Who Art Thou?

Introduction: We have had the great privilege over the past many weeks of teaching through the book of John in our adult Sunday School Class at Sharon Baptist Church.

Let me stop for a moment and encourage to come and be part of your Sunday School program here at 1st Calvary Baptist Church...

There is a difference between preaching and teaching…all preaching contains some teaching but strictly speaking teaching is not preaching.

And you will find when you study your Bible that our Wonderful lord and Savior Jesus Christ both taught and preached… and so that singular fact alone ought to tell us that both are important.

The only drawback to teaching through a book of the Bible, is that you come across passages such as this that stir your heart and mind toward preaching.

Two weeks ago we began to go through passage.

It was during that time, that the Lord began to work in my heart concerning a phrase we will see here in verse 19.

Let’s stand as we read John 1:19-24

Please make note of this phrase, that I want us to consider in verse 19.

“Who art thou?”

That question is asked again in verse 22.

In other words, Who are you?

Let’s pray.

Amen you may be seated. As we begin

I. A Great Question

You may find it interesting that I begin this morning by telling you this is the second greatest question in all of the Bible.

I say this because the first greatest question has to do with someone else.

Perhaps I will address that question in a moment.

But this question here is certainly a question that must be answered and challenges us this morning.

I am convinced that we are living in a day in which Christians have found themselves in an identity crisis.

In other words, we as God’s people are living in such a way that we seem to be confused as to how we would answer this question.

Here in our text, John the Baptist was being questioned and these folks have come to Him and are asking Him simply, Who are you?

They are looking at this fellow of which the Bible says, wore a “raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.”(Matthew 3:4)

This group of folks was a special important religious delegation of His day.

It was an impressive entourage of people that had come to question John.

We see in verse 19 that Priests and Levites were sent to John to ask of him this great question.

Now John himself was a Levite, and His heritage was from that of the priesthood.

His father name was Zacharias and His mother’s name was Elizabeth and was related to Mary the mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Many submit also, that John was not only of this background, but according to the text in Luke 1:15.....He was a nazarite from his birth. (Three things forbidden, defilement from the dead, shaving, and drinking anything from the fruit of the vine. Numbers 6:1-8)

Uniquely also, we must keep in mind that John was filled with the Holy Ghost from the womb. (Luke 1:15)

And so as we think about this, I want you to consider four points.

A. The world will ask this question of you, Who art thou?

As a matter of fact, I would submit to you that the world is constantly looking at you and evaluating you for the answer to this question.

Who are thou?

Oh I am convicted by this, I have no doubt that our curious neighbors are looking out the window at Shannon and I and are asking the question.... who are these folks really....

The first Epistle that Peter wrote He spoke about the important of our testimony in light of our wonderful all-powerful saving God, He states in

I Peter 3:12-16 “12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.”

I would call your attention to notice that there was a setting apart in the heart of the Christian that was called for in order that Christian may then be ready to answer the question, Who art thou?

My friend, I am just trying to simply point out to you this morning, that the world, even as we see in our text with John the Baptist, and even other “religious” folks are going to be looking at you and asking of you this question, Who are you?

As we look forward in the Gospel records we find the same to be true of the Lord Jesus Christ, and this by the way should be the case in the life of a Christian, that we would walk in the steps of our Savior, being followers of Him.

In John 8:23 - 25 we read these words from our Savior and the challenging questions from the same religious crowd, “And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.”

And so, we see that this is not some anomaly with John the Baptist, but that the world is going to ask this Great Question.

But secondly concerning this Great Question:

B. Your family will be asking you this question, Who art thou?

Now in our text here, we do not have the flesh and blood family of John the Baptist asking him this question. But I can point you to a text where we can see this take place.

Turn with me for a moment to John chapter 7.

“v1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.

v2 Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand.

v3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

v4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.

v5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.”

You see, the Lord’s family was asking the question and evaluating Him, in their hearts and mind.

And my friend, not only is the world looking to you with this question, but those of our flesh and blood family are looking at us, determining in their hearts the answer to this question.

Number 3 I would submit to you this:

C. Your church family will asking the question, Who art thou?

Sometimes I believe we get the impression, that its not important for me to influence the brethren.

Sometimes I believe it is we may get the idea that my involvement or my testimony does not matter as much around the brethren as it does to the outside world.

Therefore, it doesn't matter that much if I come to Sunday School.

It doesn't matter that much if I am at the evening service…tonight on November 27th…

It doesn't matter if I take part in Outreach when the church family gets together…

It doesn't matter if I participate in corporate prayer....

Let me ask this soul-searching question…Who are thou?

You might be thinking… well I know who I am, I know I am a child of God… I know I have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior...

Have you ever stopped to think about what the church family might say in answer to this question…

In Ephesians chapter 4… that great Epistle concerning Christ and His church, Paul outlines some of the gifts that God has given to the local church.

Listen with me to what God is telling us beginning in verse 11:

“v11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

v12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

v13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

v14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

v15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

v16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

You say, does it matter who I am to the local church… yes it does...

D. You will be asking yourself the question, Who am I?

I can honestly say, throughout my life that I have struggled with this very question.

I thank God, that we find in our text here a definitive answer to this question.

It does not have to be as it was with me for so many years… vacillating from one thing to another....tossed to and fro in the sea of this world… presenting myself to try to please men…and wasting the time my God has given to me to steward...

My friend we all need to answer this question… and let our answer be true and right and pure and according to the Word of God...

II. A Great Answer

I will submit to you this morning, that every Christian needs to know the answer to this question, Who are you.