Sermon Preached at Grace Community Church (EPC)
Sun City Grand, Surprise, AZ
Sunday, October 27, 2013
by the Reverend Cooper McWhirter
IN CHRIST ALONE: “I Did Not Recognize Him” [Part Three]
John 1:29-34
Previously in part one of this sermon series entitled, “In Christ Alone”, the apostle John spoke of Jesus being the “eternal logos”. He went on to say that the Word was “with God” and that the Word “was God”. In part two, we learned that John the Baptist was a ‘credible witness’ as “a voice of one crying in the wilderness” [Isaiah 40:3].
In this morning’s passage, the Baptist continues his testimony about Jesus being the Christ, the Long-awaited Messiah, and God’s eternal Son! But then the Baptist makes a peculiar remark; where not once, but twice, he says: “I did not recognize Him…” and yet we know from Scripture that they were cousins [Luke 1:36].
I also find it ironic that John’s gospel does not specifically mention Jesus’ baptism, but only what occurs before and after He was immersed; whereas the three Synoptic Gospels speak about Jesus' baptism [Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22]. Perhaps this is because John wrote his narrative much later than the other three. And so it’s conceivable that John purposely tried to avoid being redundant.
In Matthew’s account when Jesus came forward to be baptized, He said to the Baptist: “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness” [Matthew 3:15]. Thus, baptism became a holy sacrament by Christ’s own example and command. Our Lord’s baptism also came to symbolize His birth, death and resurrection.
Jesus’ baptism also served as His inauguration ceremony for the commencement of His earthly ministry. On this auspicious occasion the Baptist made the following declarations:
JESUS IS THE LAMB OF GOD (repeat).
This took place the day after a delegation arrived from Jerusalem comprised of both priests and Levites who subsequently interrogated the Baptist. This delegation asked John if he was claiming to be the Christ, and if not, then was he Elijah, or Moses.
And the Baptist said “No” to each of their inquiries. He did, however, explain that he was the forerunner to the Messiah. In this capacity he was preaching a message of repentance and baptizing believers (both Jew and Gentile) with water. And this took place on the other side of the Jordan River near the town of Bethany.
This remarkable phrase, “the Lamb of God” appears only twice in the Bible; both in verse 29 and again in verse 36. However, the meaning and significance of this phrase was not lost to the Jews of that day. To them it meant, “sacrifice”! Every morning and evening, a lamb was sacrificed in the temple for the sins of the people [Exodus 29:38-42]. Then, too, in Isaiah 53:7, the prophet spoke of the Jewish Messiah as One who would be led to the slaughter like a sacrificial lamb…an unblemished Lamb; One who was without sin!
In his book, In Christ Alone, Sinclair Ferguson writes: “In order for a Person to be an all-sufficient sacrifice, He would have to meet the following criteria: 1) He would have to be free from the need to die for His own sin, 2) He would have to be willing to die in order to overcome ‘the sting’ of death, 3) and He would have to possess the power to retrieve His life again.” And this is precisely what the Baptist meant when he proclaimed: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” [verse 29]. Thus, the meaning becomes readily apparent! The Baptist was speaking about ‘self-sacrifice’!
There’s a story told about Cyrus, the first emperor of the Mede-Persian Empire, who once captured a prince and his family. When they were brought before his majesty, the monarch asked the prince, “What will you give me if I release you?” “The half of all my wealth,” was his reply. “And if I was to release your children?” “Everything that I possess” the prince said. “And what if I released your wife, what then?” “Your Majesty,” the prince said, “I would offer myself in her stead.”
King Cyrus was so moved by this man’s devotion to his wife and children that the king immediately released them all! As the prince and his family were returning to their homeland, he turned to his wife and said, “Wasn’t Cyrus a man of great stature?” With a look of deep affection, the wife replied, “I did not take notice. I could not help but to keep my eyes on you…the one who was willing to die in my place!”
The Baptist draws a further distinction between himself and the Christ where he said: JESUS BAPTIZES IN THE HOLY SPIRIT (repeat).
I’ve been told there are some who believe that baptism is salvific, and if true, then such proponents are sadly mistaken! I cite the example of the thief on the cross who may never have graced the doors of a synagogue; let alone having been baptized! Water baptism is a sacrament to be sure…a holy sacrament ordained by our Lord. And when this sacrament is administered properly, it is one means by which God dispenses His grace, mercy and loving-kindness. However, neither the one who administers this sacrament, nor the recipient, is necessarily saved as a result of it; regardless of the mode! Baptism, whether for an infant or an adult, is best understood to be “an outward expression of an inward condition”.
But, he or she who is baptized by, with, or in the Holy Spirit, is saved indeed! And this is what John the Baptist testifies as to what the Christ would accomplish by His atoning sacrifice. In verse 33, the voice from out of heaven exclaimed: “… this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.” This was the same voice who had summoned John to baptize with water. The voice of Almighty God was now proclaiming that this was His beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased!
The Holy Spirit has been aptly called “the shy One of the Trinity” because He never testifies about Himself. Instead, He invokes knowledge about the Son of God and imparts spiritual gifts. Jesus explained to Nicodemus the meaning of 'spiritual rebirth' where He said: “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit” [John 3:8]. Yes, the Holy Spirit is like the wind. It comes and it goes! And so it is with those who are ‘born again’ as they are carried along by the Spirit!
Sinclair Ferguson had this to say about the Person of the Holy Spirit: “The spirit ‘goes out’ of His own accord, but NOT of His own initiative! Rather, He is ‘sent’ by the Father in the Name of the Son.”
Then, as a further testimony that the Man who stood before him was truly the ‘God-Man’, the Baptist bore witness to the fact [that]: JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD (repeat).
In verse 30, the Baptist said: “This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ ” In
essence, the Baptist was proclaiming that Jesus was, is, and shall always be the “pre-existent One”!
John goes on to say, “… ‘I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him’ ” [vs. 33]. Then, too, he was an eyewitness where in verse 34 he exclaims: “ ‘I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.’ ”
From this passage one comes away with the certain knowledge that the Baptist did not experience this encounter by means of his human senses alone. No! This was a supernatural event; one in which all three Persons of the Godhead were present and took part in Jesus’ commissioning.
In preparation for this sermon, these words kept reverberating in my mind where the Baptist said, “I did not recognize Him” [vs. 31]. As if to add further emphasis, Jesus’ cousin repeats himself once again in verse 33! You can consult any number of commentaries; none which will offer a plausible explanation as to what the Baptist meant by this. It’s possible that Jesus and His cousin, John, had never met before that day. And, if they had, perhaps it was when they both were quite young. Then, too, John may not have recognized the Lord because He radiated a kind of shekinah glory that enveloped Him!
Now, this is only my opinion, so take it for what it’s worth! But perhaps… just perhaps, the Baptist was speaking not only about himself, but on behalf of all mankind because the world was neither ready for the Messiah then; nor is the world ready for the Messiah now!
Again quoting from Sinclair Ferguson he writes: “There is…an element in the gospel narratives that stresses that the coming of Jesus is a disturbing event of the deepest proportions. It had to be thus, for He did not come merely to add something extra to life, but to deal with our spiritual insolvency and the debt of our sin… He was not sent to be the source of good experiences, but to suffer the pangs of hell in order to be our Savior.”
George Smeaton, a 19th century Scottish theologian, explained the magnitude of God’s saving grace this way: “To convert one sinner from his way, is an event of greater importance, than the deliverance of a whole kingdom from temporal evil.”
Consider for a moment Smeaton’s words! Put simply, if you were the only sinner who had ever lived, Jesus would still have come down from His throne in heaven, to die on the cross at Calvary, in order to retrieve you, and to relieve you of your sins; so that you might have eternal life! Dear ones, don’t be alone…be IN CHRIST ALONE!
Let us pray…
