John 1:19-34
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 16 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
WHO IS THE CHRIST?
WHO IS THE CHRIST?
To properly understand the passage, we need to go back to the intent of the author.
The author John gives us a portrait of Jesus Christ as the God-incarnate (John 1:1-3) who came to save those who believe in Him (John 1:12)
Jesus is from heaven, He is the eternal God who came down to be the Savior, the Messiah, the Immanuel...
In our Passage, The Apostle John points us to one of the many witnesses of the coming and identity of this Messiah that they have been waiting.
John the Baptist is one of the key figures who know the identify of Jesus. and the author wants to tell his readers - Who is John / What is His credentials, AND What did John said about Jesus.
Observation:
Who is John the Baptist? (vv. 19-25)
Who is John the Baptist? (vv. 19-25)
I. The Testimony of John the Baptist to the Jews in Jerusalem (v.19)
I. The Testimony of John the Baptist to the Jews in Jerusalem (v.19)
19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.
testimony - marturia, witness, evidence, martyr. (resulted to his death)
a. The religious leaders of Israel is curios to know who John is.
Who are these people and where do they came from?
Priest - people set apart for service to God in the temple.
Levites - The descendants of Levi who served with the priests in the temple.
Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel where the religious and political leaders resides.
Perhaps they want to verify if John is the Christ that they have been waiting for.
What is John’s answer to them? (v.20-23)
What is John’s answer to them? (v.20-23)
20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”
a. He is not the Christ (v.20)
a. He is not the Christ (v.20)
Christ. Official title given to Jesus in the NT. It signifies his office as anointed Savior and alludes to his spiritual qualifications for the task of saving his people. The word derives from Greek Christos, which translates Hebrew Messiah (Jn 1:41). Both terms come from verbs meaning “to anoint with sacred oil”; hence as titles they mean “the anointed one.” Applied to Jesus, they express the conviction that he had divine appointment for his office and function.
1 Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Christ. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 431). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.
Gen. 3:15 The Proto-Euangelion
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
The Birth of the Prince of Peace
(cf. John 1:4-5; Matt 4:16)
b. He is not Elijah, nor the “Prophet”. (v.21)
b. He is not Elijah, nor the “Prophet”. (v.21)
The priests and Levites were puzzled by John’s response. They probably expected him to claim to be the Messiah as others had done before him and were to do after him (Matt. 24:24)
5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.
The teachers of the law were saying that the Elijah figure must come before the arrival of the messianic age
First-century Jews were looking for the coming of this Elijah figure
15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.
c. He fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah (this is John’s purpose and function) (v.22-23)
c. He fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah (this is John’s purpose and function) (v.22-23)
3 A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.
d. He baptizes with water (v.24-26)
d. He baptizes with water (v.24-26)
24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know.
BDAG_updated BDAG_updated
John’s baptism was designed to implement repentance as a necessary stage for the reception of Jesus; with the arrival of Jesus the next stage was the receipt of the Holy Spirit in connection with apostolic baptism in the name of Jesus
symbol of cleansing, after repentance.
usually for gentiles who would convert to Judaism. But John is baptizing people who are Jews!
II. What did John said about Jesus? (vv.26-34)
II. What did John said about Jesus? (vv.26-34)
a. Jesus is greater than John (v.26-27)
a. Jesus is greater than John (v.26-27)
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.”
b. Jesus is the Lamb of God (v.29)
b. Jesus is the Lamb of God (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!
Jesus is referred to as the Lamb
Jesus is referred to as the Lamb from God, because of the genetive word “of” - of God, belonging to God.
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jesus Christ is referred to as the “Lamb of God”. This symbol points to Christ being a perfect sacrifice for sin. It also conveys his meekness and his willingness to submit to suffering and death.
12 On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old without defect,
the lamb is the Sacrificial Offering
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
A picture of the crucifixion of the Christ - analogy of a lamb that is going to be sacrificed.
8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
the Beast (the agent of Satan/ Organization that will battle with Christ).
the Lamb who was slain refers to Jesus.
14 “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”
The Lamb - Jesus will be victorious at the end.
Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
c. Jesus existed before John (v.30)
c. Jesus existed before John (v.30)
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.’
d. Jesus is the Son of God (v.32-34)
d. Jesus is the Son of God (v.32-34)
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.”
Son of God (repeated 9 times in John’s Gospel account, referring to Jesus)
(cf. Matthew 3:16; Luke 3:22)
Interpretation:
John the Baptist testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ that they have been waiting for. His credibility as a witness is from God and His purpose is to reveal the Messiah to Israel.
Application:
so what?
What have you learned about Jesus?
Who is Jesus Christ to you?
How Important is Jesus to you?