Sermon Tone Analysis

Old Testament Prophecies

The Testimony of John the Baptist

19 This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” 20 He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”

21 “Well then, who are you?” they asked.

“Are you Elijah?”

“No,” he replied.

“Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”

“No.”

22 “Then who are you?

We need an answer for those who sent us.

What do you have to say about yourself?”

23 John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:

“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,

‘Clear the way for the LORD’s coming!’ ”

24 Then the Pharisees who had been sent 25 asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”

26 John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize.

27 Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”

28 This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.

In the other three gospels we’re also told of John’s ministry.

He lives a “green sustainable” lifestyle, living in the wilderness and living off the land, eating locust an honey while wearing woven course camel hair and a leather belt.

He is like other Old Testament prophets who lived in remote places and had unique lifestyles.

He was a tough rugged man living a comfort free lifestyle while calling people to “take an unflinching moral inventory” and change their lives accordingly, confessing their sins - their moral failures - to GOD.

People would be baptized as an outward expression of what they had done internally.

So the Jewish religious leaders are trying to figure out who the crazy guy is eating locusts and honey in the boonies.

He is like other Old Testament prophets who lived in remote places and had unique lifestyles.

He is like other Old Testament prophets who lived in remote places and had unique lifestyles.

Notice how the religious leaders automatically put John in the “Prophet” category.

But notice how the religious leaders automatically put John in the “Prophet” category.

In their minds there is no doubt this guy is a man sent from GOD.

He may be weird, but in their minds there is no doubt this guy is a man sent from GOD.

People would be baptized as an outward expression of what they had done internally.

Notice how they go down the list in order of importance:

Messiah, Elijah, Prophet

These guesses are based on dozens of Old Testament prophesies in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and others that foretold of coming messengers from GOD.

In other words, GOD had spoken hundreds of years earlier through earlier prophets promising to send someone like John the Baptist.

And John in his own words quoted

The prophet Isaiah was speaking about him when he said,

The prophet Isaiahwas speaking about Johnwhen he said,

“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!

Clear the road for him!’

”

Thunder in the desert!

Prepare for God’s arrival!

Make the road smooth and straight!

The Jewish people and religious leaders had read, and studied the Old Testament, found the prophecies, and were now expecting the Messiah, Elijah, and the “Prophet.”

What the Gospel writer is trying to communicate here are two things:

Number one, there was a high level of expectancy in Israel for GOD to fulfill His promises and do something.

And second, that John the Baptist himself, had testified (or swore to them) that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah, come to save the Jews.

No less of a source than John declared the truth of that fact.

John was a very well-known and respected spiritual leader of his day.

His stamp of approval carried a LOT of weight to the average Jew.

The Lamb of God

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look!

The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him.

33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”

John Continues to swear and declare that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior of the World.

(John “testifies” five different times that Jesus is the Christ)

The Greek word (3140) μαρτυρέω [martureo /mar·too·reh·o/] to is used by times in just the beginning of this chapter.

It means: 1 to be a witness, to bear witness, i.e. to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration.

It is where we get the root word “martyr” from.

And we shall see John sadly fulfill that role in his service to Jesus later in his life.

Interestingly enough John coins a phrase and establishes a new title for Jesus as “The Lamb of GOD.”

This is the first time that exact phrase is used in the Bible.

Though the reference to is very evident:

7 He was oppressed and treated harshly,

yet he never said a word.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,

he did not open his mouth.

John was a very well-known and respected spiritual leader of his day.

His stamp of approval carried a LOT of weight to the average Jew.

I guess it would be as if the late Billy Graham, or Mother Theresa vouched for the truth of something.

Unlike the other three (Synoptic) gospels, which slowly reveal the divinity of Jesus, and even of his messiahship, the Apostle John gets right down to the brass tacks of things.

He is saying, “Look, Jesus was in fact the Messiah.

John the Baptist was not.

He said so himself.

And in fact John himself swore that Jesus was the Christ.

So let’s just settle that point right here and now.”

Now the modern skeptic says you can’t trust the Bible.

It was written by primitive bronze aged peasants and is filled with myth and lore.

Now I could spend hours defending the veracity of the Bible.

I could point to vast amounts the archeological and historical evidence which proves its accuracy and integrity.

I could tell you that the Bible has 25 times more manuscript evidence for itself than any other ancient document.

And I could tell you there is not one single shred of hard evidence disproving the Bible or the life of Christ.

But the skeptic says, “But the stories are so outlandish.

They are so far-fetched.

We don’t see any of the miracles that are purported to have occurred in the Bible.

I could then point to Dr. XXXX three volume set entitled “Miracles which records dozens and dozens of miracles that occurred in 10 countries.”

I could tell you that according the China Christian Association half of all the conversions in China are due to physical healings.

And I could tell you that 55% of American Doctors say they have witnessed miracles in the treatment of their patients.

But, here is what I am going to say to the modern skeptic.

You say the bible is simply myth.

I say simply “prove it!”

Prove it.

Anyone can make a baseless assertion about something.

Anyone can dismiss well established facts.

The skeptic who makes those claims is simply making an unwarranted, unsubstantiated, baseless assertion.