Rev. Thomas E. Walker

Thursday, November 11, 2002

Mistaken Identity

John 1:19-20

Introduction:

What is the number one crime in America? Its not murder, its not theft, its not selling drugs and it not white collar crime. But it is Identity theft.  People are claiming to be someone else, claiming to be something they are not.

The Religion of the Jews. What made Jews different from other nations was their religion. Their faith was based on the Scriptures that God had given to them through Moses and the prophets. Moreover, their faith had a geographical center in Jerusalem, which was the traditional capital of the Jewish nation, but, even more important, Jerusalem was the site of the Jewish temple.

Although the Jews could meet for prayer and worship in every city, the sacrifices required by the Law of Moses could only be offered in one place—in the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus’ own life took Him from an obscure village to Jerusalem, the capital of His nation and the religious center of his people. As He said, “... it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem” (Luke 13:33).

The Early Judean Ministry. Only the Gospel of John describes this period of Jesus’ life. John first recounts the relationship between Christ and John the Baptist. John the Baptist told delegates from the highest religious authorities that he was not the Messiah, though indicating that the Messiah was present (John 1:19–27). The next day, seeing Jesus approaching he pointed Him out as the Messiah his own disciples should follow Jesus (John 1:35–37).

Jesus began to gather disciples to Himself (John 1:38–51). As a result of John the Baptist’s testimony.

John 1:19-20

19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.   

1.    John lived out in the wilderness, near the dead sea…

2.    The priests and the Levites traveled a long way to visit John…

3.    Jerusalem is a long way from Johns region in the wilderness…

4.    They had to travel along the Jericho road where bandits hid out to rod travelers…

5.    There are only two kind of people that would even go to this wilderness, one is someone not of this world and the other is someone who thoughts are bent out of this world…

6.    Jesus and John fit this type…

7.    For live out there…

8.    Jesus was temtped…

a)  John’s Character provaels again he tells the truth

i.                   John did not pump himself up to be from Heaven…

ii.                 John did not go into history about his daddy who was a priest…

iii.               John says I know, I am not the Christ but I do know him

Acts 13:25

25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, who think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

1. Some of us think we can save people like Christ saves people, no we can lead fokes to Christ…

a) Lets look at the Priest

                i. Priest   noun

one authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion especially as a mediatory agent between humans and God; a clergyman ranking below a bishop and above a deacon

b) The Priest should have known who John the Baptist was?

Isa. 40:3

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Examples of Priest

Gen. 4:3

And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.  4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock

Ex 29:9

9And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the bonnets on them: and the priest’s office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons. 

Hebrews 10:11

11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

A)   Look at the Levi

Levi

one of the tribe of Levi

2)     In a narrower sense those were called Levites who, not being of the race of Aaron, for whom alone the priesthood was reserved, served as assistants to the priests. It was their duty to keep the sacred utensils and the temple clean, to provide the sacred loaves, to open and shut the gates of the temple, to sing the sacred hymns in the temple, and to do many other things.

a)    They new the law but they had no relationship with God.

b)   See you can know something but not feel what you know.

There are three things I know and feel…

1.    I know that Jesus died for me…

2.    I know that Jesus was buried I know he got up early Sunday morning…

3.    He lives and is coming back real soon…

4.    I feel him in my soul…

Close

John 14:6

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way,  the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.