THE HOLIEST Saint John (Explained)
Tablet Two
"And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?"
"And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ."
"And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No." (John 1:19-21)
<1>The priests and Levites came to find out who John the Baptist was. He denied that he was Christ, Elias, or the Prophet. <2>However, as Christ declared to his disciples, John was the reincarnation of Elias (Matthew 17:11-13). But for the reason of fear of the Pharisees and the king, he denied his identity (discriminating mind).
"Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?" (John 1:22)
<3>The priests who were Pharisees (John 1:24) insisted to receive some words from him, but because of the corruption in religion and government, John knew he would cause trouble for himself and Esa if he answered their questions directly. That is why he indirectly gave them an answer in the next verse.
"He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias." (John 1:23)
<4>This quote is from Isaiah 40:3, which refers to the voice of the one who comes before Christ to straighten the way. The one who was to come before Christ was Elias (Elijah) (Matthew 17:10), so John was the reincarnation of Elias.
"And they which were sent were of the Pharisees."
"And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?" (John 1:24-25)
<5>Now the Pharisees wanted to upset the faith of the people who were following John, and also to put him in a situation to make him profess who he was. That is why they asked him, If he was not Christ, Elias, or that prophet, why was he baptizing?
"John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;"
"He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose." (John 1:26-27)
<6>Again he answered them that he was the harbinger of Christ, that he was Elias (Elijah).
"These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing."
"The next day John seeth Esa coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:28-29)
<7>John recognized Esa who was The First Begotten Son, "which taketh away the sin of the world."
"This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me."
"And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water."
"And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him."
"And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."
"And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God." (John 1:30-34)
<8>John saw the signs which caused him to recognize Christ. "Israel," or the House of Israel, would also recognize him!
"Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;"
"And looking upon Esa as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!"
"And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Esa." (John 1:35-37)
<9>Again John was cautious to not loudly proclaim who Esa was, but he only said this to his disciples and in an indirect manner.
"Then Esa turned, and saw them following, and said unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?" (John 1:38)
<10>John's disciples recognized Esa as the Messiah -- because John called him "the Lamb of God" they realized he was Christ. They went to him and accepted him as their master by referring to him as Rabbi ("Master").
"He saith unto them, Come and see; They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour." (John 1:39)
<11>By saying, "Come and see," Esa also accepted them as his disciples. So they followed him and stayed with him.
"One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother."
"He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ."
"And he brought him to Esa. And when Esa beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone."
"The day following Esa would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me."
"Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter."
"Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Esa of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
"And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see."
"Esa saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"
"Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Esa answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee."
"Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel."
"Esa answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these."
"And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." (John 1:40-51)
<12>Christ was gathering his disciples and choosing those who were ready and came unto him.