I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One

John 1:19-34

Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

John the Baptist's dramatic preaching attracts much attention. But he directs it away from himself. He is not Messiah,. Nor will he admit to being the predicted second Elijah (Malachi 4:5: in contrast, Jesus leaves us in no doubt that this prediction was realized in John - Matthew. Nor is he the prophet like Moses, spoken of in Deuteronomy 18:15. As soon as God has shown him his 'Chosen One'. John directs people to Jesus.

Why?

John's testimony shows Jesus is the Messiah. He is even not worthy to untie Jesus's sandals.

When John baptized Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes upon Jesus as a dove and remain on him, once more time proved Jesus is God's Chosen One. 

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施洗約翰：從否認開始1)不強調身份與頭銜2)不為他的工作上誇口 3)只強調耶穌的身份與工作。

非常符合後來chap3 他必興旺、我必衰微！

施洗約翰否認他是彌賽亞、先知、一直沒有說我是誰? 馬拉基書提列將來有個以利亞來，耶穌後來說他就是馬拉基書4:5的以利亞。許多人不知不覺中重視頭銜，例如要牧者來我禱告，比傳道人、小組長禱告更好。其實神都垂聽！

不為自己的工作誇口：猶太人認為為人施洗要有身份地位！質疑他以什麼權柄來施洗?施洗約翰認為我本來就是不配的、不算什麼。我們只是神的器皿！

只強調耶穌的身份及工作：指出這位就是神的羔羊！強調耶穌的永恆性，要用聖靈給人施洗的。強調耶穌的工作是要除去世人罪孽！

當人來質問我們身份時，我們本能的會把自己身份亮出來！

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How?

Jesus is the son of the Lord in the flesh who came to this world, in order to save us from sins. Jesus is the lamb to erase our sins. This is the way only to save us. But most people do not accept Him.