The Witness
The Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
We are introduced to the last prophet within our text? We are introduced to the one that was sent to prepare the way for the Messiah. He is not what the people expected then or who would be looked for today. He came with a humble spirit, an urgent call, and heart of sacrificial service. He knew his place and he knew Whom he testified of. Do we though?
Focus Passage: John 1:19-28
19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. 27 It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Who Are You (vv.19-22)
Previously, within the prologue of the Gospel of John, John has mentioned John the Baptist. While on the surface, these two previous references to John, may have seem to be interruptions or a rabbit being chased, if you will by the author, but they were not. They were intentional marks within the text preparing the hearer/reader of the truth that is before them now. He was preparing his audience for the question that is before them now. As we come to our text, we see now that there is a testimony being presented, Now this is the testimony of John. It was important for the beloved disciple to prepare his audience for this testimony to address a question that is not presented before us.
John the Baptist was asked, Who are you (v.19)
The Jewish leaders wanted to know who this man was. Who was this man that was raving in the wilderness? Who was this man eating insects and honey, and wearing camel hair clothes? Who was this man that the crowds were flocking to?
4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
As the religious leaders hear of this and see this, they want to know who this man is? We find the Jews send priests and Levites to ask, Who are you? What was John’s response? How did he respond? What would he say about himself?
John the Baptist testified at first who he was not (vv. 20-21)
He testified that he was not the promised Chosen one - ‘…He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, I am not the Christ...’
John, within his prologue had already told his hear/reader that John was not the Christ, but was the one sent to bare witness of the Christ, Messiah.
7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
Quite the opposite, John declared that he needed to decrease so that Jesus could increase.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
John testified that he was not a reincarnation of Elijah or the promised Prophet spoken of by Moses - ‘…Are you Elijah? He said, I am not. Are you the Prophet? And he answered, No...”
We know that from the testimony of Jesus, that while John the Baptist was not a reincarnation of Elijah, Elijah’s spirit was upon John the Baptist. As Jesus testifies of John the Baptist:
13 But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”
Jesus was speaking of Herod beheading John the Baptist. John the Baptist, encompassed by the Spirit of Elijah was a fulfilled prophecy of the prophet Malachi
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. 6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
But, who is this Prophet that they are referring too? Within the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, Moses, although not well known as, is a prophet. He prophesies of a Prophet to come. This Prophet to come is greater than he and will be the promised Messiah to come. Moses declares...
15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,
If John the Baptist was not a reincarnate Elijah and he was the Christ, and he was not the promised Messiah, then who is John? Who does John testify or witness to be?
The Witness (vv. 22-23)
The priests and the Levites, after hearing John the Baptist declare who he was not, push further. They ask once again, Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself? How does John the Baptist reply/ Does he continue by declaring who he is not? No, this time he declares a truth that they had been waiting for for some 700 hundred years.
John the Baptist testifies that he is the witness of God
John the Baptist testifies that he is simply one who prepares the way of the Lord
John the Baptist declares I have come for a singular purpose, to prepare the way. He testified to the fulfillment of a seven hundred year old prophecy of Isaiah, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said. This is in reference to
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.
Not only did Isaiah testify to the coming of John the Baptist as one who prepares the way of the Lord, but so does the prophet Malachi
1 “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts.
He Knew His Place (vv.24-28)
John the Baptist wanted others to know he was not the Messiah
John the Baptist knew he was simply called to prepare the way
How was John the Baptist to do this? He did this through a message that demanded repentance from the people of God for the remission of their sins.
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
This is what the priests and the Levites asked John about, Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, not Elijah, nor the prophet? In essence, why would you do this? What authority do you this in? John’s reply and the heart behind his reply is one that we need today.
John the Baptist ministered and prepared the way in humility
John knew that his baptism was symbolic of the true baptism of the Messiah, I baptize with water. Matthew gives a fuller view of what John the Baptist states about his baptism.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
While both references identify John’s spirit behind his ministry. John writes, It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. Matthew writes, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, who sandals I am not worthy to carry. Once again, both testify to John’s humble spirit, a spirit and view of ourselves we should all have. We should all remember we are working and tilling in another man’s field. We are His servants and we are not our own. However, within the Gospel of Matthew, we see a clearer picture of the difference between John’s baptism and Jesus’ baptism. Whereas John’s baptism was symbolic, I baptize with water, Jesus’ baptism was not.
Jesus’ baptism would be two-fold
Jesus’ baptism would be a spiritual baptism - ‘…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit...’
Jesus’ baptism would be a judgment baptism - ‘…and fire...’
John the Baptist knew he was sent to prepare the way by calling for the people of God to repent as the prophets before him. He was called to ask them to respond in symbolic nature to identify in their repentant state. All of this was to prepare for one greater than He, the Messiah, the Christ.
Conclusion
We are called to be witnesses. We are called to testify of One greater than ourselves. We are nothing. However, the one that we are called to be a witness of and to is Everything. May He, the Messiah, the Lord, Jesus Christ, receive all glory, honor, and praise. May we, in humility and a heart of service testify to the greatness of God and declare the same message that John the Baptist testified, Repent for the remission of sin. May we declare what Jesus declared, Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.