Why Was John's Baptism Different Than Jesus' Baptism? John 1:19-28

 John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah

19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” 24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

John the Baptist is a great example of someone who knew who he was, and who he wasn't.  He did not come to bring attention to himself because he was not the Messiah.  His job was to point people to the Messiah.  Since John had a large following of disciples it was critical for him distinguish himself from Jesus.  If he was not the Messiah, the Jewish leaders reason, maybe he was Elijah.  John refuses this as well.  

Next, John responds to who he is with a quote from Isaiah 40:3. As the prophet Isaiah had warned the Israelites to repent and turn back to God, now John the Baptist was introducing God in a different way through His Son, Jesus.  He was more interested in preparing the way to the Jesus than making a name for himself.  

Finally, since John was baptizing people in the Jordan river, they wonder what is the purpose of his baptism.  Remember "water baptism" was practiced in the Old Testament for Gentiles who converted to Judaism.  It was more of a ceremonial cleansing than anything. Though it provided cleansing it was only temporary.  A person would sin again.  John's baptism looked to Jesus' baptism which would take away people's sin and cause them to be born again!  

"John’s baptism demonstrated the humble willingness to repent, be cleansed, and prepare for the coming Messiah. Yet John’s baptism gave nothing to help someone keep clean. The work of Jesus and His baptism of the Holy Spirit represents more than John’s baptism."(Guzik)

John then begins to talk about the One to whom he was pointing toward.  Though John baptized others as God's representative, the One who was coming, he would not be worthy to baptize.  In fact, he considered himself so much beneath Jesus, he would not even be worthy to untie his sandals. To give this some context, 

‘Every service which a slave performs for his master’, said one rabbi, ‘a disciple will perform for his teacher, except to untie his sandal-strap.’” (Bruce)

Is it difficult for you to consider others as better or more worthy than yourself?  Is there anything beneath you that you would not be willing to do for someone else?  What does this all mean in the context of Jesus washing his disciples feet at the Last Supper?  Whose feet do you need to wash this week?