And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites [to him] to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” 23 He said: “I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the desert, “Make straight the way of the Lord,”’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” 24 Some Pharisees were also sent. 25 They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, 27 the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John is speaking to an official delegation of priests (religious experts), Levites (Temple officials), and Pharisees, sent from Jerusalem to inquire about him. Jesus is not present. Their goal is to find out who john was and by whose authority he was baptizing. John categorically told them, “I am not the Messiah” (v. 19). When asked if he was Elijah, he answered, “I am not” (v. 21). The Israelites were awaiting both Elijah and the Messiah. Elijah was to come before the Messiah and anoint him (Mal. 3:1, 23; Ben Sira. 48:9-10). Jesus said that John the Baptist partially fulfilled the prophecy (Mt. 17:10 ff). John was Elijah in spirit, but the Israelites had misinterpreted Moses, “A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among your own kindred; that is the one to whom you shall listen” (Deut. 18:15). Moses was speaking about the prophets to come in Israel ending with the Messiah and not specifically about the Messiah himself.
When pressed as to who he is, John replied with a quotation from Isaiah, “A voice proclaims: In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!' (Is. 40:3). John is preparing the way for the Lord. The Pharisees viewed baptism as the ritual washing for repentance and purification. Johannine Christians believed that Baptism with water and reception of the Spirit were two separate spiritual events. John was only baptizing with water for repentance. John does not tell them who he is but points them forward to Jesus whom they do not recognize and for whom he is not worthy to perform the lowliest task.
Heavenly Father, fill our hearts with gratitude for our Baptism through which we were welcomed into the Christian Church, and for the graces received at Confirmation through which we received the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Teach us to use our precious gifts wisely and to nurture and guard the faith handed down to us. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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