Who is the Messiah?

Who is the Messiah?

A debate broke out between John's disciples and a certain Jew over ceremonial cleansing. So John's disciples came to him and said, "Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us." John replied, "No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, 'I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.' It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else. He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true. For he is sent by God. He speaks God's words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. And anyone who believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God's angry judgment." John 3:25-36 NLT

 Meditate. Consider the story of Jesus and John.

 

We don’t hear from Jesus here…just about Him. Sometimes others' words speak more loudly and directly to the heart. John was telling his disciples that Jesus came from Heaven. What a powerful revelation that must have been! Some of John’s disciples became Jesus’ disciples. John was not present when Jesus discussed eternal life with Nicodemus, but he relates the same message.

In this passage, John the Baptist tells us he is not the Messiah, then he gives a great testimony about who Jesus is, where He is from, and what He does. What a tremendous statement about God the Father, too.

The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. John 3:35

God has put the whole world in Jesus’ hands. The total love of God for His Son is well expressed. If only people believed the truth of God’s love.

            What do we learn about Jesus from this passage? John tells us the truth about Jesus. He is the Son of God, sent by God from Heaven. John tells us what God wants us to know, especially that those who obey the Son will have eternal life and not God’s angry judgment. Who is the Messiah to you?

 

Prayer – Lord God, thank you for Your expression of love for mankind by sending Your precious Son to teach, heal, and sacrifice for us.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ Riches won't help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death. Proverbs 11:4

 

© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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