Who John The Baptist Wasn’t Series

WHO JOHN THE BAPTIST WASN'T: John knew he wasn’t the Christ.

- Luke 3:15-16a, 18.

1. Verse 15 – Declaration that he wasn’t the Christ.

- This was not a big deal for John, I don’t think, but it would be for most of us.

- We have an inclination to take more credit than we should. We have a habit of climbing up on the pedestal if give us a step ladder. To know your place in the providence of God is no small accomplishment.

2. Verses 16a, 18 – Bracketing all that is said about the Christ is John’s basic two job descriptions: baptizing with water (v. 16a) and preaching the good news (v. 18).

- It’s worth noting that John’s message, though his appearance may have been somewhat backward, his message was still “good news.” Why? Because he was holding out hope through the baptism of repentance. Good news doesn’t mean preaching a message of “rose-colored glasses” or a bunch of prosperity gospel nonsense. It means preaching something that is genuinely good news. When you realize you’re a sinner, it is genuinely good news to hear that you can repent, be forgiven, and baptized into newness of life.

WHO THE CHRIST WAS:

1. He was more powerful.

- Luke 3:16b (“one more powerful”).

- This is a word laden with possibility and meaning.

- In what ways is Jesus more powerful?

a. He will do great miracles.

b. He will preach a more complete gospel.

c. He will be the source of salvation.

d. He is the Son of God.

2. He was worthy.

- Luke 3:16c (“the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie”).

- This phrase can mean a number of things. I thought about using the word “holier” here. But I think the fuller sense of the idea is the idea of the worthiness of Christ.

- He is the man! He is worthy of all praise, all adulation, all glory.

- He is deserving of worship.

3. He baptized with the Holy Spirit.

- Luke 3:16d (“will baptize you with the Holy Spirit”).

- It’s easy to get caught up in the theological arguments surrounding “baptism of the Holy Spirit” and what miraculous manifestations our Pentecostal friends might impute that phrase with. That misses the point here, though.

- The idea being put forward here is far broader and more consequential: each believer in the Christ will receive the Holy Spirit with them as part of their salvation. This is common knowledge to most Christians and so it is easy for it to be something we overlook. But we shouldn’t because it’s an amazing thing.

- This is an integral part of salvation: that God is going to indwell us to allow us to become more like Him.

4. He will bring judgment.

- Luke 3:16d-17 (“fire”).

- There have been many confused by what it means to be “baptized with fire,” but this passage answers that question quickly.

- You could even say that those who are saved are baptized with the Holy Spirit and those who are unsaved are baptized with the fire of judgment.

WHERE JOHN THE BAPTIST WENT: He was ushered offstage to make room for the Christ.

- Luke 3:19-20.

- As noted elsewhere, John the Baptist knew his role. He did what he was asked and then was “ushered offstage.”

- “He must increase and I must decrease.”

- To go back to our opening point, it’s important for us all to know that we aren’t Christ. We can’t hold all things together. We can’t save anyone. We can’t fix the world. We need to do our job but know that Christ must do His.