What Was Jesus’ Purpose? Series

What was Jesus’ Purpose?

John 1:6-13

Introduction

- The gospel of John screams of the faith that we should have in Christ

-- It is the clearest example of living life FOR the one who redeemed you and I

-- He also knew the Jewish culture, and his writing is evangelistic in purpose

- If we can learn to love like Jesus’, we can bring others to Him

-- We won’t bring a friend to something we do not like

-- We must learn to love Christ like John demonstrates first

-- But before we can love others, we must know Who it is that we must love

- Read John 1:6-13

- Pray

∆ Point 1 – What was John’s function?

- Our study now introduces another word to this awesome story (v6)

-- We’ve already seen and introduce “life” and “light”, and now we have witness

-- In order to clearly see Jesus, we have to understand the testimony of others

- What John does though is introduce his function, not who he really is (v7)

-- Make no mistake, this introduction is of John the Baptist (not disciple John)

- John’s focus is on why he came, and more importantly, who sent him

-- IMP: A witness is someone who testifies to what they have seen (v8)

-- The Greek word here is “martus”; from which we get our word … martyr

- You and I have the same capability: to testify to what has happened to us

-- It’s no different than a witness called into court to repeat what happened

-- John the Baptist is a witness of Christ; to testify of what will be

- John reports that John the Baptist was sent; literally, commissioned to go

-- It is from the same base that we get the mission of a disciple: One who is sent

-- John uses this word frequently to demonstrate the intent of the witness

- APP: John’s description is clear: JTB was sent; to provide witness to Christ

-- Just as a martyr is willing to die; JTB is giving all he has to testify

- Our application is very similar: As witnesses, we are called to go as well

-- The Great Commission is not just for some, but for ALL who follow Christ

- TRANS:

∆ Point 2 – Jesus is rejected

- John the Baptist is not the light of the world, he is a testifier of it (v9)

-- John is willing to do whatever he can to ensure that we understand this

- Have you ever noticed the spectacular imagery involved in a sunset?

-- Is there really anything else that is man-made that can compare with it?

-- Sure we have movie effects and computer animation, but does it compare?

-- The light of God, is truly incomparable to anything we have on Earth

- By coming into the world, Jesus would bring us the true light of God

-- By being sent, Jesus’ arrival would bring to us what we all lacked

-- APP: It is the missing piece of the puzzle that our hearts yearn for

- Jesus would be presented to the world as the redeemer of all

-- And in his testimony John the Baptist would proclaim its arrival

- However (v10), even though He would be in the world He’d be rejected

-- Even though He is the Creator, the world would deny His existence

-- John’s proclamation is to teach incarnation, creation, and rejection

-- APP: It is our own depravity that rejects who Jesus really is

- Even though Jesus had come to what was already His (v11); He’s rejected!

-- Imagine this: You come home, and your own home rejects you

-- Your key doesn’t work; occupants inside don’t know you; and you’re shut out

-- Even though you hold the deed to everything inside, you’re not allowed inside

- This is the same visual interpretation that John gives us in this verse

-- IMP: It is all His, and even in that, He is not accepted into its place as owner

- Isaiah 53:3, “He was despised and rejected by mankind …”

-- Jesus, who truly was the Creator of it all, is shut out by His own creation

- It is a dramatic picture that as Christians, we MUST reconcile in our hearts

-- It is YOU AND I who shut Him out, and reject Him even today

-- John does not mince words, and we cannot afford to any longer as well

-- Challenge: Do we live because we live for Him, or for ourselves?

- TRANS: But notice, there is an incredible word in v12 … “Yet”

∆ Point 3 – We have an escape

- Right at the onset of his gospel, John gives us a way out; an escape