Ch. 1:19-51. INTRODUCTION OF CHRIST TO THE WORLD. BY JOHN THE BAPTIST (vers. 19-37); BY HIMSELF (vers. 38-51). CHRIST THE SIN-BEARER OF THE WORLD.--THE POWER OF CHRIST; THE ABIDING OF GOD’S SPIRIT ON HIM.-- CHRIST OUR PATTERN IN FISHING FOR MEN.--THE VALUE OF PERSONAL AND PRIVATE WORK.--THE POWER OF PREJUDICE IN GOOD MEN.--THE BEST ANSWER TO SKEPTICISM, “COME AND SEE.”--CHRIST REVEALS HIMSELF WHEN HE REVEALS US TO OURSELVES.--CHRIST’S FIRST COMING A PROPHECY AND FORETASTE OF HIS SECOND COMING. The historical portion of the Fourth Gospel begins here. The interview between the deputation from the Sanhedrim and John the Baptist here described probably took place after the baptism of Jesus, and during the temptation, of which latter event this Gospel makes no mention. With the account of the Baptist’s ministry given here the reader should compare Matt., chap. 3, and Luke, chap. 3. 19 And this[48] is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? [48] Luke 3:15, etc. 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. =19, 20. And this is the witness of John.= The writer goes back and gives a detailed history of John’s first explicit testimony to the Messiah, connecting it with his previous reference to that testimony in verse 15.--=When the Jews sent priests and Levites.= In John’s Gospel, the term Jews generally signifies, not the residents of Palestine, but those of Judea, and sometimes the official heads of the people. This appears to be the meaning here. It is clear from verse 22 that this was an official deputation, probably sent by the Sanhedrim. The Baptist’s preaching had produced a profound sensation throughout that part of Palestine; great crowds flocked to his ministry; he was universally regarded as a prophet, and by some as perhaps the Messiah; some of the Pharisees themselves came to his baptism, though his severe denunciation of their formalism, and their own opposition to such a personal reform as his preaching demanded, made them, as a class, bitterly opposed to him (Matt. 3:5, 7; 21:25, 26; Luke 3:15). It was therefore natural and fit that the Sanhedrim should send to inquire officially respecting his ministry. There is nothing to indicate whether this inquiry was conducted in a hostile spirit or otherwise.--=Who art thou?= Observe, throughout this interview, the difference in the spirit of the inquirers and of John. They persist in demanding to know _who_ he is; he replies only by pointing out _what_ he does. “They ever ask about his _person_; he ever refers them to his _office_. He is no one--a _voice_ merely; it is the work of God, the testimony to Christ, which is everything. So the formalist ever in the church asks, _Who_ is he? while the witness for Christ only exalts, only cares for Christ’s work.”--(_Alford._)--=And he publicly acknowledged, and denied not.= We know from Luke 3:15 that some