Who Are You? -John 1:19-23

John 1:19-23 ESV
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”



The Jews could hear this voice crying in the wilderness, but they could not make out what John was saying. A contingent of priests and Levites were sent from the city find out what is going on. They step out of the city and there meet a man sent from God. God calls them out of that city, out of their ordinary lives and all the distractions that tend to distort and cause us to forget the word of God.

They ask the question, "Who are you?". He is different and unexpected. John freely admits and confirms who he is not. He does not tell them his name, but his purpose. He confirms a prophesy uttered by Isaiah long ago. He is the voice in the wilderness that cries out the words of God given to him long ago. The message is the main thing. The Lord is coming.

This one man is delivering the word to Israel that Israel should have delivered to the world. They were chosen as a people to God to reveal the glory of The Lord. They fell short in this endeavor through disobedience. John announces the coming of one that would accomplish and fulfill God's purpose.


ὁμολογέω homologeō 26x to speak in accordance, adopt the same terms of language; to engage, promise, Mt. 14:7 ; to admit, avow frankly, Jn. 1:20 ; Acts 24:14 ; to confess, 1 Jn. 1:9 ; to profess, confess, Jn. 9:22 ; 12,42 ; Acts 23:8 ; to avouch, declare openly and solemnly, Mt. 7:23 ; in NT ὁμολογεῖν ἐν, to accord belief, Mt. 10:32 ; Lk. 12:8 ; to accord approbation, Lk. 12:8 ; from the Hebrew, to accord praise, Heb. 13:15 [3670] See acknowledge ; confess ; promise . (MCED)

Acts 13:25
And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie. ’

Acts 19:4
And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”

Isaiah 40:3-5
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.”