INTRO.
1. We are now in the 3rd week of our series in the Gospel of John.
- Last Wednesday I’ve shared about the Incarnation of Christ based on the Testimony of John the
Apostle who confessed…
- Jn.1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the
glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
- Secondly, the testimony of John the Baptist,
- (v.15), Saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because
he was before me.'
- And thirdly, the revelation of Christ…
- (v.18), No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has
made him known.
2. Right now, I will be finishing the first chapter of John and I will be showing you the
PROOFS THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST.
3. As I’ve shared before, the theme of John's Gospel is that Jesus is the Son of God (20:30-
31), and in this first chapter he proves his claim.
4. As you read this wonderful chapter, you cannot help but see that Christ is God's Son
because of the names and titles He bears, the works He performs, and the witnesses who
knew Him personally and declare who He is.
5. Now let us all stand as we read our text…
TEXT:John 1:19ff, Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of 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 Christ." 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 desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'" 24 Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, 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 thongs 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.
BACKGROUND:
- In our text, John the Apostle begins the narrative portion of his gospel, about John the Baptist’s testimony…
- The ministry of John the Baptist created a wide interest of different classes of people went out with him because of his message of salvation, hope, that even the religious leaders went out to hear him too.
- It was recognized by all that John’s ministry was messianic and that he was identifying himself with Israel’s messianic hope.
- And, because messianic expectation was so high in Israel in those days, the religious leaders were
questioning John as to who he was, and who he presented…Because rumors were circulating that he might be the Messiah.
PROPOSITION: Four Irrefutable Proof that Jesus is the Christ
I. THE CONFESSION OF JOHN: “I AM NOT THE CHRIST”
- (v.20), He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ."
- Why do they ask if he is the Christ? Because the Jews were expecting their Messiah to appear.
- Luke 3:15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might
possibly be the Christ. 16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful
than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the
Holy Spirit and with fire.
- John clearly declare he was not the Christ.
- 1). (v.21),They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah? "He said "I am not.
- Why do they ask John if he was Elijah? The answer is found in the writing of the prophet Malachi.
- The Jews expected Elijah to return prior to the coming of the Lord according to two prophecies. The
first is in Malachi 3:1 and, Mal 4:5, "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and
dreadful day of the Lord comes.
- 2). (v.21b), “Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."
- This is a prophecy concerning Jesus, for of all the prophets, only Jesus was a prophet like unto
Moses.
- Deut 18:15, The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own
brothers. You must listen to him.
- 3). (v.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 desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
- John is not Elijah, but he is the forerunner of the Messiah who is preparing the way. Quoting from
Isaiah. Isa 40:3, A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in
the wilderness a highway for our God.
- John’s answer here has a twofold purposes.
- First, it answers their question so they can give a report to those that sent them, but it is also an
earnest invitation for them to repent.
- John was calling for the people to prepare their hearts for the coming of the Lord. This message
was for the religious leaders as well as the common people.
- (v.24) Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you
are not the Christ, 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 thongs 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’s answer in verse 26 once again makes a clear distinction between himself and the coming
Messiah.
II. THE CONFESSION OF ANDREW: “WE HAVE FOUND THE MESSIAH”
- John 1:41, The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the
Messiah" (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
- What Andrew did upon finding the Lord is to tell his brother about it. WHY?
- Because he knew it is important. It speaks of Salvation.
- To find the Messiah is to find hope, salvation, strength, freedom, etc.
- ILLUS: ‘Bro.Arman’
- "Christ" (Christos) is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Messiah" meaning "Anointed"
- It designates Jesus as the fulfiller of the Messianic hopes of the OT. and of the Jewish people.
- In this case "Christ" has acquired the force of a proper name.
- Very frequently the term is associated with "Lord" (kurios) - "the (or "our") Lord Jesus Christ"
- John Points out that the Jews were expecting their Messiah to Appear.
- Even the Samaritans were looking for the Messiah.
- John 4:25, The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
- John 4:42, They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
- Unfortunately, any Jew who said that Jesus was the Christ was thrown out of the synagogue.
- But despite the fact, many still believe that Jesus was indeed the Christ.
III. THE DECLARATION OF NATHANIEL: ‘YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD’
- John 1:49, Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
- It was this claim that aroused the Jews to persecute Christ.
- Because the phrase ‘Son of God’ could also mean ‘same as God’.
- So whenever the teachers of the Law hear someone claiming to be Son of God is a blasphemy to them.
- John 10:30-33, I and the Father are one." 31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" 33 "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."
Note: 7 Persons who called Christ the Son of God:
1) John the Baptist (1:34)
2) Nathanael (1:49)
3) Peter (6:69)
4) the healed blind man (9:35-38)
5) Martha (11:27)
6) Thomas (20:28)
7) Apostle John (20:30-31).
Note: The sinner who will not believe that Jesus is God's Son cannot be saved (8:24).
- John 8:24, I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am [the one I claim to be], you will indeed die in your sins."
IV. THE CONFESSION OF JESUS: HE IS ‘THE SON OF MAN’
- John 1:51, He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
- "Son of man" was one of our Lord's favorite titles for Himself.
- It is used 83x in the Gospels and at least thirteen times in John.
- This speaks of both the deity and humanity of Jesus.
- The vision of Daniel in, Dan 7:13 presents the "Son of man" in a messianic setting.
- Dan 7:13-14, "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
- Jesus used the title in the same way to describe of who He is.
- As ‘Son of man’, Jesus is the "living link" between heaven and earth.
- This explains His reference to 'Jacob's ladder" in Gen 28.
- Jacob while in fugitive thought he was alone, but God had sent the angels to guard and guide him.
- Christ is God's "ladder" between heaven and earth.
- John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”.
- Often in this Gospel, you will find Jesus reminding people that He came down from heaven.
- Phil 2:7, But he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born to be a man and became like a servant. 8 And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death — death on a cross.
The Four Irrefutable Proof that Jesus is the Christ:
I. THE CONFESSION OF JOHN: “I Am Not The Christ” JESUS IS THE MESSIAH!
II. THE CONFESSION OF ANDREW: “WE HAVE FOUND THE MESSIAH”
III. THE DECLARATION OF NATHANIEL: ‘YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD’
IV. THE CONFESSION OF JESUS: HE IS ‘THE SON OF MAN’
- Speaks of his humility.
