sense in which our witness for Christ has these two aspects? Explain. Lord, what I say about myself is…

3.  Meditate on 1 Peter 3.15. What had provoked these inquisitors to ask John to identify himself? How might we expect others to see the hope in us? Lord, today show Yourself through me by…

4.  The form of their question in this verse sounds almost like an ultimatum: Tell us, or else. Evidently, the apostle John has Good News to tell us in his gospel – about life and light and becoming children of God. Why does he begin his account on this note of high tension? What are we supposed to learn from this? Lord, You have promised that in this world we will have trouble, and as Your witness, I expect…

5.  John’s not the only one to begin his gospel with this note of tension. Read Matthew 2.1-3. Should we expect the Gospel to come into our world – our Personal Mission Field – without some note of troubling or tension? What forms do you expect this to take for you? Bring together your prayers from questions 1-4 into one prayer, focusing on the tension you expect to know as a witness for Christ.

Summary
“A certain prophet was specially expected who would be similar to Moses in some respect, to mediate between God and humankind, and who would receive the covenant from God and give the new covenant to those who became disciples. And the people of Israel knew so far as each of the prophets was concerned that no one of them was the one announced by Moses. As, therefore, they were in doubt about whether John was the Christ, so also they were in doubt whether he was ‘the prophet.’ It is not strange if those who were in doubt about whether John was the Christ did not understand thoroughly that the Christ and the prophet are the same.” Origen (185-254 AD)

John is about to explain himself to his inquisitors, and he will do so in terms of the Ruler Who was coming to shepherd the flock of God. John could only explain himself in the light of Jesus. Is this true of you?

Closing Prayer
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8.3-9

Psalm 8.5-9 (Aurelia: The Church’s One Foundation)
Lord, we in Your own image with glory have been crowned,
To worship and to serve You throughout creation ‘round.
These works that sing Your glory in our poor hands are placed,
That we may rule before You to magnify Your grace.

Let every beast and creature, in sky or sea or field,
In our hands bring You glory, as we Your favor wield.
Let all things sing Your praises, let all declare Your worth!
O Savior, how majestic Your Name in all the earth!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.