INTRODUCTION
We are privileged to accompany a King on a journey.
Whenever a King or a great leader is going to come, there is great anticipation. There is excitement. People want to be a part of the experience. When President Bush came to Springfield, there was a lot of excitement and anticipation.
Before a King would come into a country or a city, he would send a messenger ahead of him to let the people know that he was coming.
This was no different with the King that God was going to send to earth. God sent a messenger ahead of the King. We are going to take a look at the messenger that God sent.
There had to be a reason for a King to visit, we will look at that.
Finally, whenever a king would come to town, there would be a reception. There would be elaborate receptions for the king. We are going to look at the reception that the King of Kings received.
As we look at the messenger, the reason He came, and the reception He received, let us realize that we too will have to decide how we are going to receive and respond to Jesus. How will you respond to the King of Kings?
SERMON
I. THE KINGS MESSENGER. VERSES 6-8.
1. John the Baptist was sent from God. Verse 6.
Mark Moore in his book The Chronological Life of Christ: Volume 1, From Glory to Galilee writes the following about John.
John the Baptist has an interesting biography. He was the prophesied forerunner of Jesus (Isa 40:3-4; Mal 3:1; 4:5). It was his job to clear the way for Jesus by preparing people’s hearts through preaching. He entered the world through the priestly line.
His father, Zechariah, was from the course of Abijah (1 Chr 24:10) and his mother descended from Aaron (Lk 1:5). Their barren state and miraculous pregnancy is described in Luke 1 and Matthew 1. Jesus and John were related in some way (probably cousins), and John was his elder by about six months (Lk 1:36).
He was circumcised on the eighth day and set apart as a Nazirite (Lk 1:15). All else we know about John’s early life is found in Luke 1:80.
John began his prophetic ministry in A.D. 25—the 15th year of Tiberias Caesar (Lk 3:1). He attracted large crowds (Mt 3:5) as he preached and baptized in Bethany on the other side of the Jordan (Jn 1:28). His preaching is summarized in the phrase, “The kingdom of God is coming” and his ministry by immersion of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mk 1:4).
So forceful was his preaching that many took him to be the reincarnation of Elijah, Jeremiah or another prophet (Mt 16:14). Jesus says that he was the greatest person ever born of a woman (Mt 11:11).
An interesting fact, however, is that John never performed a miracle (Jn 10:41). His greatest act, perhaps, was his baptism of Jesus. With that act his ministry wound its way to a conclusion. Although he continued to baptize (Jn 3:23; 4:1), he recognized that he had accomplished that which was set before him to do (Jn 3:30).
Herod’s antics and the vindictiveness of his evil wife, Herodias, caused the death of the last OT prophet. John was beheaded at the castle of Machaerus on the Dead Sea. Although he died through treachery, he successfully completed his God-given task. He prepared for and pointed out Jesus, the true light.
2. What was the messenger’s job? Verse 7.
a) To testify about the Light.
John was sent to identify the light! Why? What was there about Jesus as the Light that demanded identification?
When we examine the Baptist’s message in the other Gospels, we see that John focused his preaching on twin ideas: (1) the promised King of Old Testament prophecy was about to appear, and (2) His coming demanded a moral renewal.
John rebuked sin in ruler and common man alike. His tongue lashed the religious. “You brood of vipers!” he cried scornfully. “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (Luke 3:7-8) John’s job was to help people prepare for the coming messiah!
b) So that all might believe through him.
3. John was not the light. Verse 8. His job was to make sure that the focus was on Jesus and not himself.
II. WHY THE KING VISITED. VERSE 9
A. He came into the world to enlighten man. Verse 9.
Helen Keller tells of the dramatic moment when Annie Sullivan first broke through her dark, silent world with the illumination of language.
We walked down the path to the well house, attracted by the fragrance of the honeysuckle with which it was covered. Some one was drawing water and my teacher placed my hand under the spout. As the cool stream gushed over one hand she spelled into the other the word water, first slowly, then rapidly. I stood still, my whole attention fixed upon the motions of her fingers. Suddenly I felt a misty consciousness as of something forgotten -- a thrill of returning thought; and somehow the mystery of language was revealed to me. I knew then that "w-a-t-e-r" meant the wonderful cool something that was flowing over my hand.
That living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free! There were barriers still, it is true, but barriers that could in time be swept away.
Certainly, this was how the blind man must have felt when he saw water for the first time as he washed his eyes in the pool of Siloam.
Just as the Light of the world gave sight to the blind beggar, and just as that "living word" awakened the soul of Helen Keller, so Jesus can awaken your life with the tender touch of His hand. He can give you light, hope, joy, and freedom like you’ve never known before. Surely there will still be barriers in your life -- but barriers that can be swept away in time.
Jesus came to remove the darkness of sin in our lives.
III. THE KINGS RECEPTION. VERSES 9-10
A. The World did not know Him. Verse 10.
The word “know” means either to understand who someone is, or it could mean to love and approve.
1JO 2:15 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Jesus came and the world did not understand who He was and they did not love and accept Him. If they did, they would not have killed Him. 1 Corinthians 2:8.
Imagine the President Bush coming to Auburn and no one knowing who he is.
Many years ago a poor cripple was cruelly nicknamed "Old Rattle Bones" by a group of boys on the street. The ringleader named Freddie was quite worried, however, when the man headed straight toward his home one day. Because his friends were with him, the boy tried to hide his anxiety. "Go on, Old Rattle Bones," he shouted, "see who cares if you talk to my mother." The man said with sadness as he continued on his way, "You wouldn’t call me names if you knew what caused my condition." Arriving at his destination, he was welcomed by the boy’s mother. She told her son to come in also. Turning to Freddie, the man said, "Years ago when you were just a baby, your nurse took you out in your carriage for a ride near the river. When she let go of the handle for a moment, it suddenly began to careen down the hill. Before she could catch up with it, the buggy had plunged into the water below. I jumped into the river and after a difficult struggle brought you safely to shore, but I left before anyone could ask my name. The water that day was frigid, and it aggravated my rheumatic condition. Now, 10 years later, I can scarcely hobble along." Freddie hung his head and began to cry. "Thank you for saving me. And forgive me for calling you ’Old Rattle Bones.’ I didn’t know who you were!"
B. He came to His own and was not received. Verse 11.
His own people did not receive Him as the Messiah, and they rejected Him and put Him to death.
ISA 53:1 Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
A General Electric ad raised the question: "What was Thomas Edison’s biggest blunder?" The ad reveals that Edison opposed the theory of alternating current developed by Charles Steinmetz. The ad concludes by stating that Steinmetz was almost refused admission at Ellis Island as an unfit immigrant. "One of the men most responsible for the electrification of America was almost turned away at its gate." That would indeed have been a tragedy. A greater tragedy, however, takes place all the time. People turn Christ away on the doorstep of their lives because they do not want Him to reign over their lives. And just think of the light that He brings for our darkness!
C. Some did respond. Those who received Him…… Verse 12
1. Notice the tie in between receiving and believing.
Believing is whole soul trust in God’s word as true because of the sufficiency of the evidence.
If you believe, then you will take the step toward God.
2. He gave them the right to become children of God
They were not made children by believing, but they were giving the power, or the rightful claim to be children
When one believes in Christ, his faith becomes a power to lead him to yield himself to the will of the Father!
If one does not believe in Christ, then he has no claim or power to become one of God’s children
JOHN 20:31 but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
3. We are called children of God because of the following.
We are adopted into his family. 1 John 3:1
A brief survey of the NT reveals how we recognize the children of God and what kind of benefits they can expect. First, children of God are known by their actions: (1) They stop sinning (1 Jn 3:9-10; 5:18). (2) They love each other (1 Jn 4:7). (3) They believe in Jesus (1 Jn 5:1). (4) They love God and keep his commands (1 Jn 5:2).
Second, children of God can expect certain blessings: (1) We have victory over the world (1 Jn 5:4). (2) We have an intimacy with the Father by which we can call him “Abba” (Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6). (3) We become fellow heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17). (4) We await future blessings when Jesus returns (Rom 8:19-21; 1 Jn 3:1-2).
4. They were born…
Not of blood. No favored Nation.
Not of desire. The passions of the flesh.
Not of man’s will. Not be the power of man or his effort.
But of God. JOHN 3:3-7
1 PETER 1:23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, {that is,} through the living and abiding word of God.
CONCLUSION
Jesus came into the world that He created, that world did not know who He was, nor did they love and accept Him. There were some that received Him; those are the ones who will enter into God’s kingdom. Today we have the same thing going on.
God has sent His son, but you must believe and receive Him in order to enjoy the benefits of His sacrifice.
Walter L. Wilson used an illustration he tells about in his book The Romance of a Doctor’s Visits. One time while he was preaching, Wilson took a vase in his hand, held it up, and said, "Let’s imagine that this is a bottle of medicine, proven unmistakably to be a sure cure for coughing. I therefore could give you my word that it is able to rid you of your cough." Dr. Wilson then asked his audience, "What do you think? Could that medicine do you any good?" He paused, waiting for an answer. Several moments passed. The silence at last was broken by the voice of a little boy who cried out, "Not unless you take it!" He was right. As effective as the cough medicine might be, its benefits would never be enjoyed unless you took it.
The same is true of salvation -- being forgiven and going to heaven. Although Jesus has provided it for us through His death on the cross, what He accomplished there will do us no good unless we take Him.
What about you? Do you believe the messenger?
What kind of reception will you give to Jesus? Will you know Him or will you reject Him? The King will not force you to follow Him, the choice is your.
