John 1:19–34 — Expository Documentation & Bible Study

Study Diagram Overview

From my Excalidraw study notes—a visual map of John the Baptist's witness, the Lamb of God, and Jesus' baptism. Open diagram in full size →

Day 1	Day 2
John's witness before the delegation (1:19–28)	John's encounter with Jesus (1:29–34)
"Who are you?" — I am not the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet	"Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
Isaiah 40:3 fulfilled — "A voice... Make straight the way of the Lord"	Jesus' baptism; Trinity revealed; Son of God declared

Key themes in the diagram: Aaron & John as spokesmen | John as prophetic priest (Aaron's lineage) | Lamb of God prophecy (Isaiah 53, Passover, Leviticus) | Jesus' baptism as public proclamation of faith

Introduction: The First Week of Jesus' Ministry

John 1:19–34 records the opening of Jesus' public ministry through the witness of John the Baptist. The passage spans two days and introduces central themes: John's identity as a prophetic forerunner, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, and Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Structure at a Glance

Day	Passage	Focus
Day 1	1:19–28	John's witness before the Jewish delegation
Day 2	1:29–34	John's encounter with Jesus and declaration

Day 1: John's Witness Before the Delegation (1:19–28)

The Delegation

19 This is John's testimony when the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, "Who are you?"

Notes drawn from your study:

The Priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted John (cf. 1:24).
The delegation came from Jerusalem—the religious establishment—reflecting concern over a new movement in the wilderness.
John's ministry at the Jordan River contrasted with temple worship in Jerusalem, signaling a shift in where God was at work.

▶ Discipleship application: God often works outside familiar religious structures. Are you willing to follow where He leads, even when it surprises the establishment?

The Question: Who Are You?

20 He did not deny it but confessed, "I am not the Messiah."

Notes drawn from your study:

Question (v. 19)	John's Answer
Who are you?	I am not the Messiah (v. 20)
Are you Elijah? (v. 21)	I am not Elijah
Are you the Prophet? (v. 21)	Not a prophet

Why Elijah?

Elijah never died—he was taken up in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11).
Malachi 4:5 promised: "Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes."
Jesus later affirmed that John fulfilled this role in spirit (Matthew 17:11; Luke 1:17).
John resembled Elijah in his rugged lifestyle (camel-hair garment, leather belt, locusts and wild honey — Matthew 3:4).
Note: Two persons in Scripture did not die—Enoch (Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11).

Theological emphasis: John consistently deflects attention from himself. He is not the Messiah, not Elijah returned, not the Prophet—he is a voice pointing to another.

▶ Discipleship application: "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). Your identity is found in pointing to Christ, not in titles or recognition. How clearly does your life direct others to Jesus?

Isaiah 40:3 Fulfilled

23 He said, "I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord—just as Isaiah the prophet said."

Notes drawn from your study:

Prophetic fulfillment: Isaiah 40:3 announced a voice preparing the way for the Lord in the wilderness.
John does not claim to be Isaiah—he is the voice Isaiah foretold.
Malachi 3:1 also prophesied: "See, I am going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way before me."

Cross-references: Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1

▶ Discipleship application: God's Word is reliable. What He promised centuries earlier came to pass in John. Trust the Scriptures; they will not fail.

Why Baptize?

25 They asked him, "Why then do you baptize, if you aren't the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?"

26 "I baptize with water," John answered them. "Someone stands among you, but you don't know him. 27 He is the one coming after me, whose sandal strap I'm not worthy to untie."

Notes drawn from your study:

Cultural note: To untie and remove another's sandal was the task of a slave. John places himself lower than a slave in relation to Jesus.
Matthew 3:11 — John baptizes with water for repentance; the One coming baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire.
John does not defend his authority—he redirects to the One who stands among them, unrecognized.

▶ Discipleship application: Humility before Christ is not optional. If John considered himself unworthy to untie Jesus' sandal, how much more should we approach Him with reverence and dependence?

John the Baptist: Prophetic Priest and Spokesman

Aaron and John—Spokesmen in Redemptive History

Notes drawn from your study:

Old Testament	New Testament
Aaron — Acted as Moses' mouth to Pharaoh (Exodus 4:14–16; 7:1–2)	John the Baptist — Mouthpiece for Jesus prior to His public ministry (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1)

Prophets and messengers are God's authorized ambassadors, reminding people of covenant terms, warning of judgment, and promising blessings. Examples: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel.

Jesus on John (Matthew 11:7–9): "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet."

▶ Discipleship application: God uses human spokesmen. You, too, are called to be a mouthpiece for Christ—declaring His Word, not your own opinions.

John as Prophetic Priest

Notes drawn from your study:

Levitical Priest	John the Baptist
Lineage: First Aaronic high priest (Exodus 28)	Lineage: Son of priest Zechariah, from Aaron's line (Luke 1:5)
Act: Miracles via rod (plagues; Exodus 7–12)	Act: Baptism of repentance (Matthew 3:1–6)
Humility: Admitted sin (golden calf; Exodus 32)	Humility: "He must increase, I must decrease" (John 3:30)
Outcome: Enabled Exodus from Egypt (Deliverance)	Outcome: Prepared for new covenant salvation (Deliverance)

Luke 1:5 — Zechariah was a priest of the division of Abijah (Levitical priestly course from Aaron's line); Elizabeth was "of the daughters of Aaron." John had double Aaronic descent—a hereditary priest by birthright.

Location: Levitical service was in the Jerusalem temple; John ministered at the Jordan River wilderness—rejecting the temple system and pointing toward the perfect sacrifice.

▶ Discipleship application: John bridged Old Covenant rituals to the new covenant. You live on this side of the cross—rejoice that you serve under the new covenant, where Christ has once for all dealt with sin.

Day 2: John's Encounter with Jesus (1:29–34)

"Look, the Lamb of God"

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

Notes drawn from your study:

Why did John say "Lamb of God"?

Isaiah 53:7 — "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth."
Revelation 5:6 — The slain Lamb standing in the midst of the throne, worthy to open the scroll.
Revelation 7:17 — "For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them."
Old Testament sacrificial system:
- Genesis 3:21 — God made garments of skin for Adam and Eve (first animal death; substitutionary covering).
- Hebrews 9:22 — "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."
- Passover lamb (Exodus 12:3–13); daily/annual lambs in tabernacle/temple (Leviticus 1).

John's priestly lineage makes his declaration profound: as one from Aaron's line, he recognizes that the true sacrifice has arrived—the Lamb who would fulfill all that the Levitical system foreshadowed.

▶ Discipleship application: The Lamb of God took away the sin of the world—not just Israel's sin. Your evangelism, therefore, is to all nations. The sacrifice is sufficient; the invitation is global.

"He Existed Before Me"

30 This is the one I told you about: "After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me." 31 I didn't know him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.

Notes drawn from your study:

John was born before Jesus (Luke 1), yet he says Jesus "existed before me"—affirming Jesus' eternal preexistence (cf. John 1:1).
John did not know Jesus by sight until the baptism; he came to baptize so that Jesus might be revealed.
God, who sent John to baptize, also gave him the sign: the Spirit descending and resting on the One to be revealed.

▶ Discipleship application: John served a purpose he did not fully understand at first. He obeyed, and God revealed. Your obedience may precede your understanding—trust the One who sends you.

Jesus' Baptism and the Trinity

32 And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and he rested on him. 33 I didn't know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The one you see the Spirit descending and resting on—he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."

Notes drawn from your study:

Synoptic accounts (Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22):

Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee to John at the Jordan.
John tried to stop Him: "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?"
Jesus: "Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness."
The heavens opened; the Spirit descended like a dove; the Father spoke: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased."

John's unique emphasis: The baptism was a revelatory event for John—he did not know Jesus until the Spirit descended and rested on Him. God had told him: the One on whom the Spirit rests is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

Why is the Trinity's appearance at Jesus' baptism significant?

Creation parallel: At creation—Father, Son, Spirit; at baptism—Father, Son, Spirit. A new beginning.
Start of public ministry: Jesus began His public ministry the moment He was baptized—it was His commissioning and public proclamation before the world.
Public commissioning: Jesus is anointed for His messianic mission; baptism is a public declaration of faith and identification with God's purposes.
Revelation of Jesus' identity: He is the Son of God; He will baptize with the Holy Spirit.

▶ Discipleship application: The same Spirit who rested on Jesus is given to believers (Acts 2). You are not left to serve in your own strength—the Spirit empowers you for witness and obedience.

Summary: Theological Themes from Your Notes

John's identity: He is not Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet—he is the voice of Isaiah 40:3, preparing the way.
Prophetic fulfillment: Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1 are fulfilled in John.
John as prophetic priest: Bridging Old Covenant (Aaron, temple, sacrifices) to the new covenant in Christ.
Lamb of God: Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice, foreshadowed in Genesis 3:21, Passover, Leviticus, and Isaiah 53.
Jesus' preexistence: He "existed before" John despite being born later.
Trinity at baptism: Father, Son, and Spirit present at Jesus' commissioning.
Witness and humility: John's role is to point to Christ; "He must increase, I must decrease."

For Further Study

John's baptism and Christian baptism: Trace the relationship between repentance baptism and baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Like Jesus, believer's baptism is a public proclamation of faith—a public declaration that marks the start of one's life in Christ.
Lamb imagery across Scripture: Genesis 22 (Abraham's test), Exodus 12 (Passover), Isaiah 53, Revelation.
The "Prophet" of Deuteronomy 18: How does Jesus fulfill the expectation of "the Prophet like Moses"?

Reflection & Response

How does this shape your walk?

Witness: Does your life point to Christ, or to yourself?
Humility: Do you consider yourself unworthy to serve, yet willing?
Obedience: Are you following God's call even when you do not yet see the full picture?
The Lamb: Is your confidence in Christ's sacrifice alone for forgiveness?
The Spirit: Are you depending on the Holy Spirit for power and witness?

Documentation compiled from study notes. Scripture references from CSB (Christian Standard Bible).