John 1: 19-28

Having read this passage so many times and seen it as purely informational, this time I sat with it a while. I tried to picture it in my mind, and think about what is not said as much as what is.

So here's the scene. John the Baptist is in Bethany baptizing people in the Jordan river. Now, Bethany was a town outside of Jerusalem to the north, at least a few miles away. It wasn't just around the corner, and to get there through the rugged, mountainous countryside you would have had to walk, ride a donkey, or (if you were rich) possibly be carried in a litter. So it says that the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask John who he was. Well, there were at least two of each - so at least 4 men. But since there's strength in numbers and they obviously saw John as some sort of threat, I'm sitting here imagining that possibly this whole troop of priests and Levites (who knows, maybe the whole Sandhedrin) and all their various assistants and hangers-on leading a stately parade over hill and dale to go confront John. And I can imagine that they would have dressed in their official capacity - wearing their priestly robes so there was no mistake they were there on business.

And this whole parade of priests, reeking of priestly authority descends on John, wearing his camel's hair robe (or less) tied up around his knees, standing in the Jordan river baptizing people. And when they get there they start peppering him with questions like he's an escaped criminal.

Now, these priests and Levites - they know the law of Moses inside and out. They've been schooled on it since they were young boys and they know every jot and tittle and the application thereof. They know every Scripture pertaining to the Messiah and can quote you chapter and verse. But they don't know what role John is playing, who he represents. Or maybe some of them do suspect, and are afraid of what it means for them.

John answers their questions by quoting their own Scripture at them - from Isaiah 40:3. That still doesn't answer their question so they ask him outright why (basically by whose authority) is he baptizing if he is not the Messiah or Elijah (who they believed would come back at the end of all days).

And when John tells them "I baptize with water, but among you stand one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie" they evidently clam up and have no more to say.

Here was the forerunner of the Messiah, whose Scriptures they knew inside and out, yet they didn't recognize him.

The text doesn't say what they did next. Maybe they all turned around and began trudging back to the city, muttering under their breath. Maybe they all closed their ears and their hearts that day. Or maybe some of them stayed behind, and watched and listened.

Perhaps Nicodemus had come along on this official trip and stayed to see Jesus revealed at His baptism.

This is just my own speculation. But what's very obvious is the religious leaders of the day did not recognize what God was doing, and they were not happy with the answers they received.