Jesus Is LifeSample

Who Is Jesus?

Let’s keep learning about John the Baptist. In John 1:27, John the Baptist tells his followers he’s unworthy to untie the Messiah’s sandals. What does this mean? Feet and sandals would get filthy with all the dust and other elements in the roads. It was common practice for servants to wash someone’s feet before they entered a house.

John the Baptist, who had a growing following, is essentially saying that he’s lower than a servant when compared to Jesus. He feels he isn’t worthy to do even such a low task. He recognizes his humanity and sinfulness in contrast to Christ’s divinity.

Here are more ways that John the Baptist and the Gospel of John describe Jesus.

• John the Baptist describes Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In Exodus 12, 2 Corinthians 5:21, and 1 Corinthians 5:7, we see a glimpse of how in the Old Testament, before Christ, they sacrificed a lamb without spots or blemishes and used its blood as a way to purify themselves and receive forgiveness of sin. It was all foreshadowing what Jesus Christ would do one day. Christ died as a sinless lamb and His blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sin.
• The book of John describes Jesus as divine, existing before the foundation of the earth (1 Peter 1:20, John 1:1).
• John the Baptist didn’t immediately know Jesus was the Messiah. This may sound ironic since they’re cousins, but John the Baptist admits that he had been preparing for the Messiah long before he knew it would be Jesus. He then goes on to explain in the next verses how the Holy Spirit revealed Jesus as the Messiah.
• John the Baptist realized Jesus was God’s chosen one. God sent John the Baptist and told him that he would know who the Chosen One was by looking for someone on whom the Spirit would rest. Matthew 3:16, records the Spirit of God coming down on Jesus in the form of a dove.

Consider:

Who do you say Jesus is? Do you really know Him, or do you just know of Him?

Have you had an experience, like John the Baptist, where you realized Jesus is God’s Chosen One?

How do you see yourself in contrast to Christ and what He’s done for you?

Prayer:

God, thank You for sending Jesus to take away my sin completely. I could never deserve that type of grace, mercy, or love, but thank You for the ways You freely extend it day after day. Father, help me to know You more completely. Give me a hunger for You and Your Word, and help me share Your love with others.