John 1:19-23 - John the Baptist Identifies Himself

John 1:19-23

19 This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,' as Isaiah the prophet said.”

Message: John the Baptist Identifies Himself

Time: Jesus' disciple John, the brother of James, the son of Zebedee was one of the inner circle of Jesus' most trusted companions. It's most likely that John wrote his gospel while he was in Ephesus, and that he wrote it for an audience that lived outside Palestine, perhaps in Asia Minor. John appears to have had in mind members of a Jewish community who had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but who had continued to worship in the synagogue. John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Previously in verse 6, John is identified as sent from God. And now in verse 19 are more specifics about John and how there were those that questioned him and his identity. Those questioning him, as listed in this passage, were Jews, sent by priests and Levites. And they wondered if he was the Christ, Elijah, the Prophet. 

In my attempt to date John the Baptist and his ministry, Matthew 3 records the baptism of Jesus which is about AD 29. Malachi is on record for about 422 or 425 BC. The last verses of Malachi state, "5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. 6 He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.” 

The writer John saw the importance of specifying this information about John the Baptist. I always want to remember this when studying the Bible. I tend to write a lot of thoughts on subjects and ad lib, but this is the Bible, inspired by God, and I believe every writing has been directed by God to be included. 

John, in responding to the questions from these questioning him states who he is not, probably to make sure that they know this as these were questions he would guess them wondering. His responses are specific. And as to who he is, he is a little general, but fulfilling a prophecy from Isaiah the prophet as recorded in Isaiah 40:3-5 -- 

3  A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (ESV)”

In verse 3, The LORD is Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel. Does this means that John is making a connection with the Lord Yahweh and Jesus? Matthew 3:3 quotes this as well. This is significant and calls attention to the significance of the New Testament and the writes that seem to be connecting Jesus to Yahweh, Jehovah God. And yet there are those worldviews that will interpret this as still being only Jehovah, the God of Israel, and nothing to do with Jesus. 

Summary: John the Baptist states who he is not (Christ, Elijah, Prophet) and who he is - a voice crying out to make straight the way of the Lord/Jehovah/Jesus.

Promise: From Tabletalk, "We should not claim more about ourselves than is actually true, and we should be ready to proclaim Christ to the people we know."

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are eternal. Your ways are not our ways and yet we seek to understand You and who You are. I know Lord that good people throughout the ages define you differently. You are Savior. You have atoned for sin. Thank you for John and bringing him on the scene. Teach me to understand You further, each day. Illuminate my understanding of You. If I have misunderstood anything about You, give me understanding. 

Mark 15:35-39 - The Centurion's Confession

Mark 15:35-39
35 When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, “Behold, He is calling for Elijah.” 36 Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last. 38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Message: The Centurion's Confession

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is on the cross being crucified. He came to the cross already weak from the beatings, having the pain of the crown of thorns, the name calling, the belittling, the mocking. He had already endured much and then he had the cross and the pain of being nailed to this cross, though Mark doesn't mention these details. He talks about the people that mocked him while he was on the cross, the passerby's, the chief priests, and the robbers on either side of him. After he endured all darkness fell on the face of the earth from 12 to 3pm and then he voiced to God a fear of rejection plea in saying, "My God, why have you forsaken me?"

When some of the bystanders heard Jesus call out to the Father, "Why have you forsaken me?" they said, "Behold, He is calling for Elijah."  The fact that Elijah did not die, but God took Him directly to heaven resulted often led to speculation among the Jews of the day. Elijah became a man that could provide supernatural assistance to their lives in times of need because he was thought to be a supernatural being. But, this was a misunderstanding of who Jesus was, focusing on the man instead of the God who did the work. And even in this moment of Jesus on the cross, it seemed that some bystanders thought they heard Jesus calling out to Elijah, but he wasn't, he was calling out to God. Again, in life, we often hear what we want to hear.

And the mystery of Elijah continues when someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.” There are differing details regarding this account. But Mark simply follows that someone saw that Jesus needed a drink. Perhaps his remark at the time of feeling forsaken, feeling thirsty, meant that someone felt compassion for Him in that moment and provided Him one last drink before He would die. Because after this Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last. Mark again is not specific on the words of the cry, but that Jesus uttered this loud cry which signified a culmination, an ending for he then breathed His last. He bore a pain and a torment during the 3 hours of the earth being darkened and now he dies And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Crucifixions happened but it becoming dark in the middle of the afternoon with Jesus on the cross was different and now this veil of the temple torn in two was something else different, almost supernatural signs of what Jesus had accomplished on the cross, dealing with sin and then removing the veil or curtain and giving everyone the same access to Jesus.

Then there is what appears to be the first favorable response of someone after witnessing this act from Jesus. When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” Though others had misunderstood Jesus' words, thinking Elijah, the centurion guard heard something different and responded with the confession that Jesus was the son of God. It was that recognition that He was who He said He was. It was the job of the centurion to watch the crucifixion and confirm that it has been carried out correctly, and obviously in Jesus' crucifixion he witnessed things different. This was no ordinary crucifixion. He confesses him not as the Son of Man which was the name Jesus often referred to himself as, but instead states that He is the Son of God. He is God. He is divine.

Summary - Upon Jesus at the end of His life, He has endured the wrath of God and the divine judgment of sin and he cried out that it was finished. People misunderstood Him and some thought He was calling out to Elijah, but after crying out and breathing His last, one of the Centurion guards, tasked with watching and making the crucifixion makes a confession that Jesus is the Son of God. He is divine.

Promise: RC Sproul says, "The Centurion was the first to realize that something of cosmic significance was happening that afternoon outside Jerusalem." God revealed Christ to this man - wisdom to the unlikely.

Prayer: O Lord, My Lord, How majestic is your name in all of the earth. You conquered death and purchased my sin on the cross of Calvary. You went to the cross free from sin and gave all of yourself. You withstood the pain of the wrath of God and did it all. And immediately people were affected and saw you as you rightly are, the son of God, divine, holy. Help me to keep looking to You and trusting in your Salvation. You are my Savior. You have rescued me. I am free, free indeed.

Mark 9:9-13 - The Coming of Elijah

Mark 9:9-13
⁹ As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead. ¹⁰ They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant. ¹¹ They asked Him, saying, “Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” ¹² And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt? ¹³ But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him.”

Message: The Coming of Elijah

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface- Jesus goes to the mountaintop and brings Peter, James, and John. He was transfigured. They see Moses (Law) and Elijah (Prophets) and Jesus shining as pure white. Something is happening, but they are not sure. Is this the fulfillment now of the final salvation, deliverance, complete exodus from exile? On that note, Peter builds a tabernacle - the place where God speaks. But, still he is unsure and terrified. God steps in and declares to them, what Jesus has already been saying to them, This is My beloved Son, listen to Him. 

This is the scene: the transfiguration is over and now Peter, James and John wonder: what next?  As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead. So while the incident was significant it should not be told to anyone. This can only mean that what just occurred is something Jesus knew would create a lot of talk and conversation and perhaps consternation. That God had spoken to them "This is my beloved Son." Was it that for a moment the humanity of Jesus was set aside and they saw Jesus in all of his heavenly glory? Perhaps because what had just happened was not clear. God had even said, "Just listen to Jesus." Jesus had a purpose. Peter and the disciples did not understand that purpose for when Jesus said he would do something, the disciples often thought he should do something else. This had to have been hard, to have just had an incredible experience and for the other disciples to come up to them after this mountaintop experience and for them to just say, "Later, I'll tell you later." 

I mean, what happened? (1) Jesus is transfigured, (2) Elijah and Moses were present, (3) God the Father was there, (4) the Son of Man would rise again. See, what is happening? Jesus mentions again now that he would obviously die and then rise again. This is what had already disturbed them previously in chapter 8:31 when he said the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. It is as if it will all make sense after the resurrection, when I appear again, but right now it won't. The idea here was simple: trust me; listen to me. 

While they didn't talk to others They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant. But this did make them wonder. 

As they wonder, they remember from the scriptures something - "Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” The last 2 verses of the Old Testament in Malachi 4:5-6 records Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse. This great and terrible day of the Lord seems to refer to the Second Coming of the Christ when he establishes his kingdom. But, Jesus is also here so is it correct to say that Elijah should have already come.

And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt? The Son of Man suffering was a fulfillment of Isaiah 53. No prophecy was ever more strikingly fulfilled.

But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him. John was not Elijah reincarnated. Hebrews 9:27 states and inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this judgment. John himself denied that he was Elijah in John 1:21 - They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he *said, “I am not.” John comes in the spirit and power of Elijah, preceding the first coming of Jesus. Elijah is to precede the second coming of Jesus. 

Summary - This is a difficult passage. It is mostly about revealed prophecy, of John coming in the spirit of Elijah and as Jesus suffering.

Promise: Suffering is a part of the way to glory.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the cross. Thank you for the eternal message of You seeking and saving the Lost, for saving me.   

Mark 9:5-8 - Peter's Terror and God's Response

Mark 9:5-8
⁵ Peter *said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁶ For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified. ⁷ Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” ⁸ All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.

Message: Peter's Terror and God's Response

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - As a reminder, this book is from Peter's information, provided to Mark to record. Lately, much of the encounters have been with Peter at the forefront. Jesus has spoken of his purpose suffering many things, be rejected, killed, and rise again and then Peter rebukes him on this; Jesus then says to his disciples what it means to be a true follower of Him. And now he is transfigured before 3 of the disciples and confirms that his nature is different from Moses and Elijah and his mission is different as he is transfigured into the radiant whiteness that was ascribed to God the Father previously at appearances to men. 

I saw this outline. It shows a turning point in the book at Mark 8:27-30. Prior, it was mostly about Jesus revealing himself by what he does and I think that is a very good summary of what I have reading and studying. Going forward, Jesus presses the claim that he is the Christ. I agree with this, as the messages from Jesus are ramping up. 

As I read verse 3 and Peter's response, after seeing the transfiguration and Moses and Elijah being present with Jesus, he states let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. At my first reading, as a Gentile, I don't understand this. So, here is my attempt to understand this. 

Moses and Elijah are figuratively seen as the Law and the Prophets. Their appearance then denotes this and is showing the bridge Jesus is to the Law and the Prophets. For the Jewish person or the Hebrew, the Law and the Prophets is what was known. And in some ways Jesus' ministry, then, is sort of an unknown or a mystery revealed; I wonder if the disciples are following someone they are still trying to figure out. Jesus remarked that he came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). Jesus will also say later in this chapter that Elijah does first come to restore all things. This is said to refer to the final day of salvation. God even comes forward later to say basically, "just listen to My son."

Salvation is an interesting term. As a NT believer, salvation takes on a spiritual connotation.  Jesus has just used this word in Mark 8:35 as he states for whoever wishes to save his life will lose it. Salvation occurs when we give up the life that we know and instead choose a life of denial and taking up the cross to follow Jesus. It is believing that Jesus can make us right with God. Thus, following Jesus results in salvation. The term salvation, on one hand, takes on the meaning of Jesus saving us, but the word is also used to describe the end of life. Salvation is not only momentary but life long as Jesus records these words in Mark 13:13 - and you will be hated by all on account of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved. Life is a journey, as I often say, not a sprint. But, salvation is not on our own accord as Peter remarks in Acts 15:11 we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus and yet even Jesus states in Luke 19:10 that the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Thus, in the New Testament salvation is an event or a moment in time but it is also a lifetime. It begins and it continues. It is through the Lord Jesus. Jesus saves. 

Yet, for Peter, at this moment of the transfiguration this salvation idea was still being defined before him. They had heard the message of repent and believe (Mark 1:15), yet they were still in a discovery mode of understanding who Jesus is. They obviously knew he was someone significant for otherwise they would not have responded to Jesus and his call to Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men (Mark 1:17). They knew he had done some incredible works and said some incredible things, but they were still putting it together. So, at this moment, seeing Jesus and now seeing Moses and Elijah, the law and the prophets, and responding Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah, Peter relies on his past understanding of things. These tabernacles therefore took on some significance in their minds. 

Malachi 4:4-6 are the last words of the Old Testament recorded by the Lord - Remember the law of Moses My servant, statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel. Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. And he will restore the hearts of the father to children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse. Elijah, as Jesus recorded will restore all things. 

Salvation is an Old Testament word as well with a slightly different meaning. In the NT it was clearly a spiritual transformation. For the Jew, it represented a future exodus. With God as the active agent, salvation is victory or rescue from danger, defeat or distress. What is clear here is God is the source of salvation. God brings physical salvation to people, like Exodus 14:30 - Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians. Salvation was mostly a word to note a momentary physical happening. Israel obviously experienced a back and forth condition of being saved and being held captive. And yet they looked forward to a day of always being saved physically. But, again it is a physical salvation of not being captive or forced against one will which can be different from this NT idea of a spiritual change or conversion. Despite God saving Israel multiple times, the Israelite still often sought God on their own terms worshiping and serving idols - thus, going after what they could see and in doing this ignored God's commands. God wanted his people to know him. So, although salvation was often a change in physical condition, God still spoke of restoring Israel. As in Hosea 2:19-20 - And I will betroth You to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in loving kindness and in compassion and I will betroth you in Me in faithfulness, then you will know the Lord. 

Thus, the Old Testament yes speaks of physical salvation but also eternally knowing the true God. When Peter spoke of building tabernacles he most have thought that they needed a place to worship God. Tabernacles or tents were constructed and torn down and taken from one place to another. Exodus 25:8 says, And let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. And in 25:22 I will meet with you...I will speak to you. Thus, Peter, seemed to desire to build this structure, for he knew that God was present, but he didn't understand it well. For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified. Peter was trying. He had goofed before, rejecting Jesus after he had told him his purpose in going to the cross. Peter was always trying to figure out how he was supposed to respond to these things happening to him and the disciples. 

At this moment, it happens, God speaks directly to Peter. Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone. It was clear. God was stating that Jesus was to be heard. Moses and Elijah were gone. Jesus was there. Maclaren writes:

‘Hear Him.’ God’s voice bids you listen to Christ’s voice-God’s voice bids you listen to Christ’s voice as His voice. Listen to Him when He speaks to you about God-do not trust your own fancy, do not trust your own fear, do not trust the dictates of your conscience, do not consult man, do not listen to others, do not speculate about the mysteries of the earth and the heavens, but go to Him, and listen to the only begotten Son in the bosom of the Father. 

Summary - Jesus goes to the mountaintop and brings Peter, James, and John. He was transfigured. They see Moses (Law) and Elijah (Prophets) and Jesus shining as pure white. Something is happening, but they are not sure. Is this the fulfillment now of the final salvation, deliverance, complete exodus from exile? On that note, Peter builds a tabernacle - the place where God speaks. But, still he is unsure and terrified. God steps in and declares to them, what Jesus has already been saying to them, This is My beloved Son, listen to Him. 


Promise: We need to listen. We do not need a lightning bolt or even a voice from the Lord. We are able to simply listen. Jesus has proven to us that we can listen. 

Prayer: Lord, I need to listen to you and never question you. I can take you at your word. You have shown me through the years that your commands are true and that I can trust You. Help me to believe in this. Thank you for this lesson this morning and teaching me through Your Word. Give me insight into Your Word and what I need to understand from it.

Mark 9:2-4 - The Mount of Transfiguration

Mark 9:2-4
² Six days later, Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John, and *brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; ³ and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. ⁴ Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.

Message: The Mount of Transfiguration

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus has been in preaching mode of late. After Peter and the disciples declare Jesus as the Christ, Jesus states his goal of suffering, and Peter rebukes that. Jesus tells the disciples that suffering can be part of following Him and their old way of thinking that life is about them and meeting their needs is not the goal. Our goal is to follow Him, no matter the cost.

Jesus pauses for a moment here and takes Peter, James, and John to the high part of the mountain. And He was transfigured before them. His garments became radiant and exceedingly white. Elijah appeared to them along with Moses. Moses had been set apart for the work of God on Mount Sinah. Jesus now experiences something similar. 

I think once again Jesus is confirming to his disciples his unique nature. That nature has been on display continually but they continue to struggle to trust Him each step of the way. Here he simply wants to confirm his mission to them, perhaps in an exciting way. Yes, they probably still don't understand. But, he is more than a man. And while Moses and Elijah may have experienced God at key moments. Here Jesus is the one, like God had been to Moses, shining in light. So, this isn't just another mountain have an experience. No, there is something different about Jesus. He has the same radiance and brilliance and glory of God here. As it records, he is transfigured. He is not simply a witness to what has occurred. He is the occurrence.

But, overall, to me, it is unclear what is happening. Many things could be extrapolated from this or assumed to have occurred. But, at this moment, after 3 verses, I'm not sure what more can be assumed. Perhaps Jesus is simply wanting to confirm to his disciples that He has a special purpose and so he is continuing to ask them to trust Him through it all. Elijah and Moses are present to confirm the historical and central message of God to his people. 

Summary - After Jesus has spoken of his purpose of suffering many things, be rejected, killed, and rise again and then Peter rebukes him on this; Jesus then says to his disciples what it means to be a true follower of Him. And now he is transfigured before 3 of the disciples and confirms that his nature is different from Moses and Elijah and his mission is different as he is transfigured into the radiant whiteness that was ascribed to God the Father previously at appearances to men. 

Promise: One day we will Love as it is. 

Prayer:Lord, thank you for being different, for being real, for being all powerful. I am looking forward to being with You for all eternity. It is hard to fathom at this moment, but I'm confident in You. I continue to trust You this day and pray that my faith would continue to grow and I would trust You. Be glorified.