Seeking Jesus First Dec. 31, 2025
One Among You Whom You Do Not Know
“Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him… ‘Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?’ John answered them… ‘There stands One among you whom you do not know.’” (John 1:24–28, NKJV)
As the questioning of John the Baptist continues, the focus sharpens. The Pharisees are no longer simply asking who John is—they are asking why he has authority to do what he is doing. If he is not the Christ, not Elijah, and not “the Prophet,” then by what right does he baptize?
This reveals what is really at stake. The Pharisees were deeply concerned with pedigree. Genealogies, lineage, and scriptural categories mattered greatly to them. Authority, in their view, flowed through recognized structures and identifiable roles. They wanted John to justify himself according to their framework—to give them a reason they could approve.
John does not comply.
Instead of defending his position or explaining his credentials, John redirects their attention entirely. “I baptize with water,” he says, but then immediately points beyond himself: “There stands One among you whom you do not know.” John’s authority is not rooted in pedigree, but in proximity to Christ. His confidence does not come from who sent him, but from Who is present.
This is a striking moment. The religious leaders are standing face to face with John, carefully examining him—yet the true issue is that they are unaware of the One already standing among them. The Light is present. The Word made flesh is near. But they do not recognize Him.
John’s response teaches us something essential about spiritual discernment. It is possible to be deeply familiar with Scripture and yet miss the living Christ. It is possible to ask the right questions and still overlook the right Person. Knowledge without revelation can still leave us unaware of God’s nearness.
John then adds a statement of profound humility: “It is He… whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” In the culture of that day, loosening a sandal strap was the work of the lowest servant. John is not diminishing himself falsely—he is rightly magnifying Christ. He understands the immeasurable gap between the forerunner and the Lord, between the witness and the Word.
This passage fits seamlessly into the flow of John 1. The Light has come. Some receive Him; many do not. Witnesses testify, but recognition is not guaranteed. What matters is not human approval, religious status, or proper credentials—but whether we recognize Jesus when He stands among us.
The final detail is easy to overlook but important: “These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan.” God is doing something world-changing in a place that would not impress religious elites. Revelation often comes in ordinary places, outside expected centers of power.
Today, let this truth settle in your heart: Jesus may be closer than you realize. He stands among us—not waiting for permission, credentials, or approval. Like John, our calling is not to justify ourselves, but to point faithfully to Him. Ask yourself not only what you know about God, but whether you recognize His presence. The Kingdom often arrives quietly—standing right in the midst of those who are looking elsewhere.