Many Ways to Jesus

John 1:6–7 NKJV

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.

1. God always has a WITNESS. (Acts 14:17, 1 Kings 19:18).

Acts 14:17 NKJV

17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

1 Kings 19:18 NKJV

18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

A. John the Baptist was the chosen witness. (Luke 1:17).

Luke 1:17 NKJV

17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

B. To be an effective witness, you must know God’s Word. (Isaiah 40:3, Mal. 3:1, John 1:22-23).

John 1:22–23 NKJV

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.”

Malachi 3:1 NKJV

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.

Isaiah 40:3 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.

C. John identified the Christ.

1. John identified Jesus as the SON OF GOD. (John 1:29, 32-34)

John 1:29 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!

John 1:32–34 NKJV

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.”

Do you remember in the Law the number of witnesses it took to verify something as true? How many witnesses at Christ’s baptism identified Him as the Son of God?

JTB

Holy Spirit

2. John identified the PURPOSE of Jesus Christ. (John 1:29, 1 Cor. 15:3, Leviticus 17:11, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:19)

“To take away the sin of the world!”

I found this really interesting, and I felt like it was a light bulb turning on in my head.

Jesus’s purpose was to take away the sins of the world.

By identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God, what is John proclaiming? (Really incredible)

Leviticus 17:11 NKJV

11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’

JTB is saying that it is the blood of the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world. Our teaching has been so wrong. Even as the public ministry of Jesus began, JTB is saying that it is the blood of the Lamb who will take away sins.

1 Corinthians 15:3 NKJV

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

1 Peter 1:19 NKJV

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

The purpose for Jesus coming to earth was to die as the Lamb of God to take away sin.

2. The First Disciples.

A. No one can come to Jesus without a WITNESS. (Rom. 3:10-12).

Romans 3:10–12 NKJV

10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”

B. The witnesses.

1. The Holy Spirit (John 16:8-11).

John 16:8–11 NKJV

8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

2. Preaching (John 1:35-39).

SIMPLE MESSAGE

John 1:35–39 NKJV

35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).

3. Family members (John 1:40-42).

John 1:40–42 NKJV

40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).

4. Encounter with the Savior (John 1:43, Acts 9:1-6).

How do you encounter the Savior today? THRU HIS WORD.

John 1:43 NKJV

43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.”

Acts 9:1–6 NKJV

1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

5. Personal Testimony (John 1:45-46).

John 1:45–46 NKJV

45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”