Sermon Tone Analysis

The Witness of John the Baptist

John 5:33-35

 

I.

The Witness of John.

!

Introduction:

In the Gospel records, the greatest story ever told actually begins with the announcement of the birth of Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist.

/Zacharias was a priest who was righteous before the Lord/.

He and his wife, Elizabeth, were elderly and childless.

While Zacharias was serving in the temple one day, the angel Gabriel appeared to him with the news that he would have a son who would go forth in the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah.

This son would be the forerunner of the promised Messiah.

The child was born and named John.

He grew strong in spirit and as an adult spent time meditating and praying in the wilderness until he assumed his ministry to Israel of announcing the coming of the Lord.

/Until his time, John the Baptist was the greatest man who had lived (Matt.

11:11; Luke 7:28)//.

/He was the last of the Old Testament prophets, privileged to be no less than the immediate forerunner of the Messiah.

Yet he was a humble man and expressed that humility when he said of Christ, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

/John preached baptism accompanied by repentance in the wilderness/, charging the people to prepare the way of the Lord.

The long-promised Messiah would soon come, and the people were to be ready spiritually by /repenting of their/ sins and /being baptized./

The religious rulers from Jerusalem came out to the Jordan where John was preaching and questioned him concerning his mission and identity.

A.

The First Witness.

1.

You Have Sent To John (v.33)

/a)        //John’s Purpose & Example (John 1:6-8)/

John’s purpose – /to bear witness & testimony to the Light of the world/

John’s example – /stands as a great example to every believer/

The believers purpose – /to bear the same witness as John, that is, Jesus Christ is the light of the world./

Many people today are spiritually lost due to the sinful preoccupations of this world, and they can’t find there way to the Fathers house.

In My Father's house are many mansions; if [it were] not [so], I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, [there] you may be also (John 14:1-3).

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6).

Therefore, unless Christians shine forth their light as a lighthouse shines forth in the ocean to direct ships, they will be lost, never entering into the Fathers house.

Jesus said, "Peace to you!

As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

(John 20:21 NKJV)

Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.

Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

(Matthew 10:16 NKJV)

You are the light of the world.

A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

(Matthew 5:14 NKJV)

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

(Philippians 2:14-16 NKJV)

2.       The Religious Leaders Interrogated John Carefully.

/a)        //John “bore witness to the truth” (5:33)/

/The words “bore witness” (memartureken) mean a permanent and continuing witness.

/His message was not a fly-by-night witness that appeared on the scene and suddenly disappeared.

His witness continued and still continues and will always continue.

/It was a trustworthy message, a witness to the truth ( //John 1:15, 19-27, 29-36.//)/

/John Proclaimed that He was an Unworthy Servant.

He// proclaimed that he was not even worthy to unloose the shoe latchet of Jesus’ sandals./

1.         /Slaves were the ones who loosed the sandals of guests & washed their feet/

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.

After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe /them/ with the towel with which He was girded.

(John 13:3-5 NKJV)

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?   "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for /so/ I am.

"If I then, /your/ Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

"For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

(John 13:12-15 NKJV)

2.         /John said that he was less //than a slave, unworthy to do even what a slave did.

/

3.         /Every servant of God must make the same confession of unworthiness./

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!       . . .

Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance (Matthew 3:1-2, 8 NKJV)

And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees.

Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

(Matthew 3:10-11 NKJV)

 

/The words “the truth” are a reference John’s message & to Christ, who is the Truth.//

/

2)        /Jesus the Truth.

/

There is a difference between /telling someone about the truth/ and /living the truth/ before them.

The one who /lives the truth/ literally /becomes the truth/.

1.         Jesus Christ is the /Embodiment/ of truth (John 14:6).

He is the picture of truth.

God not only talks to man about Himself, God shows man what He is like in the person of Jesus Christ.

Man can look at Jesus Christ and see a perfect picture of the truth of God.

I and /My/ Father are one."

(John 10:30 NKJV)

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?

The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own /authority/; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

(John 14:10 NKJV)

 

2.

Jesus Christ is the /Communicator/ of truth.

He Himself—His Person and His Life—makes things perfectly clear.

(1) He /reveals the ultimate source/ and /meaning/ and /end of all things/.

(2) He /reveals the truth of man himself/ and of /the world surrounding man./

(3) He /shows man the right way to the truth,/ and /He enables man to choose the right way to the truth/.

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.

The words that I speak to you are spirit, and /they/ are life.

(John 6:63 NKJV)

But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

(John 6:68 NKJV)

 

3.

Jesus Christ is the /Liberator/ of truth (John 8:32; John 15:3).

He sets men free from the great gulf (estrangement) which exists between man and God, between man and his world, and between man and man.

He sets man free from the frustrations which he constantly experiences.

He frees man from the fears and weaknesses and defects that plague him.

Jesus Christ is the only lasting Liberator on earth.

3)        /Jesus Does Not Receive Testimony From Man (v.34) /

He Knew What Was In Man (John 2:24-25).