​ ESVAnd this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The Witness of John

Children’s Message:

Make straight the way of the Lord!The King is coming! We need to tidy up!Tidying up the roadTidying up our heart

Introduction:

Introduction

Imagine that down by the river, in the wilderness, in a spot like Riverside Bible camp is located...

Context:

400 years of waitingAnticipating the coming of the Christ, the Messiah, their conquering King who would set them free (they were currently being ruled by the Romans.Anticipating the coming of Elijah

​ ESVAnd he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

Anticipating the coming of “the Prophet” like MosesNow there is this man out in the wilderness drawing lots of attentionThe Priests & Levites went out to ask him, “Who are you?”Outline: “Who are you?” John’s threefold answer: 1. I am not the Christ 2. I am not Elijah or the Prophet 3. I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness

Context

1. I am not the Christ, nor Elijah, or the Prophet

the Christ = the Messiah, the Anointed One, the One God would send to deliver the peopleJohn is not the ChristJohn doesn’t here claim anything for himself (not even that He is the cousin of the Christ!) but humbly says noFalse Christs and False preachersYou are not the Christ, your own Savior

2.

Elijah

​ ESVAnd he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

Outline:

the Jews were setting a place for Elijah at their Passover Sader mealsBut why does Jesus call John “Elijah”

He and Enoch never died so many speculated they had the ability to come back.

But Jesus called John Elijah! Is this a contradiction?

​ ESVAnd after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

The Angel that appeared to John’s father Zechariah explained:

​ ESV “and he will 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 for the Lord a people prepared.”

“the Prophet”

1.

Moses said,

​ ESV“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—

The one who would come and speak the Words of God to the people was a sign a divine favor....

… and the one who would come like Moses was the hope of the people for another Exodus

from Rome

(for some) from sin and ultimate salvation

Some thought this would be the forerunner to the Christ (which is what John the Baptist was). Others thought that it would be the Christ himself, which is how it actually turned out. Jesus was “the Prophet.”The Priests and Levites were not satisfied and asked again, “Who are you?”

3. (v.23) “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’ As the prophet Isaiah said.”

​ ESVA voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Fulfillment of this prophecy

Office of herald and forerunner, a voice to announce the coming of the Christ, the Messiah, the King from the line of David who would sit upon David’s everlasting throne

2.

To prepare the way, make straight the paths

Picture of a King coming to town and the roads being prepared

The true spiritual intent: to prepare the hearts of the people. To clear the heart of the debris of sin through the call to repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins

God in His mercy sent John to warn us to turn from our wicked ways and accept His gift of forgiveness

FOLLOW-UP Question: “Then why are you baptizing?”

To reveal the Christ: “I baptize with water (don’t read “only water” because it was for the forgiveness of sins”), but among you stands one you do not know

​ ESV He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

​ ESV I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”

To glorify Christ: “even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”

​ ESVThis is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’

​ ESVThe next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

3.

That you might believe:

​ ESVHe came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

That we might confess like the Apostle Simon Peter

​ ESVHe said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”