The Promise

THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION: The Promised Christ

John 1:29-34

VISION MOMENT (3 min)

● Thank you for serving at Summit WKND.

● Upcoming ask will be for beach and middle school camp

INTRODUCTION:

● New series leading to Easter.

Tonight we’re going to start down the road to redemption as we look at key elements and truths of the story of Easter and the resurrection sof Jesus. Tonight, we will look at the Promise of Christ and here is what I want us know as we walk out of here and into a world that God called us to share the hope of Christ with, that Every new beginning starts with a promise!

Specifically, we will see that the beginning of life starts with the PURPOSE, POSITION, and PROOF of Jesus Christ.

Stand and Read John 1:29-34

MESSAGE:

If you’ve read the gospels, then you would see that John’s gospel is the only one that refers to Jesus as the Lamb of God. The image of the Passover starts in Exodus 12, where God commands His people to place the blood of a non-defective lamb or goat on the top of their doorpost as the sign for God to Passover. Additionally, every day in the temple 2 lambs were to be killed – one in the morning and one at night. John’s father, Zechariah, was a priest in the temple, which meant John would have intimate knowledge of the rituals that happened in the temple.

All of this sets the stage for John’s gospel in showing us who Jesus is.

1. THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST (v.29)

The first truth of Jesus that John provides for us is that we’d see the purpose that Jesus came. It’s easy here to pass over her and think to yourself that “I know this already. That Jesus came to save us from our sin” which would be true but it’s important that the removal of sin in salvation is the only aspect of saving from sin that Jesus does.

In our Christian journey, we can often get complacent with the truths of God as basic and juvenile, but the reality is that the simple truths of God are what show us the beauties of God.

The primary purpose of the person and work of Jesus is the saving of sinners like you and me, through his death. Everything else is second to this primary purpose of Jesus. Christ has not to give you a high paying job, the most fulfilling relationships, or even the best marriage possible – these are all outworkings and results of the primary work of Jesus Christ.

This is why Christians ought to have the best relationships, content with any job, the best marriages, why?, because the primary need of our life have been take care of through Christ saving us from sin.

As we realize that our primary issue has been taken care of we start realize that every other issue is a result of our own sin that Christ came to redeem.

Have you ever thought to yourself, “Why do I do the things that I do?” Why do I get angry about the things I get angry about? Why am I not content where I am in life? Why doesn’t it seem like I can’t keep a relationship for longer than a few months? Why do I get defensive? Why do I crave approval? Why do I hide? Why do I compare? Why do I feel restless even when life is good?

We should always be evaluating the why in our life.

For me, I am constantly asking the why question. Like, why is it that I get angry when I don’t get my way? Why do I feel anxious and scared to open up about the real things in my life? If we are asking the question of why, then a true believer will come away with one answer...sin. The sin that’s in us that God sent his son, Jesus, to come and redeem.

Paul says is like this in Romans 7:17 “7 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.”

The answer is the sin that dwells in us, and that we haven’t allowed the redemptive work of Christ to infiltrate that part of our lives.

The reason we get impatient, angry, self-doubtful, comparing is the reality of sin that still resides in us and it’s the very sin that God has sent his son to take away and clean for us

Here’s the point - Jesus saves us from sin’s penalty forever and from sin’s power daily. “Jesus didn’t just die to get us into heaven one day — He died to begin freeing us from sin today.”

For you it may look like you are noticing why you do the things you do. It may mean that you find someone close to and have them help you evaluate when you do certain things. The gospel’s effect doesn’t end when you say yes to Jesus for salvation - that’s when it begins.

2. THE POSITION OF CHRIST (v.30)

The second truth we see in our passage is the Position of Christ. Look with me at verse 30 where John the Baptist says,'This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’

In a world where John the Baptist was “the guy”, John here makes the statement that he in fact was not the guy. If you remember in John 3:26-31 we read that John says “26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given 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 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.”

There are two things I want you to see here.

a. First, we need to know our place.

Notice in v. 30 that John, here, is speaking more about himself than about Jesus and I think this isn’t a mistake. John here is wanting us to get the picture of his position in this life. Bible study hack: When you see words repeated - take note.

The guy who was to usher in Jesus, has played his role and now it's time for him to take a bow and leave because his role and his position was not the main focus. The purpose of John is the same purpose that we have in life - to be the billboard for Jesus and move out the way.

Your life is meant to make way for Jesus in ALL your spaces. When you go to work, the place that may annoy you the most, they Lord has sovereignly placed you there for his glory as the one He would use to make way for your co-workers to know the Lord.

There are two type sof people in this world. Those that love to talk to people all the time and those who have a limit. I’m the one who has a limit and when my limit is reached I FEEL IT. What I love about and get frustrated with teh Lord about is the  most fruitful conversations about fauth come when I’m drained and ready to leave - it’s in those moments that I have to remember that IT’S NOT ABOUT ME.

b. Second, we must rank Christ above all things.

We see that John makes it clear that Jesus is superior in every way to him. John draws attention to the eternal nature of Jesus. Johns clear message is that Jesus Christ is above all and more important than all.

What John shows is Christ preexistence, preemineance, and superiority over all. Paul echoes this in Colossians 1:15-18 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by[f] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

What does this mean for you and I as we walk out our faith. I think it means we joyfully submit to the work and plans of God. It could mean that you give up a relationship because you know the spiritual damage it causes. The applications are endless but the messages is simple - Christ follow the Lord in joyful submission.

Here is why and here’s what I really want you to know about the position of Christ in our life - The aim and position of the Christian is to reveal Christ through their own life.

3. THE PROOF OF CHRIST (v.31-33)

The third truth we see is that the Proof of Christ that John the Baptist gives. Look withme at verses 31-33 “31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

Notice John makes the claim that he didnt KNOW Jesus. What John is not saying is that he didnt know the name of Jesus or that he didnt know Jesus existed because John was Jesus’ cousin.

What were seeing John do here is say that at this time John didnt KNOW (intimately) Jesus was the Christ. John was faithful in the work that God called him to as God would reveal to him who The Christ would be. Really what we see here is that Jhn didn’t see who Christ was until God revealed it to him…

That same truth is true today for you and for those who are far off from Christ.

God is the one who revelas His Son to us - which should drive us to to what we John do in verse 32 where we see “John bore witness…” to what he saw.

When we see and know hwo Jesus truly is then you’ll share that.

ILL - When i found out about acorns and my mom got on board.

Here’s what i’m trying to say…If you truly see Jesus as the Son of God, it is because the Father has revealed Him to you — and if He has revealed Him to you, He now calls you to bear witness

CONCLUSION:

As we close, there are many different types of walks and journey with the Lord but each one starts with the revelation that Christ is King and we’re compelled and called to joyfully submit and point others to Chirst throught OUR life - just like John did.

The mark of a faithful Christian is one that allows thier life to be of complete use to God.

RESPONSE: