Day 2

Scripture to Read: John 1:21–22

So, the questioning of John the Baptist continues because those questioning him were not satisfied with his answer that he was not the Christ. We read in John 1:21–22, “They asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ And he *said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the Prophet?’ And he answered, ‘No.’ 22 Then they said to him, ‘Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?’” We might think that these questions are a little ridiculous, but we must understand why these people asked John the Baptist all these questions. When they asked John the Baptist if he was Elijah, it was because of the prophecies in Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1, and Malachi 4:5–6, which all refer to Elijah being sent as a messenger to make ready the way for the Messiah. John the Baptist knew God sent him to proclaim the arrival of Messiah, but he didn’t know that he had come “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17). John the Baptist knew he was not the “Prophet” (Deuteronomy 18:15, 17–19, Acts 3:22, Acts 7:37) for the Prophet and Christ are the same. It is as if those questioning John the Baptist were trying to confuse him by asking him if he was the “Prophet” since he had already declared to them that he was not the Christ. Like John the Baptist, we must stand assured in who we are in Christ and always be ready to proclaim Him as King.

Challenge & Application

• What did God teach you today that has helped you be better prepared to share Christ with others? • How will you apply what you’ve learned today, and how can you encourage others through what you’ve been taught?

Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!

Devotionals from this week

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Day 1

If you’ve ever been asked the question, “Who are you?” you immediately might have several things running through your mind. You might think to yourself any of the following questions: “Do they want to just know my name,” “Do they want to know what I do,” “Are they asking me what I like and don’t like,” and “Do they want to know what my backgr...

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Day 2

So, the questioning of John the Baptist continues because those questioning him were not satisfied with his answer that he was not the Christ. We read in John 1:21–22, “They asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ And he *said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the Prophet?’ And he answered, ‘No.’ 22 Then they said to him, ‘Who are you, so that we may giv...

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Day 3

We saw yesterday, in John 1:22, that those who were questioning John the Baptist continued to push in, wanting to know exactly who John the Baptist was. John the Baptist gives them this answer in John 1:23, “He said, ‘I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.’” Though John t...

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Day 4

God shows us that those who had been sent to question John the Baptist had been sent by the Pharisees. We read in John 1:24–26, “Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, and said to him, ‘Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?’ 26 John answered them saying, ‘I baptize in water,...

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Day 5

John the Baptist was not intimidated, nor did he cower at those questioning him and his authority. John the Baptist was also not arrogant or prideful about what God had called him to do. John the Baptist’s humility was genuine as he proclaimed Christ. We read in John 1:26b–28, “…but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27 It is He who c...

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Day 6

We read in John 1:29, “The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” Here, we read that Christ showed up and when He did, John the Baptist immediately testified of Who Christ was (and, of course, still is). Christ is the Holy Lamb of God as spoken of in Isaiah 53:7, “He was...

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Day 7

We read in John 1:30, “This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” John the Baptist reminded everyone that Christ is above all and has always existed. He proclaimed Jesus as God in the flesh. Then, John recorded what John the Baptist said in John 1:31, “I did not recogni...

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