John Baptized with Water - John 1:26

John the apostle wrote how, “this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Are you Elias? And he said, I am not. Are you that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who are you? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What say you of yourself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why do you baptize then, if you be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?”, and in chapter one and verse twenty-six of his book, John shared how John the Baptist answered, “I baptize with water: but there stands one among you, whom you know not” where we read:

John answered them, saying, I baptize with water:

but there stands one among you, whom you know not;

The verse reads, “John answered them, saying, I baptize with water:” John began with the words, “John answered them” which means “John whose name means Jehovah is a gracious giver and was known as the Baptist responded and began to speak”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “I baptize you with water” or “I, John the Baptist, submerge and immerse you in body to make you clean by using water”. John shared how John the Baptist responded to the “religious leaders” by referring to the way he used “water” to “submerge and immerse” them to make them clean.

The verse continues, “but there stands one among you, whom you know not;” John added the words, “but there stands one among you” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover there is one who is set, placed and in the presence of the religious leaders”, “whom you know not” or “who is unknown, not perceive or discerned by the religious leaders”. John shared how John the Baptist told the “religious leaders” there was “one” who was “standing among” them who they did not know.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we see how John the Baptist knew there was a person who was living alongside the “religious leaders” of whom they were unaware. Though John the Baptist himself was not the “Messiah and Christ” of God, He, Jesus, was living right among them. God's presence, by His Holy Spirit, is everywhere present, and the Holy Spirit draws a person into a relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. Even though He cannot be seen, the Holy Spirit of God will be consistent in convincing a person to yield their lives to Jesus Christ. Those who are wise will believe and trust in Jesus, and when they do, they will be forgiven of their sins and inherit everlasting life with God.

Next time John shares how John the Baptist continued, “He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".