1:27
John was extremely consistent in making the point that it was not about him, he was entirely focused on the one who was coming after him. John did have authority to baptise, but that was because he was under authority, and that he was pointing the way to Jesus. Again, this is a principle that we can all follow. We have authority if we live under God’s authority, and if we direct people to Christ. If the focus starts to go on ourselves, or on a system or organisation, then we are likely to go astray. John knew that compared to Jesus he was nothing. In those days a student was expected to do anything for his teacher that a slave would do, except untie the straps on his sandals and take them off. Feet got very dirty! A slave was expected to do that, but John says that he is not worthy even to do that. We need to have a right perspective.
1:28
There were at least two places called Bethany. The most commonly mentioned one in the gospels was a short distance east and south of Jerusalem, and was where Lazarus, Mary and Martha lived. Now John gives the account of the raising of Lazarus, so he knew full well where that Bethany was. The Bethany of this verse is on the other side of the Jordan. This is where John was baptising. “John testifies about Jesus”. This sums up the whole point of why John relates this section on John the Baptist.
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