Sermon Preached at Grace Community Church (EPC)
Sun City Grand, Surprise, AZ
Sunday, October 13, 2013
by the Reverend Cooper McWhirter
IN CHRIST ALONE: “A Credible Witness” [Part Two]
John 1:19-28
Last August, I received a jury summons and was selected as a potential juror in a first-degree murder case. But for a variety of reasons, I was summarily excused. However, I did sit in on two initial screenings; during which time the accused was present in the courtroom when the judge, and both the defense and the prosecution teams, spoke about the responsibilities of being a competent juror.
The potential jurors were previously asked if they had any foreknowledge about the case, or if they knew any of the witnesses, or members of the court. A rather lengthy questionnaire had been submitted by each prospective juror, which asked a whole range of questions; but in particular with respect to their views on capital punishment and the death penalty.
The presiding judge told us we would be required to take a solemn oath to be fair and impartial. Each juror would then be asked to give thoughtful consideration as to the credibility of the witnesses and the empirical evidence presented.
At one point during these initial proceedings, the defense team argued that witnesses, even eyewitness, are inherently unreliable in giving their testimony. However, Lee Strobel, the former award-winning legal editor for The Chicago Tribune, would likely have taken issue with that comment.
This former atheist-turned-Christian, in his much heralded book, The Case for Christ, writes: “Eyewitness testimony can be compelling and convincing. When a witness has an ample opportunity to observe and when there is no bias or ulterior motives; and when the witness is truthful and fair, that person’s account becomes ‘credible evidence’.”
In these opening verses to the gospel of John, the apostle previously had introduced us to John the Baptist (vss. 6-8, 15). His primary role was that of a witness (testimony) as to the “Light of Christ”. From today’s passage, we discover just how credible a witness he truly was; so that others might also see the “Light of Life”.
From the example of John the Baptist, we come to better understand what constitutes being a credible witness. And, in order to become a credible witness for Christ…WE MUST FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE WHO WE ARE NOT (repeat).
Initially, this may seem a bit odd to you; to acknowledge who we are not! In a sermon entitled, “Examining the First Witness”, by Devin Hudson, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Madison, IN, he articulates why this is important; just as it was for John the Baptist.
We read that John the Baptist came preaching a message of repentance, where he said: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” [Matthew 3:2]. And for those who did repent, he baptized them with water; and this took place on the other side of the Jordan River in Bethany. He drew such a large following that it came to the attention of the religious leaders in Jerusalem; and so they sent a delegation of priests and Levites to inquire about this man.
Keep in mind, it had been some four hundred years since the last Old Testament prophet, Malachi. During this so-called, “Inter-Testamental” period, there had been no prophetic word spoken; nor had any miracles been performed! Thus, it had been a very long “spiritual drought” for the Jewish people. Therefore, the Jews were longing for a sign, any sign, about the long-awaited Jewish Messiah.
So, it should come as no surprise that these religious leaders were curious about this eccentric, who others called, “the Baptist”! And this delegation wasted no time in asking pertinent questions. In verse 19 they asked: “Who are you?” Notice they did not specifically ask, “Are you the Christ?” Thus, we can assume that John knew by their line of questioning precisely what they were probing for. In verse 20 we read: “And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ.’ ”
They then asked, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And why would they have asked that? This was because Old Testament prophecies spoke of one, such as Elijah, who would precede the Messiah… “in that great and dreadful day of the Lord” [Malachi 4:5]. Then, too, “the Baptist” appeared much like that of Elijah; for his garb was peculiar indeed! He wore a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather belt around his waist; his staple diet consisted of eating locusts and wild honey [Matthew 3:4]. But again he said, “I am not.”
These delegates continued their query by asking, “Are you the Prophet?” In Deuteronomy 18:15-19, it speaks of a great prophet, one like Moses, whose words would come from the lips of God; and he would restore Israel. But again John said, “No.”
In his sermon, Devin Hudson writes: “If we are going to be a proper witness, we must realize who we are not… We cannot think of ourselves as more than what we are… As a witness, we need to remember that we are not anything other than what and who we are…‘sinners saved by grace’.”
Then, too, in order to become a credible witness for Christ: WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE WHO WE ARE (repeat).
These priests and Levites then asked, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” Apparently, this religious delegation was not satisfied with hearing John’s denials! In other words, they wanted to know by what authority he was baptizing and preaching a word of repentance.
This opened the door for John to quote these words from the prophet Isaiah who said: “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the LORD’ ” [Isaiah 40:3]. To further elaborate as to the reason(s) why he was baptizing, he told them, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.”
Unlike the “eternal logos” mentioned in the prologue; a voice, any human voice, is but temporary. A voice, even like that of ‘the Baptist’, would soon fade away; never to be heard from again! Indeed, this was John’s view about himself wherein he exclaimed: “He [meaning Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease” [John 3:30]. John was not speaking about himself in a ‘self-deprecating’ manner. He was simply being honest about himself!
Tony Evans, Senior Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas TX, made this remark: “If you go month after month and year after year and there are no negative repercussions…because of your faith, then your faith has not been clearly demonstrated…and because there have been no repercussions, you are a ‘covert operative’ of the Christian faith.”
Obviously, there were repercussions in the life of John the Baptist. He was preaching a message of repentance; one which the Jewish people, and especially the religious leaders, did not want to hear. And because he pointed the way to the One who would come after him, he was eventually imprisoned and subsequently beheaded by Herod the tetrarch, at the request of the daughter of Herodias; Herodias, who was the wife of Herod’s brother, Philip.
Yes, to become a ‘credible witness’ for Christ, one must know who they are NOT, as well as who they are! But, most importantly, WE MUST
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO CHRIST IS (repeat).
It might interest you to know that baptism was not a new practice in Judaism. It was a rite performed for Gentiles who were converting to Judaism. And this infuriated these Jewish leaders because John was baptizing both Jews and Gentiles! So among themselves they were asking, “What right does John have to baptize anyone?”
John’s response reveals what is clearly the role of a proper witness. He does this by pointing the way to… Jesus as the Christ! In essence, John was telling these religious leaders, “What you are asking has nothing to do with me! Nor does it have anything to do with the rite of baptism!”
Put simply, it is all about JESUS!… “ ‘the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.’ ” To tie or untie someone’s sandals was customarily performed by a servant. And yet, Christ Jesus would later wash the feet of His beloved disciples in the Upper Room during the ‘Last Supper’ [John 13:5-14].
Question: “Now that we better understand what is required to be a credible witness for Christ, do you wish to become one?” “Can you honestly say that you are a credible witness?” Put another way, if you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you; or would you be found innocent of all charges?
Tony Evans explained it this way: “When a witness is summoned to court but refuses to testify, he is held in contempt by the judge. One day, when you stand before Jesus Christ, will YOU be held in contempt? Because if you refuse to testify of Him, HE will refuse to testify on your behalf!” May GOD have mercy on our souls!
Let us pray…
