“(25) And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? (26) John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
John 1:25-26
Explanation:
The dialogue continues from the ones sent from the pharisees to question John. “Ok, John. You’re not claiming to be Messiah. You’re not claiming to be Elijah come back from the dead. Why are you baptizing?” Another way of understanding this question is, “Why are you going around the establishment and the mainstream religious community to do what you’re doing?”. Or you could say, “What gives you the authority to baptize?”.
The Gospel of Matthew gives us some insight into the nature and meaning of John’s baptism.
[6] And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. (Matthew 3:6)
There was heart work being done in connection with John’s baptism. This was an outward symbolic act of an inward heart change. See verse 11.
[11] I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (Matthew 3:11)
This is what John was also getting at in his answer recorded at the end of verse 26 in John. My baptism isn’t the same as the baptism of the one who is coming, and is already here in fact. My baptism comes by water. He will baptize with the Holy Ghost (regeneration) and with fire (judgement).
John’s baptism wasn’t the final baptism. It was a baptism of preparation for the true Messiah that was coming. Yet it was something that was meant to be authentic, not merely an outward symbol without genuine repentance.
Application:
God desires and demands authenticity at the heart level. Hypocrisy is something that we must avoid. We must be people who are not divided. We should have the same character in public and in private. We are not perfect, and we will sin. When we do our repentance ought to be genuine and heart felt.
Response:
- Is there something in your life for which you should repent?
- Are you walking with Jesus, and preparing others to walk with him, too?