The Testimony of John the Baptist - Christmas According to John

In many ways Jesus’ entry into the world was pretty subtle. Israel might have expected their long awaited Messiah to enter the world with a bang. Perhaps the Messiah would be born in Jerusalem, in the temple, surrounded by the priests and Levites and other religious leaders ready to welcome their king. Instead, Jesus slips into the world largely unnoticed. However, there are a couple of really important figures in the story who serve as witnesses and bear testimony to the arrival of the Messiah, perhaps none more important than John the Baptist. John the Baptist’s name is all over the opening chapter of John’s gospel, and in verses 19-28 he is grilled by the religious establishment about his identity and about what he is up to. His answers are both fascinating and instructive for us today.