“THE VOICE”
John 1:19-28
Intro
TV Show – searching for singing talent THE VOICE (Three judges – how they work )
As we look at our passage today…we discover John the Baptist
And the first thing we will read in our passage today is this is an account of John’s testimony
Other words – speaking from personal experience
John knows God has called him for a mission
That mission is to THE VOICE for one who is coming
John’s mission hasn’t changed – God is still looking for someone who will be THE VOICE
The Voice crying out to those who will listen, because Jesus is coming
Will you and I be THE VOICE?
Read John 1:19-28 / Pray
Trans: The first thing we see is that the Jews…
1. ASK JOHN’S IDENTITY (Vs 19-22)
Evidently, Jewish priest had read the book of Isaiah and knew of the prophecy concerning Jesus
Well, let’s look at the beginning of John’s life
Turn to Luke 1:11-17
Notice, John was set aside from birth to be God’s chosen vessel (There it is again…that word ELECTION)
He will bring joy and many will rejoice because of John
Many he will bring back to the Lord in the spirit and the power of Elijah
Who was Elijah? The Prophet of Fire
Really, he is rugged and rough in appearance, a prototype if you will of John
He was a prophet that spoke the truth regardless of the situation around him
The biggest thing you probably remember is his faith displayed on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:20-40)
Elijah calls people to a decision about God
The people’s false prophets fail when trying to offer a sacrifice
Elijah prays, after soaks altar, fire from heaven falls, consumes the sacrifice
Elijah kills 400 prophets of Baal
Elijah never dies but is taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire
Then, He appears again with Moses to Jesus on a high mountain
Did you know Jesus was a transformer?
Jesus was transfigured (metamorphoo) where we get metamorphis – which means to change or transform
Interesting – Jesus met with THE LAW & THE PROPHETS and here proclaimed He was the complete Word of God
Also, Moses died – resurrected – Elijah didn’t die – taken up – Transfiguration – symbolism of rapture
Pretty powerful – people asking John ARE YOU ELIJAH?
John said – I AM NOT – I am not Elijah but the one
Isaiah the Prophet spoke about
He is not the Christ but the forerunner on a mission
Notice vs 17b “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord”
He knew Jesus was coming…He knew his mission was to ready people’s heart to receive the Lord
Trans: John clearly tells them I am not Christ but…
2. I AM THE VOICE (vs 23)
VOICE – phone (FO NA) – “sound of uttered words”
Remember TV show – judges are TRINITY
John was the Voice – He was distinctive in his message
“Make straight the way for the Lord” (Isa 40:3)
But what does that mean?
MAKE STRAIGHT – euthyno (YOU THU NO) – to make level or plain
THE WAY – hodos (Ha dos) – a travelled road
John’s message was TO MAKE LEVEL OR PLAIN, A TRAVELLED ROAD FOR THE MASTER or LORD
John was a voice, preparing a people, making the message plain, that the Master is coming
John knew that Jesus was coming – and his mission was to get people ready to meet Him when he came
WOW – that sounds like what our mission is or should be
We know Jesus is coming – we are to be the voice crying in the midst of this wilderness called life
To get people ready to meet Jesus
How many know He is coming back soon?
And we are to be the voice…but what are we to do and say?
Well let’s look at that
Trans: Lastly, whenever the Jews came to him…
3. JOHN WAS WORKING TILL JESUS CAME (Vs 26)
John knew He was coming – he didn’t sit by and just wait
John was out preparing the fields for the harvest because the harvester was coming
What work was he doing?
Matt 3:1-6 tells us (turn there)
Notice he preached REPENT – to change one’s mind
To turn around and go the other way
Vs 6 says “confessing their sins”
and after repentance Then, He Baptized them
That was the mission and essence of John’s life
Preach REPENT, to prepare the people, to help remove the obstacles of sin, so they could be changed
So they could be baptized with water because there was ONE coming who would baptize them with the Holy Ghost (vs 11)
Did John meet resistance? Look at Matt 3:7
John was not afraid to speak the truth to those who dissented against him
Notice also that it did not stop his work
Notice again, these are the same people in our passage in verse 22 asking “Who are you John?”
They all knew of the prophecy concerning the coming of Jesus and John looked so much like him in his actions
They were asking if he was Jesus
Do people ever ask the same thing about us?
Can they see enough of Jesus in us to make them wonder?
Then, the Pharisees questioned John in vs 24, If you are not the Christ, then why do you baptize?
Vs 26 “I baptize with water…but one is coming who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit”
In other words, in order to receive what Jesus has for you when He comes, you must REPENT in order to receive it
The same is true in the world today saints – it such a simple message and yet complicated because of its simplicity
Wrap this up
CONCLUSION
John is THE VOICE crying in the wilderness
He knows his identity in not Elijah, not Jesus, not a prophet…just a voice
A voice that was to preach to people – the Lord is coming
A voice to get them ready to meet Jesus when He comes
And He was busy doing what God had called him to do as he was looking for the coming Messiah
The same is true for us today Saints
We have been set aside by God…for such a time as this
To be the voice – to prepare a people to meet the coming Messiah – He is coming
And the only way to meet him is for people to repent
Turn from their sin – accept what Jesus did on the cross
Question is: Will you and I be THE VOICE as we await His coming? Pray
