John 1:7 Commentary and Bible Study

Malachi 3.1 speaks of the great messenger who would come before the Messiah. It was John the Baptist. He came as a witness so that all men, that is, all in his generation, in his country, among the Jews, through him might believe.They did not, of course. What a stir John created! We should not ever underestimate John the Baptist. As we read the gospels we see that vast crowds attended him. So many people were baptised by him, and they were supposed to be saying in their baptism that they would receive the Messiah, and John preached. He was the forerunner, Messiah was immediately coming. Everybody heard him and knew about him. In fact, he was so popular at the height of his power and influence that even the scribes and the Pharisees and the leaders of the Jews from Jerusalem had to go out and to pay their respects to him.The whole population of the land knew from the preaching of John that the Messiah was about to come and indeed had arrived. Then why were they so asleep on their feet, and so against Christ when he immediately appeared among them doing mighty miracles? They had all thrilled at the sound of John’s preaching. They all knew Messiah was here, but they did not put two and two together. They did not want the Messiah. All the Jews knew that Christ the Messiah had arrived, and yet they did not listen.