John, Part 4
Series: Clear the Way, Part 4
John 1:19-28
- Welcome to Seasons – intro – we are so glad you’re here with us
- I never want to assume that we all have the same knowledge … intro:
• A young Jewish man; referred to as youngest Apostle (late teens / early 20s)
• John wrote 5 books in NT: 3 epistles, Revelation, and this Gospel (~90 AD)
• John centers on the truth of Christ: He is the Messiah sent from God to save
- Need to level set: Do you believe the Word of God is Jesus, and that He is alive?
-- The rest of this series (and discoveries in John) will build on this fact!
- Read John 1:19-28 / Pray
Point 1 – Explaining John the Baptist
- Understand: John was peculiar person who disrupted the day-to-day
-- He faced questioning by the religious representatives; very suspicious of him
-- RE: John’s father was Zechariah, who was a Levite priest in the temple
-- It was natural for sons to follow in their father’s footsteps & become priests
- So, what John is doing is absolutely outside of the “normal” expectations
-- Thus, the religionists needed to understand why he was not conforming (see it?)
- SEE: This is our first example of religious legalism that we encounter
-- UNPACK: What is legalism? Why is it destructive? How do we combat it?
- John was a man who knew who he was; not the Messiah or Elijah (vv19-20)
-- Malachi 4:5 talks about Elijah coming back to warn people of the Messiah
-- John clearly confesses that he is neither of these – but simply: a messenger
- Lesson for us: God’s servant must not claim to be the Christ!
? Can’t pretend to have some kind of superhuman calling;
? Can’t be about self-exaltation; actually, we should not seek recognition
? Also, we must not assume an honor that does not belong to us
? These are the first steps towards destruction because it becomes about “ME”
Point 2 – John’s Only Mission
- John was the last OT prophet; the one prophesied about to come and prepare
-- Consider: Everything he did was to point people to God’s offer of eternal grace
-- Explore question: Why was it necessary for the Messiah to have a forerunner?
1. People needed their idea of the Messiah corrected; it had greatly deteriorated
? Viewed the Messiah as being an ordinary Jew; commoner among them
? Did not accept that the Messiah’s message was for all; not just the Jews!
? Lost sight of purpose: To save them (Israel) but to also restore relationship
2. People needed their religion straightened out; they were too formal (no grace)
? Life was a matter of ‘following rules’ instead of worshiping God
? John’s msg: Man is sinful (John 3:16), Man must repent (Mark 2:17)
? Man must prepare because God’s kingdom is at hand (Matthew 4:17)
3. People needed to know that the Messiah is not what they’ve planned
? The Messiah would be pure; not plagued with sin; BIG: He’s not like us!
? We needed to be invigorated; excited about His coming (not ritualistic)
? John was sent to arouse, to stir, to impress on the urgency of: being ready!
Point 3 – The Ministry of John
- OBV: To baptize! See: But the religious wanted to know WHY he baptized!
? His baptism was shocking: Jews simply did not baptize one another
? Baptism was only for non-Jews who were converts to the Jewish faith
? Why? Because any non-Jew is a Gentile; already considered “unclean”
? RE: Jews were seen as “sons of Abraham”; automatically clean (pride)
- Interesting: Religious did want to know if John was the Messiah (vv22-23) NO!
-- His answer though on why he baptizes is what I want us to focus on (vv24-25)
- John’s baptism was radical; it was a baptism of repentance for remission of sins
-- APP: When a person wanted to be forgiven by God a decision had to be made
-- This decision was one of contrition; asking for forgiveness; baptized to testify
- RE: OT prophets pleaded for people to repent; to be washed clean Isaiah 1:16
-- John used baptism to demonstrate a public turning to God FOR His forgiveness!
-- Not in the religious (legalistic) sense; but a demonstration of their faith in God!
- The baptism was/is a sign of repentance; but it’s worthless if not it is not genuine
-- APP: The water does nothing for us; you can go in dry and come up a wet sinner
-- What is key is what has happened in your heart: have you truly asked for grace?
- BIG: Notice the motive behind John’s confession – (this is key): humility
- John confessed that Jesus was first (see v15)
• John proclaimed that he was unworthy; lower than a slave
• John was there as someone to bring honor to the true Messiah of Israel
- When you’d enter a house slaves would remove your shoes & wash feet
-- But John says he is not even worthy to do perform this act of servanthood
-- Proclaims there’s one more powerful, more worthy, more righteous than all of us
- SEE THIS: his word use is so powerful here: GR: mesos; in the midst; here!
-- John knew Jesus, He knew His calling to rescue, and He knew who He was
- So, John tells them clearly … HE IS HERE! (to be continued …)
TAKEAWAY
- As we prepare to sing (musicians), I want you to consider a few things:
• Do you recognize who the Messiah is in your life?
• Has He washed your sins away because you’ve come to Him?
• (or) Are you one of those who’ve packed Him up to be what you’d prefer?
• Has your baptism been one of repentance or one of ritual to please others?
- Pray / Invitation Song
