Who Did John the Baptist Say Jesus Was?
John the Baptist was among the earliest and most significant witnesses to Jesus’ identity. He was a prophetic figure whose ministry prepared the way for Jesus’ public work. The testimony of John the Baptist is not only foundational for understanding the person and mission of Jesus, but it also provides a bridge between the Old Testament expectation of the Messiah and the New Testament revelation of Jesus as the Christ.
Who Was John the Baptist?
John the Baptist emerges in the Gospels as a prophet in the tradition of Elijah, calling Israel to repentance in anticipation of the coming of the Lord. The Gospel writers are unanimous in presenting John as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, particularly Isaiah 40:3: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” (Matthew 3:3).
His role as a prophet is significant. John stands at the threshold of the old and new covenants, serving as the last of the Old Testament prophets and the messenger of the new era inaugurated by Jesus.
John the Baptist’s Testimony in the Gospel of John
The most detailed account of John the Baptist’s testimony is found in the Gospel of John. When questioned by the religious authorities about his identity and mission, John is clear: “I am not the Christ” (John 1:20). He identifies himself as the voice preparing the way for another, one who is greater than himself.
The next day, John sees Jesus coming toward him and declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). John draws on the imagery of the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, particularly the Passover lamb (Exodus 12) and the suffering servant of Isaiah 53, who is “like a lamb that is led to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7). His proclamation points to Jesus as the one who will offer himself as a sacrifice for sin, fulfilling the deepest hopes of Israel for redemption.
John continues his testimony: “This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me’” (John 1:30). John affirms both the preeminence and the preexistence of Jesus. Although John’s public ministry began before Jesus’, he acknowledges that Jesus “was before me,” a statement that hints at Jesus’ divine origin. This follows the prologue of John’s Gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).
John further testifies to Jesus’ unique relationship with the Holy Spirit: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit’” (John 1:32-33). John distinguishes his own baptism with water from the greater baptism that Jesus will bring, one that involves the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. He declares that Jesus is the one who ushers in the promised new covenant, in which God’s Spirit is poured out on all flesh (Joel 2:28-29).
John’s ultimate confession is found in John 1:34: “And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” This title, “Son of God,” is laden with messianic and divine connotations. In the Old Testament, “son of God” could refer to Israel as a nation (Exodus 4:22), to the Davidic king (Psalm 2:7), or to angelic beings (Job 1:6). However, in the context of John’s Gospel, the title points to Jesus’ unique and eternal relationship with God the Father, as the one who reveals God perfectly and shares in his divine nature (John 1:18).
John’s Testimony in the Gospels
The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) also record John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus, though with different emphases. In Matthew 3:11-12, John says, “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” John acknowledges his own unworthiness in comparison to Jesus and points to Jesus’ role as the one who brings the Spirit and executes divine judgment.
At the baptism of Jesus, the heavens are opened, and the Spirit descends upon Jesus like a dove. A voice from heaven declares, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). While this is the voice of God the Father, it is significant that John is present as a witness to this divine affirmation of Jesus’ identity.
In John’s later ministry, when his own disciples express concern that Jesus is attracting more followers, John responds, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). Jesus is “above all” and “the Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:31, 35-36). John thus points away from himself and directs all attention to Jesus as the one in whom eternal life is found.
Who is Jesus According to John the Baptist?
John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus is multifaceted and profound. He identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God, the preexistent one, the baptizer with the Holy Spirit, and the Son of God. Each of these titles carries deep theological meaning.
By calling Jesus the Lamb of God, John points to the necessity and sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrificial death for the forgiveness of sins. This is a declaration of Jesus’ unique role in God’s redemptive plan. The New Testament writers will later develop this theme, as in 1 Peter 1:18-19: “You were ransomed…with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”
John’s recognition of Jesus’ preexistence and superiority highlights the divine nature of Jesus. He is not just a human teacher or prophet, like John, but the eternal Word made flesh (John 1:14). This is consistent with the Trinitarian understanding of God, as articulated in the Nicene Creed: “We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.”
The distinction between John’s baptism with water and Jesus’ baptism with the Holy Spirit shows the transformative power of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus is the one who brings about the new birth and the indwelling of the Spirit, fulfilling the promises of the prophets (Ezekiel 36:25-27).
Finally, by bearing witness that Jesus is the Son of God, John affirms both the messianic and divine identity of Jesus. This testimony is presented as the basis for faith and eternal life: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36).
Conclusion
John the Baptist’s testimony concerning Jesus is clear, consistent, and compelling. He does not point to himself but to Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises, the Lamb who takes away sin, the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit, and the Son of God. John’s witness stands as an invitation to all who hear: to behold Jesus, to recognize his unique identity and mission, and to believe in him for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. As the Gospel of John later summarizes, “But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).