Preaching/Teaching John 1:19-34

John: An Introduction and Commentary i. John’s Testimony to ‘The Jews’ of Jerusalem (1:19–28)

John’s testimony to ‘the Jews’ of Jerusalem

More to come

INTRODUCTION

1.SHOW Trailer for the movie “UNKNOWN”. Could you imagine waking up one morning and your identity is stolen, you then being the task of proving your true identity? In the movie “Unknown”, Dr. Martin Harris has his identity stolen by professionals, then through the story, he tries to find evidence to prove his true identity, while someone else is pretending to live his life.

2. Many have missed the true identity of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. Many have questioned the identity of Jesus. Some skeptics are not interested in Jesus at all.

The Apostle John does not want us to miss the identity of the “True Messiah”, Jesus the Son of God.

3.

Proposition:

The Apostle John writes this narrative story, in his Gospel, to give us evidence that you might believe that Jesus is the Son of God

Interrogative Question:

Interrogative Question:

Is there evidence that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah?

Transitional Sentence:

John gives us eyewitness evidence through John the Baptist, his testimony, Father, Son and Spirit

Propositional Question: Purpose

John: An Introduction and Commentary ii. John’s Testimony to Jesus as the Lamb of God (1:29–34)

ii. John’s testimony to Jesus as the Lamb of God (1:29–34)

John: An Introduction and Commentary ii. John’s Testimony to Jesus as the Lamb of God (1:29–34)

ii. John’s testimony to Jesus as the Lamb of God (1:29–34)

Purpose

The purpose of the Apostle John writing this narrative is to give us evidence that you might believe that Jesus is the Son of God through John the Baptist, his testimony, Father, Son and Spirit.

Audience

The Apostle John is the writer. The audience are Christians but also skeptics or those who may be questioning this faith as by the time John writes his gospel there there has been a generation of people who are first generation Christians and John wants to encourage all that they might believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that by believing they might have life!

John 1:19–28 NIV84

Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.” They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ” Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

John’s Testimony to ‘the Jews’ of Jerusalem

Keeping John’s theme of

1 Colin G. Kruse, John: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 4, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 80.

(NIV84)

31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Why John’s Testimony is Included

…we look at the reason why John might include this character and following information in his Gospel.

v. 19 “this was John’s testimony” John wants us to understand that the following information is from John the Baptist, not made up but literally John’s evidence, witness, testimony of Jesus.

Jews of Jerusalem - Delegation of representatives sent from Jerusalem to question John the Baptist’s calling (v. 19-28)

Delegation sent by the “Jews of Jerusalem (v.19)

sending of delegation of priest and Levites (including Pharisee’s (v. 24)

they question John’s calling 19-28

v. 20 Assumes in the question that they are wondering if this is the Christ, the Messiah

5 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

5 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

v. 21 The group of teachers comes and are wondering if John the Baptist is Elijah? But John’s answer is “no.” John did not see himself as the coming Elijah promised in the OT but, “John the Baptist is identified by Jesus as the coming Elijah. ; ”

This idea that both Elijah and/or Moses might return is not uncommon “the New Testament itself provides evidence that the Elijah figure was an accepted part of Jewish eschatological thinking then (see, e.g., the transfiguration event of , which involved Elijah and Moses, or the two witnesses of , which are often identified with the same two figures;” Gerald L. Borchert, , vol. 25A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 127.

The New American Commentary: John 1–11 (1) John’s Witness under Interrogation (1:19–22)

the New Testament itself provides evidence that the Elijah figure was an accepted part of Jewish eschatological thinking then (see, e.g., the transfiguration event of Mark 9:4–5, which involved Elijah and Moses, or the two witnesses of Rev 11:3–12, which are often identified with the same two figures;

the New Testament itself provides evidence that the Elijah figure was an accepted part of Jewish eschatological thinking then (see, e.g., the transfiguration event of , which involved Elijah and Moses, or the two witnesses of , which are often identified with the same two figures;

“First-century Jews were looking for the fulfilment of this promise (cf. 6:14; 7:37–40). Early Christian preachers also referred to ‘a prophet’ () and explicitly identified Jesus as the one in whom the promise found fulfilment (). It is not surprising, then, that when John was asked if he was the Prophet, he replied, ‘No.’”

The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), .

Gerald L. Borchert, , vol. 25A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 127.

v. 22. They continue to push John the Baptist for a clear answer to the questions of who he really is to bring back to the Jewish authorities.

John’s Calling Answered (v. 23)

quoting from

A voice of one calling:

“In the desert prepare

the way for the Lord;

make straight in the wilderness

a highway for our God.b

a Or A voice of one calling in the desert: / “Prepare the way for the Lord

a highway for our God.

b Hebrew; Septuagint make straight the paths of our God

John is fulfilling God’s promise through the prophet Isaiah of one who would come and prepare the way to introduce the Messiah (our God)

John’s Aggressive Encounter (v. 19-28)

This adversarial use of the term “Jews” could easily reflect the experience of the evangelist and the Christian community in terms of hostility from institutional Judaism as represented by the synagogue. The temple of course had already been destroyed (a.d. 70) by the time of the writing of this Gospel.90 This Gospel was first circulated apparently in a period when Christians were being excluded from synagogues, a time of the reconstitution of the Jewish faith

v.19-28 Tone of the encounter of Jews with John: the tone of the meeting of the Jewish leaders, authorities and representatives is seen as adversarial by the Apostle John. As “ This adversarial use of the term “Jews” could easily reflect the experience of the evangelist and the Christian community in terms of hostility from institutional Judaism as represented by the synagogue. The temple of course had already been destroyed (a.d. 70) by the time of the writing of this Gospel.90 This Gospel was first circulated apparently in a period when Christians were being excluded from synagogues, a time of the reconstitution of the Jewish faith...” Gerald L. Borchert, , vol. 25A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 126.

Gerald L. Borchert, , vol. 25A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 126.

John’s Baptism

The New International Version (1984) The Day of the Lord

5 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter One: God Is Here! (John 1)

Having ascertained who John was, the committee then asked what he was doing. “Why are you baptizing?” John got his authority to baptize, not from men, but from heaven, because he was commissioned by God (Matt. 21:23–32). The Jewish religious leaders in that day baptized Gentiles who wanted to adopt the Jewish faith; but John baptized Jews!

John explained that his baptism was in water, but that the Messiah would come and baptize with a spiritual baptism. Again, John made it clear that he was not establishing a new religion or seeking to exalt himself. He was pointing people to the Saviour, the Son of God (John 1:34). We shall learn later that it was through baptism that Jesus Christ would be presented to the people of Israel.

We learn from the Gospel of Matthew that Jesus baptized with water for repentance.

However, later, we find out that Jesus will have a new baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire!

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Luke in the book of Acts records Jesus telling the disciples that they will be baptized by the Spirit refering saying”:

“For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Read Acts 2:1-12

John’s Testimony to Jesus as the Lamb of God (v.29-34)

John 1:29-34

John 1:29–34 NIV84

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”

LOOK! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (v.29)

After all the questions from the delegation sent from Jerusalem, the very next day, John the Baptist answers their questions. However, it is not clear that the special delegation was there but probably returned to Jerusalem. You see,

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter One: God Is Here! (John 1)

The question in the Old Testament is, “Where is the lamb?” (Gen. 22:7) In the four Gospels, the emphasis is “Behold the Lamb of God!” Here He is! After you have trusted Him, you sing with the heavenly choir, “Worthy is the Lamb!” (Rev. 5:12)

Why would John the Baptist refer to Jesus as the Lamb of God?

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter One: God Is Here! (John 1)

The people of Israel were familiar with lambs for the sacrifices. At Passover, each family had to have a lamb; and during the year, two lambs a day were sacrificed at the temple altar, plus all the other lambs brought for personal sacrifices. Those lambs were brought by men to men, but here is God’s Lamb, given by God to men! Those lambs could not take away sin, but the Lamb of God can take away sin. Those lambs were for Israel alone, but this Lamb would shed His blood for the whole world!

Jesus was before me (v.30)

This is a strategically important comment that the Gospel of John records because John the Baptist is six months older than Jesus, and so his statement restates John’s beginning statement in , in the beginning was the Word! Jesus has always existed in eternity past.

John’s Baptism reveals Messiah! (v.31)

John wants us to know that the reason he had come to baptise was to reveal Messiah to Israel!

John: An Introduction and Commentary ii. John’s Testimony to Jesus as the Lamb of God (1:29–34)

John was related to Jesus and therefore knew him personally. What he did not know previously was that Jesus was the Messiah. Now he explained that the purpose of his baptizing ministry was that Jesus ‘might be revealed to Israel’. John was aware that Jesus came to the Jewish people, ‘to Israel’, and the purpose of John’s ministry was that Jesus should be revealed to Israel as her Messiah.

“John was related to Jesus and therefore knew him personally. What he did not know previously was that Jesus was the Messiah. Now he explained that the purpose of his baptizing ministry was that Jesus ‘might be revealed to Israel’. John was aware that Jesus came to the Jewish people, ‘to Israel’, and the purpose of John’s ministry was that Jesus should be revealed to Israel as her Messiah.”

Colin G. Kruse, John: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 4, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 82.

Jesus Baptism and Revelation to Israel as Messiah (v.32-33)

Triune work of God in Baptism

Spirit comes down from heaven as a dove and remains on Jesus.

Jesus is baptised

God tells John “the man who you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptise with the Holy Spirit.”

Mark records more information telling us that there was alson the voice of God involved in Jesus baptism!

9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

“ 9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” .

The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), .

“It is generally agreed by scholars of all denominations that, in the New Testament, baptism was by immersion. It pictured death, burial, and resurrection.” Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 288.

It is generally agreed by scholars of all denominations that, in the New Testament, baptism was by immersion. It pictured death, burial, and resurrection.

Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 288.

Conclusion

Missed the message

Have you ever walked by a conversation and assumed you knew what is was about, but late find that you were very wrong.

The delegation send from Jerusalem missed the most important message and announcement because they did not stick around.

Will you investigate Jesus? Would you be willing to find out who he is and what he is all about? Try Alpha

There is already much evidence about Jesus presented over the last two weeks and more to come.

That you might believe Jesus is the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in his name!

John gives us the testimony of John the Baptist as eyewitness testimony and evidence that Jesus is the Son of God! Will you believe? What this means for us is.........

GOOD NEWS!!! Jesus, the Lamb of God can take away your sin!

We all have a sin problem (). What we earn from our sin is death, but this special gift from God is forgiveness of sins and eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord! Jesus says, “

16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” .

The New International Version (1984) Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,f that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

f Or his only begotten Son

The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), .

Baptism

If you have not yet been baptised and do believe in Jesus Christ as your Saviour from sin. Would you follow in obedience to become baptised?

We are going to be soon starting a baptism/membership course. If you are interested, please let me or Pastor George know.

PRAY