1 John 1:19

John 1:19 says, And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? We read that the Jews sent priests and Levites to find out who John the Baptist professed to be.  Even before Jesus began His earthly ministry, the Jewish leaders were questioning any speaking about the Messiah.  We today need to make sure that those proclaiming Christ are doing so to bring glory to God.  I don't feel that the Jewish leaders were wrong to question John, since they had a responsibility as God's people to make sure no false prophets rose to power.  We as God's people today have that same responsibility.  Verse twenty adds, And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.  When asked, John told them he was not the Messiah.  Verse twenty-one continues, And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.  They then asked if he were Elias, and he said no, or this prophet, and he said no.  Verse twenty=two concludes, Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?  They wanted to know the source of his authority to proclaim the coming of the Messiah.  He was simply John the Baptist, acting under the power of his calling by God.  If we are proclaiming Christ and anyone asks us who we are, we can only answer that we are a follower of Christ, acting under His authority.  Verse twenty-three states, He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.  John said he was the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias; or Isaiah.  He was doing nothing against the Scriptures.  We need to make sure if someone is proclaiming Christ today that what they proclaim is consistent with the Scriptures.  Verse twenty-four adds, And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.  Verse twenty-five continues, And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?  Those sent to question John the Baptist wanted to know, if he were none of those mentioned, why he was baptizing people.  Knowing a person's motivation is always a good thing.  If John were doing this for personal gain, the religious leaders needed to know, as would we today with anyone who is becoming well known because of their proclaiming Christ. Verse twenty-six says, John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; John said he baptized in water, but One was standing among them, who they knew not, Who was preferred above John.  Verse twenty-seven adds, He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. He said this was One whose sandals he was not worthy to unlatch.  We can never be worthy of the love of Christ, and He will always be preferred above all others, because He is the only way for people to be restored to God.