December 25, 2017
Evening Service

This morning we got through the introduction of the Gospel According to John and the first 14 verses.  John has emphatically pronounced the true identity of Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God.  He states at the end of his gospel that the purpose for writing is that the readers “might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing you might have life in His name.”  He showed Jesus to be the Word, the Creator, the Light and the Life of men.  Those believing will receive the right to be called the children of God.  John does not even mention the birth of Christ in his writings, but right after his introduction of Jesus moves right into His ministry years.  This begins with emergence of the first prophet on the scene in over 400 years.  John came as the forerunner of Christ to bear witness of Him and make preparations needed.

The other gospels describe John as man who came out of the wilderness preaching a message of repentance “clothed in camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist.”  His food was “locusts and wild honey.”  He held no position of power or influence, but spoke with undeniable authority.  He drew great crowds because he obediently spoke the truth, challenging his audience to turn from their sins baptizing them as a symbol of their repentance.  His message gained him many followers, but also some strong resistance because he was unafraid to speak the truth to anyone, even King Herod.  The writer John now quotes John the Baptist’s testimony.

 John 1:15-18  John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I spoke: He who comes after me has been before me, for He was preceding me.  (16)  And out of His fullness we all have received, and grace for grace.  (17)  For the Law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  (18)  No one has seen God at any time; the Only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

·         John knowing his Jewish audience brings Moses and the Law into the conversation.  It was through the Law that the Jews knew the nature and will of God.  The Law stressed rules and justice.  God is now revealed to us through the person of Jesus Christ.  Moses was the giver of the Law, but Jesus came to fulfill that Law.  Jesus was also able to highlight God’s nature of mercy, love and forgiveness.  When we see Jesus, we see His Father.  Through His fulfilling of the Law, we are now under the dispensation of grace and truth.

·         John stirred up enough interest that the Jewish leaders came out to see what was going on an question him on his origins and authority.

 

John 1:19-23 And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”  (20)  And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”  (21)  And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he says, “I am not. Are you that prophet?” And he answered, “No.”  (22)  Then they said to him, “Who are you so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say of yourself?”  (23)  He said, I am "the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord," as the prophet Isaiah said.

 

·         John was a great prophet because he was obedient to his call.  He knew who he was and who he was not.  He knew his calling, his role that he was to play and did so willingly and obediently.  He knew he was the one Isaiah prophesied of as “the voice crying in the wilderness.”  He had not been to college to study public speaking, but only trusted God to use him to speak the words he was given.

·         These priests and Levites were sent to see what was going on in the wilderness, to see if this was indeed a prophet or someone trying to mislead their flock.  This is a worthy cause and good leadership, but rather than accept John’s message as from God, they were called out by him as what they truly were; hypocrites.  They strictly obeyed the Law on the outside, but inside they were full of pride, greed and jealousy of John’s large following.

 

John 1:24-28  And they who were sent were from the Pharisees.  (25)  And they asked him and said, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor that Prophet?”  (26)  John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but One stands among you whom you do not know.  (27) He it is who, coming after me, who has been before me; of whom I am not worthy to loosen the thong of His sandal.”  (28)  These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

·         John was sent to the Jewish nation and was baptizing them.  This was something that was not normally done.  Baptism was symbolic of purification but was mainly done only to Gentiles who converted to Judaism.  When they ask him who gave him the authority to do this, he pointed to Jesus who would come after him with even more authority.  John’s humility is magnified with his statement in verse 27.  “I am not even worthy to loosen the thong of His sandal.”  Jesus said there was not a man greater than John, but he considered himself lower than a servant to Christ.

·         This is a good time for an attitude check.  Any pride in your heart that needs to be repented of?  Is humility something you need to work on?  Learn from John’s humility.

 

John 1:29-34 The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and says, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  (30)  This is He of whom I said, “After me comes a Man who has been before me, for He preceded me.  (31)  And I did not know Him, but that He be revealed to Israel, therefore I have come baptizing with water.”  (32)  And John bore record, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and He abode on Him.  (33)  And I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water, that One said to me, Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining upon Him, He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.  (34) And I saw and bore record that this is the Son of God.”

·         Every morning and evening, a lamb was sacrificed in the Temple for the sins of the people. Life’s blood was required for the forgiveness of sins.  Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah, God’s chosen servant, would be led to the slaughter like a lamb.  It had apparently been revealed to John that Jesus was not only the Messiah but also our sacrificial Lamb to be offered for our sins.  It was His life blood that paid for our sins once and for all.

·         Matthew describe this Jesus’ baptism like this in chapter 3 of his gospel:

 

 

 

 

Matthew 3:13-17  Then Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him.  (14)  But John restrained Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”  (15)  And answering Jesus said to him, “Allow it now, for it is becoming to us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.  (16)  And Jesus, when He had been baptized, went up immediately out of the water. And lo, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Him.  (17)  And lo, a voice from Heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

·         John struggled with what Jesus asked him to do, but obeyed anyway.  Jesus was not baptized for the forgiveness of His sins, because there was none.  He was baptized to set the example of righteousness for us.  A good leader always leads by example; we will see this throughout His ministry in all that He does.

·         What a marvelous scene here as the Spirit of God descends upon Jesus like a dove and God confirms what John has been preaching; Jesus is God’s Son. 

 

In summary, what can we take from the life and ministry of John the Baptist?  He found and fulfilled his calling with uncompromising obedience.  He was not afraid to speak the truth.  His humility is a great model for us to follow.  He was very good at reflecting the credit for everything he did back to God. 

·         Are you actively fulfilling what God has called you to?

·         Do you uncompromising obey even when it hurts and when it is inconvenient?

·         Are you afraid to speak truth to those who need to hear it?

·         Is your humility overshadowing your pride?

·         Are you reflecting all credit back to Him?

 

Father, thank You for Your Word and the truth it brings to us about You.  Please allow us to use it to grow in our faith and love for You.