John 1:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."

NIV: He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."

NASB: It is He who comes after me, of whom I am not worthy even to untie the strap of His sandal.'

CSB: He is the one coming after me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie."

NLT: Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.'

KJV: He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

NKJV: It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”

John the Baptist—not the author of this gospel—gives more details about the person "standing among" the people, unrecognized. This figure is "the One who comes after," meaning the Messiah.

When challenged by the Pharisees about his ministry (John 1:19–26), the Baptist made it clear that he was not the Messiah, only a "voice" preparing for the arrival of that person (Isaiah 40:3). This Messiah is so much greater than the Baptist that he doesn't feel worthy to untie his sandals. In that culture, cleaning another person's feet was considered the work of the lowliest servants. Walking the roads meant having feet caked in mud, dirt, and dung. This not only makes the Baptist's statement dramatic, but it also highlights the significance of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples prior to His death and resurrection (John 13).

Comparing John the Baptist's statement to Jesus' service is a powerful explanation of how much grace God expressed when He sent Christ to us (1 John 4:9).

John 1:19–28 describes a conversation. On one side is John the Baptist, different from the author of this gospel. On the other are local religious leaders. Baptizing converts to Judaism was common, but the Baptist was calling on Jews to repent and be baptized. The Baptist makes it clear that he is not the "Promised One," but equally clear that his mission is to prepare the way for that One.

The first chapter of John introduces Jesus as "the Word," from the Greek logos. This chapter clearly describes Jesus as God. After this prologue, the chapter describes Jesus recruiting the first of His disciples, as well as a conversation between John the Baptist and the Pharisees. There are seven names or titles for Christ in this chapter, including "the Son of God," "the Word," and "the King of Israel."

The first chapter of the gospel of John equates Christ with God and introduces John the Baptist. The Baptist specifically points to Jesus as the Promised One. Jesus collects the first five of His disciples. In this chapter, Jesus is given seven descriptive names, including "the Word," "the Son of God," and "the King of Israel." This chapter sets the stage for the rest of the gospel, by giving the reader a sense of who Jesus truly is, and why He has come. The rest of the gospel is an exploration of the claims made in this initial passage.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.

Accessed 12/21/2024 6:17:28 AM