Apostle John opens his letter, The Gospel of John, to his primary audience, the Jews, with a powerful identification of the Messiah; of which they were longing for. Immediately he identifies Jesus The Messiah as the Word, the Light of men, and the Lamb of God. (John 1:1, 4, 36 respectively)
Pharisees, members of the Jewish nation who believe in the resurrection to life, after physical death, were constantly looking for as many signs as they could identify which pointed to the prophesied coming Messiah. Many of God’s prophets had spoken concerning a messiah coming to redeem Israel. These men of high standing in the Jewish nation were looked upon as knowledgeable, well scripted men, in the Law of Moses, the governing law for Israel. They took it as their responsibility to be aware of the things occurring about their nation to warn all Israel of the coming Christ.
Apostle John knew of this situation among all Israelites, however, he also knew not all Israelites believed in Jesus as this Messiah. His letter was to tell his first-hand account of the life of Jesus Christ with John’s proof of which he believed was clear. He believed that Jesus was the son of God, the Messiah, who was to come unto Israel and to all the earth to bring salvation. His letter was first to speak this message to his fellow brethren and to bring the gospel message unto the Gentiles so that they might believe and find salvation.
Following John’s discourse identifying Jesus as the Word and the Light of men, he immediately turns to the Jewish people with one of the signs they were looking for; someone performing Godly activities other than a Pharisee or a Sadducee. Let us read John 1:6-8.
John 1:6-8. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
This man sent from God was one prophesied unto Israel from the prophet Isaiah. In Isaiah 40:2-5, a voice calling from the wilderness would proclaim the coming of the Lord. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
The prophet Malachi also prophesied the same. Malachi 3:1. 3 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
These leaders of the Law for Israel, the Pharisees and Sadducees worked at understanding the Law and the Prophets. This prophecy from Isaiah was at the ending of the Judah captivity for a 70 year period to Babylon. They remembered and or learned from The Scribes among them who were transcribing one scroll to another daily. Therefore, they knew of the speech of the law enough to be in continual lookout for things pertaining to the coming of the Lord. Others, also, some common people, not of high standing knew of these things written in the books of the prophets and the Law. Therefore, this information was somewhat common knowledge. Remember the punishment from God for their sinfulness was over and they were experiencing peace or protection from their enemies from the Roman Empire. They gave protection to their servants, all nations over which Rome ruled. Rome allowed the nations to keep their customs if they paid tribute. This Israel was doing at the time of John the Baptist and Jesus.
We recognize this beginning of John’s dialog toward the Jews by verse 19 of chapter 1. 19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? These Jewish leaders who sent the priests and Levites were Pharisees, members of the Sanhedrin counsel. Verse 24, 24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
Pharisees, those who believed in a life after physical death, would be the ones more concerned in spiritual matters for their fellow brethren because salvation from their enemies was of most importance to them. However, we know their concern was twisted a little and was perhaps used for their own personal benefit among their brethren. They also believed a physical empire for Israel would occur and a Messiah would provide a physical world for them to live in peace and harmony. However, in most of the teachings of Jesus concerning these Pharisees and Sadducees, it was to enlighten them concerning the real truth of the Will of God. Every man, having his own opinion, is the very basis for untruths and disbeliefs. Because of this many factions develop over all subject matters of this world. Someone such as John needed to clarify in writing, with authorization from the Holy Spirit, what is the witnessed truth.
As the priests and Levites came questioning John the Baptist of who he was, Apostle John tells of his first-hand knowledge of higher authority explaining what John the Baptist told them. John came …for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him (the Messiah, the Light) might believe. (Verse 7) Apostle John and John the Baptist wanted all men to believe what they believed; Jesus is the Messiah who brings salvation to the souls of men.
John desired all men to know of the power and authority Jesus had over all creation. Jesus was there when the earth was created. Jesus has all eminence over all things as he is of God, by God and is God who came in the flesh. John 1:14. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John the Baptist declared he was not the Messiah. The apostle desired to clarify, even to the doubtful Jew or Gentile, John told by the record of John the Baptist, that John was not the Christ, he was the forerunner. Verse 19-21. 19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Elias, being Isaiah, was believed to have returned to testify before the coming Messiah. Elijah, also; or perhaps Moses would return in the flesh to bring the news of the Messiah to appear in the near future. This was written in the prophets.
Many Jews believed Elijah would return to life before the coming of the Lord. They believed Elijah would appear before them to identify the Lord. Malachi 4:4-5. 4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: These priests and Levites were confused thinking the writing was a literal translation concerning Elijah. People today are often confused over some Biblical literature as to its Spiritual or physical nature. John the Baptist was not Elijah; however, he was a spiritual representation of the character Elijah. Matthew 3:4. 4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. This description of John resembled the very ramen worn by Elijah.
Jesus explained to his disciples that John was of the spirit and power of Elijah. Matthew 11:12-15. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Being of the spirit of another is a way of saying they were of the same thought and desire.
The prophecy of Elijah appearing before the coming of Jesus was true in the spiritual sense. This was why the Pharisees sent representatives to ask John if he was Elijah.
The Lamb of God
After identifying he was not Elijah, John presents Jesus as the Lamb of God. John 1:29-33. 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
A lamb which was consecrated to God was what the Jews had been offering regularly. A lamb was the representation of innocence, sinless and pure. God had commanded a lamb be offered regularly as a burnt sacrifice. On the day of the Feast of Atonement, an unblemished goat or lamb was to be sacrificed for the sins of Israel. Jesus was to be that sacrifice for atonement and with Apostle John’s eye witness of the life of Jesus, he had the right to tell of those things he knew and believed to be true. Jesus is the Lamb of God. Jesus sacrificed his innocent life’s blood for the atonement just as did all the earthly physical animals had done for the atonement of sin for Israel all those centuries.
John witnessed to the Jews and for the Gentiles his reasoning for identifying Jesus, the son of God as the Word, the Light and The Lamb of God. John 1:34. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
With this eye witness’ account of the Messiah, The Christ, who would redeem the world of their sin, do you have enough information to start a process of learning more to increase your faith in the Christ, Jesus, The Messiah, who shall provide, through belief in him, life eternal in the heavens with he and God the Father?
John 3:16. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 11:25. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
These are some of the reasons John desired to pen this message so both Jews and Gentiles alike could hear the truth concerning everlasting life with God the Father.
