Humility Prepares the Way!

Intro:

Last week, we got this Divine Introduction to Christ....

John 1:1 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Without Him, nothing was made that was made.

In Him was Life and the Life was the Light of men.

And then, we were briefly introduced to a man who WAS NOT THE LIGHT....BUT WHO WOULD BEAR WITNESS TO THE LIGHT

And this is the man we are going to look at today...

His name is John the Baptist.

He is the one that comes before Christ, YET CHRIST WAS BEFORE HIM!

He comes as a bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament

Isaiah prophesied....Isaiah 40:3-5

Isaiah 40:3–5 NKJV

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. 4 Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; 5 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

And so, John the Baptist dovetails into this great Hope for the People of God.

But as John the Baptist is the forerunner of the Great Promised Messiah....preparing the way for the Lord....

THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT HIM THAT HAS ALWAYS STUCK OUT TO ME.

Here is John as the OPENING ACT for the FEATURED HEADLINER “JESUS the MESSIAH”

And there is not one bit of LOOK AT ME IN HIM.

John could have said.... “ I’m Here....I’m the last of the Old Testament Prophets. My birth was declared to my father by an angel. The Holy Spirit empowered me for this very purpose when i was in the womb. And the Son of God will later call me the greatest man to ever walk the face of this earth.”

All is TRUE

BUT RATHER.....HIS ONE AND ONLY DESIRE IS FOR THEM TO SEE CHRIST!

When asked who he is.....HE TELLS THEM WHO HE IS NOT!

WHAT WE SEE is that HUMILITY PREPARES THE WAY FOR CHRIST!

And God used John the Baptist and his Humility to prepare HIS WAY in a very powerful and unique time as He was starting His Earthly Ministry.

BUT I believe God also wants to use us in a special way as He prepares to move in the lives around us!

And when we are clothed with HUMILITY....

We get to see His work in such a special way!

Our word for this year is BECOME....and our series through John is called #Become...

And I had the question…what would it look like if we all would all become MORE HUMBLE THIS YEAR!

If God really works through HUMILITY....

Which it seems he does as....

He was born in a Stable and Laid in a Manger

He said the First become last and the Last First

He washed the Disciples Feet

He Humbled Himself to the point of death…even death on a cross.

So if GOD REALLY WORKS THROUGH HUMILITY....

What kind of work would we see HIM DO if would become more HUMBLE.

So today, we are going to use John to look closer t this Biblical Humility.

I. Humility does not mean that you must be SILENT. (John 1:19-23)

John 1:19–23 NKJV

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.”

The first thing we see in this passage is that THIS IS A TESTIMONY OF JOHN!

God did not call John to be silent....but rather to cry out!

John says that he is the fulfillment to Isaiah’s prophecy.

That He is the voice crying in the wilderness....MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD!

I want to make sure we understand this CRY!

This is not some whimper cry in the wilderness....wanting things to be different.

NO....This is a type of cry like William Wallace’s speech....when he said ......They may take our lives…But they’ll NEVER TAKE OUR FREEDOM!

It means to cry out, call for, to shout!

John was a VOICE THAT HAD BEEN PROMISED several hundred years ago!

He was Voice that SHOUTED and MADE READY THE COMING OF YAHWEH....GOD ALMIGHTY!

You see, Humility doesn’t mean you must be silent.....

HUMILITY MEANS THAT YOU KNOW WHATS WORTH SHOUTING ABOUT!

And the way of the Lord was MADE STRAIGHT!

Whens the last time you cried, shouted for the Lord as He prepared His work.

And I am not talking about a physical scream here from your vocal chords....

BUT RATHER.....a Spiritual Charge and Heart Position that is taken from the depths of your soul!

We live in a context where our Christianity can feel more like a luxurious break from the ways of the world.....

Rather than the true War that it is with the world.

May we have echo the HUMBLE WAR CRY of John the Baptist as God continues to move in our midst!

II. Humility is KNOWING who is BEFORE YOU. (John 1:24-28)

John 1:24–28 NKJV

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.

So they questioned his baptism....and he said there is ONE AMONG YOU whom you do not know!

BUT JOHN KNEW the ONE THAT WAS BEFORE HIM!

John 1:27 “27 It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me.”

He said the same thing in verse 15 and will say the same thing in verse 30

John said.....

This ONE comes AFTER ME.....

Here, John is talking about earthly chronology.

One level, Jesus’ ministry comes after Johns as Jesus hasn't publically announced the Kingdom of God yet.

But also....John the Baptist was Jesus’ Cousin and he was 6 months older than Jesus.

So in this sense too, he came after John.

But then John says, BUT HE IS PREFERRED BEFORE ME....

Meaning that Jesus takes PRECEDENCE over John...

He is more important and JOHN GLADLY KNOWS IT.

Comes after me is preferred before me, FOR HE WAS BEFORE ME.

Now talking with Eternal chronology.

Remember John 1:1 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

And John 1:14 “14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Jesus has always been and John knew that!

Humility is knowing who IS BEFORE YOU!

John Knew that Christ was BEFORE HIM IN EVERY WAY THAT MATTERED.....and it affected everything he did!

What about you today.....

Do you truly know that Christ is before you!

Does it affect what you do and how you do it!

Humility will follow when we know He is before us!

III. Humility is LETTING OTHERS KNOW who is before you. (John 1:29-34)

This is the next step…you know who is before you....and now its letting others know who is before you!

John 1:29–34 NKJV

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.” 32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

This has got to be one of the most passionate statements of all of Scripture filled with great anticipated fervor!

BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD.....

This makes William Wallace’s FREEDOM SPEECH pale in comparison!

I MEAN.....this was not some Scottish warrior who fought for independence!

THIS WAS BEHOLD.....THE KING OF THE WORLD...

Who would lay his life down as a lamb that would be slain......

This was going to be a VICTORY as he would take away the sins of the world!

This was quite the ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE WAS LETTING OTHERS KNOW!

This LAMB WOULD BE...

This Lamb would be a SACRIFICE....

We know from the next chapter that this was just days before the passover.....

YOU KNOW THE WHOLE PASSOVER LAMB thing God did in Exodus!

Lambs were often used for sacrifices

John’s father was a priest who served in the Temple....and so this reality was probably close to home

Sin demanded blood....and John certainly would have had this in mind as he referred to THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD.

This Lamb would also be a SUBSTITUTE.

Sinners were responsible for bringing their own lamb for the sacrifice.

However, what we could bring could never really appease God.

It was really our life that was required not as a SACRIFICE but as a PAYMENT due to our rebellion, or sin!

So God sent His SON JESUS.....as the only one who could suffice this payment and SACRIFICED HIM INSTEAD!

And so now this LAMB OF GOD is not only a SACRIFICE…but also now a SUBSTITUTE.

And so finally, that makes this LAMB A SATISFACTION

The SACRIFICE of Jesus.....a SUBSTITUTE in our place....SATISFIES the demands of JUSTICE

God’s Wrath is appeased!

We have been made RIGHTEOUS BY HIS BLOOD!

What Gospel Hope we have!

WE MUST LET OTHERS KNOW ABOUT THE ONE WHO IS BEFORE US!!

And as we do, further HUMILITY COMES when we recognize that this is the WORK OF THE SPIRIT!

In fact, this was John’s way of IDENTIFYING THE CHRIST!

The spirit came down and remained on him....and JOHN KNEW....

THAT WHILE HE HAD BAPTIZED WITH WATER....

JESUS WOULD BAPTIZE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT!

AND THIS IS THE BEAUTY OF IT ALL!!

This was the Spirit in which HE OPERATED in!

This was the Spirit He told them to receive as HE BREATHED on the Disciples.

This was the Spirit that came down as TONGUES OF FLAMES at Pentecost.

THIS IS THE SAME SPIRIT WE ARE BAPTIZED IN WHEN WE COME TO FAITH IN CHRIST!!

And when we work in and through the SPIRIT....we don't deserve any of the credit anyways.

And SO HUMILITY COMES WHEN WE TELL OTHERS ABOUT THE ONE BEFORE US!

IV. Humility is when you JOYFULLY DECREASE and JESUS INCREASES. (John 3:22-36)

In John 3:22....we pick back up with John the Baptist....during a dispute between the Jews and John’s Disciples!

And they had questions about Jesus’ ministry as well.

And so ONCE AGAIN....JOHN POINTS THEM TO JESUS!!!

John 3:22–36 NKJV

22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. 24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison. 25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” 27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John reminds them that they have nothing apart from God!

And this JESUS....hes the MESSIAH…the ONE FROM GOD....WHO GOD HAS GIVEN ALL THINGS!

AND SO JOHN JOYFULLY SAYS WE HAVE ONE MISSION IN LIFE....

WE MUST DECREASE and JESUS MUST INCREASE!

This is the desire of my life and ministry!

God....help me become less and less…and make Jesus more and more!

Will you join me this morning!?......Will you decrease and see that Jesus Increases!

Less of our pride and identity.....and more of JESUS

Less of our drive and creativity.....and more of JESUS!

Less of our vision and dreams.....and more of JESUS!

Less of our continued tried and failed work.....and more of JESUS!

Less of US.....MORE OF JESUS!

What would this humility look like in our lives!

Invitation:

At the end of the day.....when someone looks at you....one of two things happens....

They SEE YOU or they SEE JESUS!

Who are people seeing when they look at you!

What does it look life for you to #BECOME all that you are meant to be in Christ!

I CAN GUARANTEE YOU....IT STARTS WITH HUMILITY!

Whens the last time you have actually humbled yourself before the Lord???

Whens the last time you have prayed a NEVERTHELESS…YOUR WILL AND NOT MY WILL prayer and meant it!!

When’s the last time you have just rested in His presence!

There is also ONE OF TWO THINGS THAT BECOME OF US...

John 3:36 “36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.””

So we either will have EVERLASTING LIFE.....or we will have the WRATH OF GOD abiding on us.

WILL YOU BELIEVE IN GOD!!??

For the first time....

Or maybe its about taking your next step...

Baptism, Membership, Discipleship

How can you Decrease and He increase!

May we #BECOME HUMBLE IN CHRIST THIS YEAR!