The Divine Lamp

The following outline is in my own words but the actual structure comes from Peter Ellis’ THE GENIUS OF JOHN. Please not that the text in boldface type is meant to help highlight verbal parallels between the A1 and A2 sections, and the B1 and B2 sections. Text in italics is meant to highlight conceptual parallels
A1) The testimony of the Baptist that the Messiah might be revealed to Israel as the Son of God. Jesus is addressed as Rabbi. The first disciples are told to come and see (1:19-39)

B1) Andrew finds his brother Simon Peter and says we have found the Messiah (1:40-41)

C) Peter is brought to Jesus who predicts a future name change for him (1:42)

B2) Jesus finds Philip, who was from the same town as Andrew and Peter. Philip finds Nathaniel and says we have found… (1:43-45)

A2) Nathaniel, a true Israelite is told to come and see Jesus. He calls Jesus Rabbi and testifies that he is the Son of God and the King of Israel. Jesus speaks of further revelation (1:46-51)

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A1) 1:19-39
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent out of Jerusalem priests and levites, that they might question him, ‘who are you?’ And he confessed, he did not deny, rather he confessed, ‘I am not the Christ.’ And they questioned him, ‘ what then? are you elijah?’ and he said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Then are you the prophet?’ and he answered, ‘No.’ Then they said to him, ‘Who are you, that we may have an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?

He said, ‘I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the Prophet.’

Some of those sent were of the Pharisees, and they questioned him, and said to him, ‘Why, then, do you baptize, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?’ John answered them, saying, ‘I baptize with water, but in the midst of you has stood him whom you do not know, this one it is who is coming after me, who has been before me, of whom I am not worthy that I may loose the cord of his sandal.’ These things came to pass in Bethany, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

On the next day John saw Jesus coming unto him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world; this is he concerning whom I said, ‘After me does come a man who ranks above me, because he was before me.: and I knew him not, but, that he might be revealed to Israel, I came baptizing with water.’ And John testified, saying, I have seen the Spirit coming down, as a dove, out of heaven, and it remained on him; and I did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, On whomsoever you see the Spirit coming down and remaining, this is he who is baptizing with the Holy Spirit; and I have seen, and have testified, that this is the Son of God.’

On the next day, again, John was standing, and two were of his disciples with him, and he looked upon Jesus walking by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God;’ and the two disciples heard him speaking, and they followed Jesus. And Jesus turned and beheld them following, and said to them, ‘What do you seek?’ And they said to him, ‘Rabbi, (which is, being interpreted, Teacher,) where are you abiding?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see,’ and they saw where he did abide, and with him they did abide that day, and it was about the tenth hour.

(Please note that the text in plain boldface indicates verbal parallels with the A2 section of 1:19-51 (i.e. 1:46-51). Text in boldface italics indicate conceptual parallels.)

Vs 19 and-Provides a link with the prologue. Recall that in the prologue the witness of the Baptist was spoken of twice; however, the connecction of 1:19-51 (and, by implication, the entire body of the Gospel) with the prologue involves everything that was said there.

testimony of John- Testimony (witness) is a key word in John’s Gospel. Besides the Baptist, many other people and things bear witness to Jesus. These include the Samaritan woman (4:39); the Samaritan townspeople (4:42); The works Jesus does (5:36); Moses and the OT Scripture (5:39); the crowd (12:17); the Holy Spirit (15:26); the disciples (15:27); the Father (5:37); and the beloved disciple (21-24). I should be noted that many of these testimonies are not of equal value. In fact some are inadequate.

priest and levites…Who are you?… The religious authorities in Jerusalem sent a delegation to inquire who the Baptist was. According to Luke, many thought the Baptist was the Messiah (Lk 3:15), and the authorities first question probably reflects this view. This in a way introduces the central question of the Gospel. Keep in mind that John is writing for people who have accepted Jesus as the Messiah, but who may be in danger of rejecting him due to opposition from the Jewish leaders. Within Judaism at the time there were many pre-conceived ideas about what the Messiah and his work would be, and clearly, Jesus did not often fit those categories (see 7:26-28 and 7:40-44).

Vs 20 He confessed, he did not deny, rather, he confessed: I am not the Christ- The Evangelists emphatic introduction to the Baptist’s words is striking. Many speculate that it reflects the continuing existence of a “Baptist party” at the time of the Apostle’s writing. A party which presumably opposed the Christian witness. I would propose another interpretation (if I may be so bold). The word “confess” is used only here and in two other places in the Gospel; in 9:22 and 12:42, where it is used to state that those who confessed Jesus as Messiah were to be expelled from the synagogue. In 5:35 Jesus criticizes the Jewish leaders who sent delegates to John for “rejoicing for a while in his light.” One of the verses I just mentioned, 12:42, directly concerns some of the Jewish leaders who believed in Jesus but would not confess it for fear of expulsion. They may have rejoiced in the light of the Baptist but they refused to do what he did and confess THE light (see 1:6-9)

Vs 21 are you Elijah?…the prophet? A second question, and then a third is directed towards the Baptist. Notice how his responses have become more terse: 1) “I am not the Christ;” 2) “I am not;” 3) “no.” Does this mean that John already perceives the hypocrisy of these leaders (see Mt 3:7-12)? so many questions. So few brains to answer them with.

That John here denies that he is Elijah has caused a lot of scholarly ink to be spilled. In the synoptic tradition, the Baptist is clearly identified as fulfilling the Elijah prophecy of Malachi 3:23, and Jesus himself confirms it. It should be noted, however, that the Baptist no where claims the function for himself. The Evangelists suggest that he fulfills the prophecy (e.g. Mk 1:2, 6). Furthermore, Jesus’ words in Mt 11:7-15 end with a revelatory formula: “if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. whoever has ears ought to hear.” I would suggest that the original designation of the Baptist as Elijah rests with our Lord himself. The Baptist himself seems to simply be unaware of it. Also, consider that this A1 (1:19-39) section of 1:19-51 parallels the A2 section (1:46-51) as I outlined above. In the A2 section Jesus knows who Philip is even before he met him (vss 47-48). Furthermore, he knows what his own future ministry holds (vs 51). This contrasts nicely with the Baptist’s own lack of knowledge concerning himself and his ministry, which serves to highlight our Lord’s superiority over him.

the prophet- Due to Moses words in Deuteronomy 18:15-19 it was assumed that a special prophet like Moses would arise. Some held that this would be the Messiah, while others held it would be a forerunner similar to Elijah. In Acts of Apostles 3:22 and 7:37 Jesus is designated as the prophet like Moses. Since the Jewish leaders have already inquired if John were the Messiah it seems reasonable to conclude that they thought the prophet would be a messianic forerunner.

Vs 23 I am a voice of one cryng in the wilderness… John defines his mission in terms of Isaiah 40:3.

Vs 24 some pharisees were also sent… Many translations read “now they (the delegation of priests and levites) had been sent by the pharisees, but this is an incorrect translation. Some pharisees along with the priests and levites had been sent by the Jerusalem authorities.

Vs 25 why do you baptize…? That the pharisees who were so particular about legal observations and cleanliness would ask this question is not surprising. What authority motivates John? John doesn’t answer fully at first (vss 26-27), nonetheless his response in these verses shows that the significance of his ministry can be fully understood only in relation to the one he testifies to.

Vs 26 in the midst of you has stood him whom you do not know… Does this suggest that Jesus is in the crowd as the Baptist speaks? Did the authorities actually witness his baptism and see nothing more than a rustic Galilean joining a popular religious movement? Whatever the case may be, the words serve to highlight the Baptist’s superior knowledge over against that of the leaders.

Vss 29-34 Here the Baptist gives a much fuller answer to the question (vs 25) of why he came baptizing. He came so that “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world…might be revealed to Israel. This revelation begins with the testimony of the Baptist himself, who was sent by God and who saw the Spirit descend and remain on Jesus. (NOTE:Just as the Spirit is necessary for John to identify Jesus, it is absolutely necessary to know and understand who and what Jesus is fully. This could only come with the giving of the Holy Spirit to men by the risen Messiah. John did not posses the Spirit in the post resurrection way, hence his questions concerning Jesus [see Mt 11:2-6]).

the Lamb of God- See the footnote to 1:29 in the New American Bible. In light of John 19:36 we are probably to understand the title in reference to the paschal lamb (concerning which, see here).

Son of God- This title on the lips of the Baptist, and latter, on the lips of Nathaniel (vs 49), was certainly understood by them in its Old Testament sense. In the OT, the Davidic kings were called Sons of God in an adoptive sense (see 2 Sam 7:14; Psalm 2:7). In light of the prologue (1:1 and especially 1:18) such a notion is inadequate in reference to Jesus. The status of THOSE Davidic kings was a mere shadow of the reality concening THE Davidic king.

Vs 35-39 the next day- This is the third day mentioned by the Evangelist. The Baptist once again declares Jesus to be the Lamb of God and, as a result, two of his disciples follow Jesus; the Baptist’s confession of his own unworthiness in relation to the Messiah (vs 27), and his purpose of revealing him to Israel, is now coming to fruition.

Rabbi…where are you abiding…they saw where he did abide, and with him they abided that day- The title Rabbi is, in light of the prologue and the testimony of the Baptist, a thoroughly inadequate title, though a correct one. They still have a lot to learn (see 1:51). Only by abiding with Jesus, and he with them, will they come to fully understand who and what he is. By the testimony of the Baptist, the openess of the disciples to it, and Jesus invitation to “come and see”, a chain of events has been set in motion that will end with the death and resurrection of the Messiah and their being sent out into the world “to take away sin” (see 21:22-23).

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