Prelude: Is our conversation consumed by self or trivialities? Purpose: Let’s learn to talk about Jesus. Plan: Let’s look at the example of John whose focus was not self, but telling about the Light, in John 1:6-28. [Note: the beginning verses of this chapter are wisely reserved for Christmas Day.]
Witness of What?
John 1:6-7a “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light,”
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12) and “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” (John 12:46)
Purpose of Witness
John 1:7b “... that all through him might believe.”
Why do we give witness to Christ? Is it for money, ego, guilt, saving a church building? Are our hearts really in Jesus? Are we just mean and self-righteous? John had the right motive: that all might believe. What is our motive for spreading the good news of Jesus Christ?
Who Do We Talk About?
John 1:8 “He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.”
Do we preach about ourselves, our denomination or Jesus? John testified about someone other than himself, the Light. Should we limit ourselves to a social gospel of good deeds and ignore saying anything? John teaches us that a complete Gospel includes the words of the good news, witnessing to Jesus.
The True Light
John 1:9-13 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
The true Light is not limited to Israel, but lights “every man coming into the world.” He is “the Light of the world” (John 9:5) He, it was who made the world. In Trinitarian words, Jesus is God the Son. Humanity did not recognize Him and His own people, the Jews did not welcome Him. But some did receive Him, and they are reborn as children of God.
The Word became Flesh
John 1:14-16 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
Jesus has the unique glory as of an only begotten son, sonship in a manner totally unlike that of any human being. Though born six months after John, Jesus “existed” before him, as a number of translations render it. The totality of God’s attributes are found in Jesus, whom we have received.
Law, Grace & Truth
John 1:17-18 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
“… you could not be justified by the law …” (Acts 13:39) How are we justified? “... by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:28) Why the law? “... the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God …” (Ephesians 2:8-9) We all fail at law-keeping. “God… even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:4-5)
How can we be free? “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32) Is there a way to the truth? “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
Who are We?
John 1:19-20 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
While politicians and advertisers often brag about being God’s gift to the world, it is refreshing to hear from a humble man who points to another. While denominations may brag about being the one true church, how refreshing to hear a man humbly say that he is not the One!
Just a Voice
John 1:21-23 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
People love egotistical titles. John simply called himself a voice making straight the way of the Lord. We often stand as a lone voice in the wilderness of a sinful world needing Jesus. No other conviction but a call from God could overcome the loneliness on this mission.
Who is Preferred?
John 1:24-28 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John was sent by God but opposed by religious leaders. We religious leaders can fall into the trap of promoting our agendas, our denominations instead of the One who is preferred before us. Apart from God’s grace, we are not worthy of the divine task to which we have been called.
“… if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
“… every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:11)
“By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” (1 John 4:2-3)
“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:15)
Postlude: If our talk is not about Christ, what is it? Most people talk about themselves, their denomination, and vain worldly pursuits, but rarely about Jesus. We are not THE light in the sense that John talked about. Are we like John and openly confess the Savior of the world?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Boice, James Montgomery. The Gospel of John. BakerBooks. 1975.
Michaels, J. Ramsey. The Gospel of John. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Eerdmans. 2010.
Readings
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound”
Psalm 126 Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”
John 1:6-28 in Rhyme
There was a man from God name John
He came a witness to pass on
Sent to bear witness of that Light
Which to all in the world shines bright
-
The world which He made, He was in
But it did not recognize Him
Among His own was no welcome
But as many as received Him
-
To all who in His name believed
He gave to them authority
To become children of God
Who were born, not of human blood
-
Nor born of the will of the flesh
Nor man’s will, but of God afresh
The Word became flesh, lived with us
And we saw He was glorious
-
Glory as of the only Son
Full of grace, the truthful One
John bore witness of Him saying,
This was He whom I’m conveying
-
He who comes has priority
For He existed before me
From His abundance we’ve received
And have grace upon grace indeed
-
The law was given through Moses
But grace and truth Jesus shows us
No one has seen God any time
The one and only Son sublime
-
In the bosom of the Father
Has declared Him, had the honor
Now the Jews asked him, Who are you?
He said, I am not the Christ (That’s true)
-
They asked then, Are you Elijah?
And he said, I am not. (So, nah)
Are you the Prophet? He said, No
Tell us who you are, then we’ll go
-
He said: I’m a voice in the wild
Saying, Make the Lord’s way straight-styled
And so they asked him, Why baptize?
Someone’s here you don’t recognize
-
He’s coming, preferred before me
To loose His shoes I’m not worthy
In Bethabara John’s work was
A baptist witness was his cause
