The Gospel According to John: 1:19-34
Notes
Transcript
19 This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” 24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27 “It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 “This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ 31 “I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32 John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
“The Gospel According to John” series intro:
The purpose of this study is threefold. First, as we go through this together we will learn more and more about Jesus. We will get to know Him better, understand Him better and our faith and trust in Him will grow.
Second, as we go through this study together we will better know and understand the life that only Jesus can give. Life forever and life to the full. We will discover how we can know for certain that we will be in heaven and we will learn how to live on earth like we are going to live in heaven.
And third, we are not only knowing and growing in these things together, as we go through this we are being equipped to share these things with others.
Read Text [John 1:19-34]
Pray: Heavenly Father, you are holy and just and full and a God of love, full of grace and truth. We confess our sin and acknowledge that we are unworthy of forgiveness. We humbly come before you, thanking you for making straight the way of the Lord Jesus Christ who paid the price so that we could be saved. We ask that today, as your word if proclaimed, that you would exalt your Son Jesus ans that you would help us to listen to your word so that through it you can also make our paths straight. This is our prayer, in Jesus name, Amen.
The Message: As always, I will be preaching Jesus today. Specifically, about the testimony we have because of Christ.
(I used to think my testimony was nothing special… but every Christian testimony is something special because it is a testimony of the life changing power of the love, grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ).
- The Testimony of John the Baptist (Quick recap story of the text).
A valid Christian testimony...
Recognizes Jesus.
Recognizes Jesus.
(v. 29) “The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
- He saw Jesus for He really is...
(v. 34) “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.””
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
- When you see the Lord for who He is you also see yourself as you really are...
(v. 27) “It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.””
1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. 5 Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”
- And it requires the work of the Holy Spirit! (He had no ability to save himself)
(v. 31-34) “31 “I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32 John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’
3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
A valid Christian testimony recognizes Jesus.
A valid Christian testimony also...
Reveals Jesus.
Reveals Jesus.
(v. 31) “I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.”
(v. 19-27) “19 This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” 24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27 “It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.””
Key words: “testimony”, “confess” & “answer” These are all about revealing truth!
(v. 29) “29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
- John the Baptist wanted people to pay attention to Jesus!
- John the Apostle wanted people to pay attention to Jesus!
Our theme text:
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.
- John the Baptist revealed Jesus by sharing the word of God!
(v. 32) John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’
- John the Baptist revealed Jesus by sharing what he personally witnessed.
(v. 32) John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.””
- John the Baptist revealed Jesus by showing evidence of a life changed by Christ.
(v. 19) “This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
If you have a valid Christian testimony, you have recognized Jesus for who He is and you can and do reveal Him to others.
Maybe you’ve never come to know who Jesus truly is. Allow me to point you back to our memory verse of the week:
Memory Verse of the Week:
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the only one who can rescue from death and give us eternal life. Trust in Him and and then share the testimony He has given you.
Let’s pray.
Discussion Questions: (John 1:19-34)
What parts of John’s testimony show his personal need for Christ?
What parts of John’s testimony point to the power of Christ?
What parts of John’s testimony prove he was changed by Christ?
What else does this passage tell us about God? Why does it matter?
What else does the text say about us? How is God leading you to respond?