John 1:6-13 Sermon

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Introduction

Main Idea: Christ is worthy of witness because He is the light who gives life to them who did not know Him.

Question: Why should we share the gospel?

This is a question that I believe hasn’t been asked enough. Even by us who emphasize the gospel as a daily necessity.

The question of why should we share the gospel immediately asks deeper question.

Question: Do we share the gospel?

Do you share the gospel?

Do you share the gospel because of wanting to see people come to Christ?

Do you share the gospel because it is commanded?

As we live in a post Christian culture we are seeing that evangelism and discipleship have become foreign categories or they have mistakenly become replaced with comfortable approaches to evangelism and discipleship.

These aren’t wrong if the answer was yes. But there can be a problem when we think in terms of what is foundational.

I believe this is a result of lacking true witness to the gospel.

Many do not commit to actual biblical witnessing because they have not been convinced.

There can be no conviction without being convinced.

In our text today John, the writer of this gospel, was fully convinced that Jesus was God from the very beginning.

And the purpose of him writing this gospel is found in

John 20:30–31 ESV

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

We will see in our text today why we should witness which is the purpose of every Christian and every church.

We will see in our text today why we should witness which is the purpose of every Christian.

We may not all be evangelist but we all must do the work of an evangelist!

Outline

1. The witness of Christ (v.6-8)

2. The light of Christ (v.9-11)

3. The work of Christ (v.12-13)

1. The witness of Christ (v.6-8)

Verse 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

The Westminster Bible Dictionary John the Baptist

4. John the Baptist, of the priestly order, his father, Zacharias, being a priest of the course of Abia or Abijah (1 Chron. 24:10), and his mother, Elisabeth, being a daughter of Aaron (Luke 1:5). His birth was foretold by an angel sent from God, and is related at length in the first chapter of Luke’s Gospel. It preceded by six months that of our Lord. John was ordained to be a Nazarite from his birth (Luke 1:15). He dwelt by himself in the wild and thinly-peopled region westward of the Dead Sea; his dress was that of the old prophets, a garment woven of camel’s hair (2 Kings 1:8), attached to the body by a leathern girdle; his food was such as the desert afforded, locusts (Lev. 11:22) and wild honey (Ps. 81:16). And when he came forth to begin his wonderful work as the herald of the Christ he attracted universal attention and awakened the profoundest interest. His foreannounced birth, his hard, ascetic life, his reputation for extraordinary sanctity, and the widely prevalent expectation that some great one was about to appear, sufficiently account for the multitudes that thronged to him from “Jerusalem and all Judæa, and all the region round about Jordan” (Matt. 3:5). He preached the doctrine and administered the baptism of repentance, whilst bearing the clearest testimony to the superiority of that baptism, accompanied with the gift of the Holy Spirit, which our Lord afterward ordained (Matt. 3:11, 12).

When he baptized our Lord he noted the remarkable attestations of the Messiah—the symbolical descent of the Holy Spirit and the recognition from heaven of the divine Son (Matt. 3:16, 17)—and he inferred therefrom that his work and mission were accomplished. Such, indeed, proved to be the fact. In daring disregard of the divine laws, Herod Antipas had taken to himself Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip; and when John, with a noble fidelity to truth, reproved him for this and other sins (Luke 3:19), Herod cast him into prison. The place of his confinement was the castle of Machærus, a fortress on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. At this castle a court-festival was kept in honor of Herod’s birthday. After supper Salome, the daughter of Herodias, came in and danced before the company, and by her grace of manner and beauty of person so charmed Herod that he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she should ask. Salome, prompted by her vicious and vindictive mother, demanded the head of John the Baptist. Herod gave the order to an officer of his guard, who went immediately to the prison-vault where John was confined, and soon returned bearing on a large dish the ghastly face and head of the murdered man. His death is supposed to have occurred just before the third passover in the course of our Lord’s ministry, A.D. 28. His life is marked throughout with the characteristic graces of self-denial, humility, and holy courage. Upon him our Lord pronounces the noblest eulogy ever pronounced on man (Luke 7:28).

Here it is speaking of John the Baptist.

John’s father, Zacharias comes from a priestly order. And his mother from the lineage of Aaron.

John the Baptist

, of the priestly order, his father, Zacharias, being a priest of the course of Abia or Abijah (), and his mother, Elisabeth, being a daughter of Aaron ().

His birth was foretold by an angel. We see this in the first chapter of Luke’s Gospel. It preceded the birth of Christ by six months.

John was ordained to be a Nazarite from his birth ().

He lived by himself in the wild region west of the Dead Sea and He dressed like the old prophets. He wore garments made of camel’s hair.

He dressed like the old prophets. He wore garments made of camel’s hair.

2 Kings 1:8 ESV

8 They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”

He lived in the wilderness where he ate locusts and wild honey.

He was the forerunner of Christ where he announced of the One coming who was greater than he. Meaning that he was sent by God to prepare the way which was prophesied about.

He would baptize with a baptism of repentance in preparation for the Lord’s appearance.

In Jesus said of John that “among those born of women none is greater than John.” None were greater because he would witness Jesus and he would be the forerunner preparing the way for him!

Luke 7:28 ESV

28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Luke 7:

attached to the body by a leathern girdle; his food was such as the desert afforded, locusts () and wild honey ().

ocusts () and wild honey ().

He dressed like the old prophets, a garment woven of camel’s hair (), attached to the body by a leathern girdle; his food was such as the desert afforded, locusts () and wild honey ().

And when he came forth to begin his wonderful work as the herald of the Christ he attracted universal attention and awakened the profoundest interest. His foreannounced birth, his hard, ascetic life, his reputation for extraordinary sanctity, and the widely prevalent expectation that some great one was about to appear, sufficiently account for the multitudes that thronged to him from “Jerusalem and all Judæa, and all the region round about Jordan” (). He preached the doctrine and administered the baptism of repentance, whilst bearing the clearest testimony to the superiority of that baptism, accompanied with the gift of the Holy Spirit, which our Lord afterward ordained (, ).

When he baptized our Lord he noted the remarkable attestations of the Messiah—the symbolical descent of the Holy Spirit and the recognition from heaven of the divine Son (, )—and he inferred therefrom that his work and mission were accomplished. Such, indeed, proved to be the fact. In daring disregard of the divine laws, Herod Antipas had taken to himself Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip; and when John, with a noble fidelity to truth, reproved him for this and other sins (), Herod cast him into prison. The place of his confinement was the castle of Machærus, a fortress on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. At this castle a court-festival was kept in honor of Herod’s birthday. After supper Salome, the daughter of Herodias, came in and danced before the company, and by her grace of manner and beauty of person so charmed Herod that he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she should ask. Salome, prompted by her vicious and vindictive mother, demanded the head of John the Baptist. Herod gave the order to an officer of his guard, who went immediately to the prison-vault where John was confined, and soon returned bearing on a large dish the ghastly face and head of the murdered man. His death is supposed to have occurred just before the third passover in the course of our Lord’s ministry, A.D. 28. His life is marked throughout with the characteristic graces of self-denial, humility, and holy courage. Upon him our Lord pronounces the noblest eulogy ever pronounced on man ().

The Works of Josephus: New Updated Edition Chapter 5: Herod the Tetrarch Makes War with Aretas, the King of Arabia, and Is Beaten by Him; As Also concerning the Death of John the Baptist. How Vitellius Went up to Jerusalem; Together with Some Account of Agrippa, and of the Posterity of H

2. (116) Now, some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod’s army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist; (117) for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism; for that the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away [or the remission] of some sins [only], but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness. (118) Now, when [many] others came in crowds about him, for they were greatly moved [or pleased] by hearing his words, Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties, by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it should be too late. (119) Accordingly he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod’s suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I before mentioned, and was there put to death. Now the Jews had an opinion that the destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod, and a mark of God’s displeasure against him.

He spoke of

What we see from verse 6 is that he was sent by God.

And Verse 7 explains to us the purpose of him being sent by God.

Read verse 7

Verse 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

God sent John to be a witness. The term witness is used through out the gospel of John.

The term witness is used through out the gospel of John.

In the ESV it is used 29 times.

In the gospel of John it means: to give a verbal account of something that is affirmed to be true.

testimony (witness) n. — the verbal evidence of a witness by which something is affirmed to be true.

It means to give a verbal account of something that is affirmed to be true.

Essentially it is to give a testimony. Not of oneself but of what someone has witnessed.

When it speaks of John as a witness it is speaking John’s affirmation of what he knows as truth. Which comes from the fact that he was sent. He was a prophet sent by God to prepare the way for Christ.

In the latter part of verse 7 it reads, “that all might believe through him.” Meaning that through John’s witness all might believe.

John was simply a witness to someone greater than himself. Someone that was deserving of testimony and affirmation.

We can see this in more detail in .

John 1:29–34 ESV

29 The next day he 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 ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 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.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

This shows us the reason why John gave testimony or gave witness.

It was so that all might believe that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

This is what it mean’t for John to be a witness. It was to bear witness of the light who is Christ! The Lamb of God.

John gave us a good example as to how we are look as witnesses of Christ.

In he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John 3:25–30 ESV

25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 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.”

John knew he wasn’t the light.

John knew his place in redemptive history.

He knew that Jesus was the one that ranked before him, because Christ was before him. Meaning that Jesus existed before Him and before all things.

That is however how this gospel begins.

Jesus was the light of the world. Not John.

John was just a witness to the light. Christ was greater. Great reminder for us today.

Read verse 8.

Verse 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

This was his purpose as a witness.

The question on why should we share the gospel is preceded by the question, what have we witnessed? Or have we witnessed Christ at all!

For John, he was giving witness to the One who was there in the beginning. He who was with God and was Himself God.

He who was with God and was Himself God.

John saw the salvation of people in Jesus Christ which should also be our motive when sharing the gospel.

This should also be our motive when sharing the gospel.

Not everyone is called to be an evangelist or a missionary. But everyone is called to be a witness.

Everyone is to give evidence of their faith. One that should affirm Christ as true.

Everyone should bear witness to the gospel and its power to save.

Maybe the greatest hinderance is forgetting to look at Christ.

Question: When was the last time you looked to Christ in prayer and worship and then felt compelled and convicted to bear witness?

John was compelled because he was sent and he believed.

Maybe the problem for us is that we have not been convinced or maybe we have forgotten how Jesus is the Lamb of God. How Jesus is the light of men. Able to expose sin and set people free from the darkness.

Maybe we have a high view of ourselves or a preoccupation with our own lives. John knew he wasn’t the light. Which meant that he (John) wasn’t the life giving Lamb of God who could take away sins.

John knew he wasn’t the light. Which meant that he (John) wasn’t the life giving Lamb of God who could take away sins.

We are to give compelling evidence for our faith. But we cannot if we have not come to actual, genuine faith in Christ.

For some who have come to genuine faith, the danger is to settle with our own comforts, void of the need to share the gospel.

Remembering that Christ is the light for those in darkness demands witnessing.

Like John, we must bear witness of Christ who is light.

John 8:12 ESV

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

The light of Christ is life. It is essentially who Jesus is. He is life.

Question: Do you see Christ as light? Have you been convinced? Is your conviction pushing you to be broken over those in darkness?

2. The light of Christ (v.9-11)

Read Verse 8 and 9

Verse 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

Verse 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

Question: What exactly is light?

Answer: The life of Christ.

John 1:4 ESV

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Question: What exactly is darkness?

Answer: The life of Christ.

John 3:19–21 ESV

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Answer: Darkness is the condition of man apart from Jesus.

Darkness is used to describe people:

who do wicked things. Meaning that they do no adhere to ethical or moral principles.

base act n. — an act not adhering to ethical or moral principles.

who hate the light. Meaning that they hate the life of Christ.

who do not come to the light for fear that their works are exposed. They do not come to Christ.

whose works are not exposed

It is speaking of the world that does not know Him. The world that hates Him and the world that has not come to Christ for fear that their works would be exposed.

What the light of Christ also does is expose works that have been carried out in God.

It is a work of God alone that people in darkness come to Christ. When they are drawn to Him for salvation they are drawn by Him.

That is what is in the world.

The world does the opposite.

Read verse 10

Verse 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

The world used here three times in verse 10 is speaking of the world of men.

More specifically people who are in the “kosmos” the inhabited earth.

He was in the world and they were made through Him. But they did not know Him.

But they did not know Him.

This is what it means to be in darkness.

This is what makes one an unbeliever. It is descriptive of their condition before God.

Remember verse 9.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

John 1:9 ESV

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

Again they are the ones who:

who do wicked things

who hate the light

who do not come to the light for fear that their works are exposed

who do not come to the light (the life of Christ) for fear that their works are exposed

Not knowing Christ is not just ignorance but rejection which is the default position of every person.

Verse 10 of chapter one and verse 19 of chapter 3 are good to read alongside each other.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

John 3:19

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

Verse 19 of chapter 3: And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world.

Question: What world?

English Standard Version Chapter 3

Verse 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him.

Verse 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world.

Verse 10 the world did not know him.

Question: Why?

Verse 10 yet the world did not know him.

Verse 19 of chapter 3: people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

This is why the world did not know Him. Because they loved darkness rather than light. They love sin, evil and their own lives rather than Christ who is life!

and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

That is why in He said,

John 12:25 ESV

25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

To love your own life is darkness. But hating your life, meaning hating the darkness and coming to the light is life!

This is what the world needs to hear! They need to hear that their lives apart from Christ who is life, is darkness.

Not only did the world reject Christ but also His own.

11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

Verse 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

Even those within his own. The Jews. They did not receive Him.

This proves that one can have the oracles of God and be lost in darkness themselves!

They were in darkness like the rest of the world.

The people that had the oracles of God did not receive Him!

This shows not only their spiritual condition but everyone’s condition prior to salvation.

Both the world and His own countrymen were in darkness. Which meant that they both were left with their sin and wickedness.

Their only hope was what John the baptist was saying from the beginning. Behold the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world.

This is exactly what the work of Christ is all about!

It is telling people of Jesus Christ who came to take away sin through His sacrifice as a Lamb! This is the gospel! The work of Christ!

3. The work of Christ (v.12-13)

John was a witness to the light of Christ.

The light of Christ is life to those that are in darkness. Everyone prior to salvation is in darkness.

And because everyone is in darkness everyone needs light and life. Which is a work of God alone.

Read verse 12

Verse 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

The world (those that are in darkness) did not know Him.

His own (those that are in darkness) did not receive Him.

But there are those who do receive Him.

Question: How?

1. They hear the witness of Christ and receive Him.

2. They hear the witness of Christ and believe in His name.

3. Salvation affirms genuine repentance (the work of God) and rejection proves one’s own condemnation (works of evil).

Which then shows 2 things.

If one finds themselves in genuine repentance then it speaks of the work of God. Thus giving man the means to receive Him and to believe in His name.

But if someone is found in rejection then it proves one’s own condemnation which speaks of their works being evil. Thus rejecting Him and refusing to believe in His name.

The work of God in a believer begins with the will of God for them to be born again. Which He did before the foundation of the world!

Salvation affirms genuine repentance (the work of God) and rejection proves one’s own condemnation (works of evil).

This is good news for us who are called to be witnesses! Because God is not looking for perfect witnesses but only faithful ones who know their place in the conversion of souls.

We do not save anyone. Only God can. So we cannot worry about who gets saved. We only need to concern ourselves with being faithful witnesses.

John chapter 3 gives us the details as to how one comes to be born again.

One is born again by the Holy Spirit bringing them to life. Receiving and believing does not happen apart from God’s work in us.

“But to all who did receive him” cannot be separated from verse 13.

We were born, not of blood nor of the will of our flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Receiving and believing does not mean choosing God when in darkness and being dead.

Receiving and believing Christ happens when one is made alive in Christ by being born again through grace.

Ephesians 2:4–5 ESV

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

He made us alive!

Receiving and believing Christ cannot happen without God’s work in us because.....

1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

He gave us the right to become children of God because of receiving and believing Him. But receiving and believing Him can only come from God making us alive!

This doesn’t come from our own will. It comes from God granting to us faith by grace. Which is a gift.

The work of Christ is making a people who were in darkness and lifeless into children of God.

Read Verse 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

Read Verse 13

Verse 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

This is a work of God alone. Which is why we are here.

Which why we are here.

We are here to be witnesses of Christ so that we can witness Christ making dead people in darkness alive. Making them children of God by grace!

We did not become children of God because of blood. Or Or “bloods” as the original speaks. Meaning that we did not come to saving faith by being born into a special lineage.

1. The witness of Christ (v.6-8)

Meaning that we did not come to saving faith by human origi

Meaning that we did not come to saving faith by being born into a special lineage.

Meaning that we did not come to saving faith by human origi

We did not become children of God because of our own will. It was the will of God.

It was the will of God.

It is God’s will that He draws His elect to Himself by Himself for Himself.

He calls, He draws, He saves and He keeps His own.

We have become the church to witness through gospel proclamation, to speak of Christ as the Lamb of God in whom there is life and we are to witness the work of God in the salvation of souls.

To God be the glory!

Christ is worthy of witness because He is the light who gives life to them who did not know Him.

2. The light of Christ (v.9-11)

3. The work of Christ (v.12-13)

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