merely baptizing with water

devotions from Jefferson Vann # 2375

John 1:24-28

Joh 1:24 And these had been sent from the Pharisees.
Joh 1:25 So they asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you aren’t the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”
Joh 1:26 “I am merely baptizing with water,” John answered them. “Someone stands among you, whom you don’t know him.
Joh 1:27 He is the one coming after me, whose sandal strap I myself do not even deserve to untie.”
Joh 1:28 All this happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

merely baptizing with water

Matthew’s version of this conversation goes like this:

“I baptize you with water to show repentance, but he who is coming after me is stronger than I am, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire”(Matt. 3:11 JDV).

Mark’s version is:

“And he was preaching by telling them: “the One who is more important than me is coming after me, of whom I am not worthy to even bend down and untie the strap of his shoes.” I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. (Mk. 1:7-8 JDV) .

Luke’s version:

“John answered them all, and this is what he said, “I am baptizing you with water, but the one who is more powerful than I am is coming, of whom I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Lk. 3:16 JDV).

In John’s version, we see John the Baptist waiting until he points out Jesus as the Lamb of God before describing what his ministry would be. For John, he was merely baptizing (bringing people to Christ — we call that evangelism today).

OH LORD, give us a ministry like that of John, who merely bring people to Jesus.