Why Did John Baptize?
John 1:19-28
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John is out baptizing people in the River Jordan, and a delegation of religious officials comes to question him. In Judaism at the time, converts to Judaism were baptized as a way of showing their spiritual cleansing as they became part of Israel. So, by baptizing people who were already Jews, John is implying that all of Israel needs to be cleansed to get ready for the new thing that is going to happen.
The Israelites had to cross the Jordan River when they first entered the Promised Land, so the location John chose for his baptisms is significant—he is implying that God is about to do something new for His people.
But, to make it clear, John says that he is just someone God is using to prepare the way.
QUESTION FOR THE DAY
John is preparing the people for Jesus. How can you smooth out the path in front of someone today to make it easier for them to come to the Lord?