Joh 1:19-23 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for John 1:19-28: 1:19–12:50 Jesus reveals himself to the world through his miraculous signs and sermons. Audiences were divided: Some wanted to believe in him; others opposed him. This division intensifies as the book unfolds. Jesus ended his public ministry with a final appeal for people to believe in him (12:44-50 ). Summary for John 1:19-51: 1:19-51 John’s Gospel gives limited attention to John the Baptist compared to the synoptic Gospels (Matt 3:1-6 ; Mark 1:2-6 ; Luke 1:1-24 , 57-80 ; 3:1-13 ). Yet the apostle John wants us to see that John the Baptist correctly identified and exalted Jesus. John the Baptist’s disciples leave him and follow Jesus; Jesus took over the ministry John began, increasing as John decreased (John 3:30 ).

Summary for John 1:19-28: 1:19–12:50 ^a Jesus reveals himself to the world through his miraculous signs and sermons. Audiences were divided: Some wanted to believe in him; others opposed him. This division intensifies as the book unfolds. Jesus ended his public ministry with a final appeal for people to believe in him (12:44-50 ^b).
Summary for John 1:19-51: 1:19-51 ^c John’s Gospel gives limited attention to John the Baptist compared to the synoptic Gospels (Matt 3:1-6 ^d; Mark 1:2-6 ^e; Luke 1:1-24 ^f, 57-80 ^g; 3:1-13 ^h). Yet the apostle John wants us to see that John the Baptist correctly identified and exalted Jesus. John the Baptist’s disciples leave him and follow Jesus; Jesus took over the ministry John began, increasing as John decreased (John 3:30 ⁱ).
1:20 ^j The Jews expected the Messiah (the Hebrew form of the Greek word Christ) to bring spiritual leadership and political redemption to Israel (see Deut 18:15 ^k; see also the Jewish intertestamental book Psalms of Solomon).
1:21 ^l Elijah was to be the Messiah’s forerunner (Mal 4:5 ^m). John the Baptist fulfilled the forerunner’s role, though he denied being the prophet Elijah (see Matt 11:14 ⁿ; Luke 1:17 ^o).

• Are you the Prophet we are expecting? Cp. John 6:14 ^p; 7:40-41 ^q.
Summary for John 1:22-23: 1:22-23 ^r Then who are you? John the Baptist simply wanted to be known as a voice shouting in the wilderness (see Isa 40:3 ^s).