Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction:
My oldest has started to take up golf.
It’s been fun to watch him as he begins to learn about the game and to see some of his natural hand-eye coordination on display.
During this time I’ve been able to prepare him with the basics of the game and a general framework for a golf swing.
I’ve been able to teach him about the different clubs and when to use them.
I’ve been able to show him how to keep score and what the various terms mean like birdie, par, bogey…double bogey…But I know he’s nearing the stage where, for him to really get better and excel, he needs someone else.
I’ve prepared him, but now he needs someones better-equipped to take over from here.
He needs a different voice, a better voice, to develop his game moving forward.
John the Baptist had been that initial voice in the lives of his followers, but now that JESUS had arrived, it was John’s aim to get out of the way so that JESUS could take over.
John had done his job as far as he was able, but now he wanted JESUS to take the reins knowing that the voice of the Word was far better for people to listen to than his own.
Now that John had introduced JESUS, he shifts his focus to John the Baptist again, and his exhortation for his followers and anyone else in earshot, to follow Jesus.
Body:
John 1:19–34 (ESV): The Testimony of John the Baptist
This is the expansion of what John wrote about the baptist earlier in chapter 1:
The “Jews”
In John this phrase was used to refer to the Jewish leaders who opposed Jesus.
These leaders in Jerusalem sent a delegation to find out what John was doing in causing such a stir.
John’s father was a levitical priest, which means John was also part of this line.
Yet, he had never engaged in this role.
Instead he was out of the way, in the Judean wilderness, baptizing the masses.
V.20 “I am not the Christ.”
The question appears to have been about whether or not John was the expected Messiah
V. 21 “Are you Elijah”
Malachi 4:5 (ESV)
5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
The other gospels record Jesus telling people that John was Elijah (Mt 11:14; 17:12; Mk 9:13; Lk 1:17).
John denies it here though most likely out of a humble reluctance to assume such a title or significance.
Later John sends his own delegation to Jesus to find out if he’s really the guy.
V. 21 “Are you the Prophet?”
John again…“No”
V. 23 “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord…”
John was aware of some significance to his ministry.
He knew that his was the voice prophesied by Isaiah
VV. 24-27
Baptism was practiced by some of the Jewish groups, but it was a self-baptism.
The Pharisees wanted to know on what authority John was doing what he was doing.
John knew his place and his purpose.
He knew his ministry wasn’t about himself.
He knew he was there to exalt and point others to Jesus.
He may be baptizing, but the real focus of attention was going to be another who was about to burst on the scene.
VV. 29-34
This is the closest thing we get to a description of the baptism of Jesus in John’s Gospel.
John’s encounter with Jesus had left him forever changed.
He understood who Jesus was.
Maybe he didn’t have all the details figured out, but he knew that Jesus was the expected One, the One to be worshiped and exalted.
John provides the first example for us to consider together this morning through his humble exaltation of Jesus.
P1: Humbly Exalt Jesus (vv.
19-34)
Illustrate: Think of all the different things we can praise and exalt.
A great movie, a moving musical performance by an orchestra, a wonderful meal prepared by a master chef, the accomplishments of our children or grandchildren.
Is it easier for us to praise these performances with our neighbors than it is to exalt Jesus the way John does?
V. 29 “Behold!”
Look at him!
Listen!
V. 29 “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
John did not expect a suffering Messiah (Matthew 11:2-3)
Gentle lamb of Jer 11:19 (No mention of taking away sins)
Scapegoat of Lv. 16 (Lamb not goat)
Lamb of Genesis 22 w/ Isaac (Again no context for removing sin)
Guilt offering of Lv. 14 (more often bulls and goats)
Suffering Servant of Is 53 (can mean “servant” in Aramaic but why not carry that translation to Grk)
Parallel to Son of God (weak and why?)
Reference to the apocalyptic lamb
Present in Jewish texts Present in Revelation
Carson points out that John may have been thinking of apocalyptic judgment (takes away doesn’t necessarily imply atoning death)
But also acknowledge that John may have just spoken beyond his understanding under the prompting of the Spirit.
Certainly as John the Apostle chose to include this declaration by the Baptist he understood the atoning implications of the announcement, the parallels of the Isaiah 53 picture.
Whatever his understanding, from this point onward, John is trying to get out of the way so that Jesus might receive all of the honor and exaltation and glory that He is due.
John knew that
his whole purpose was to exalt Jesus,
his career was about exalting Jesus,
once Jesus arrived, his voice could fade to black because the one people needed to hear had arrived.
How can you make this selfless exaltation of Jesus your aim this week?
At home?
At work?
At the block party?
Soli Deo Gloria was one of the 5 cries of the Reformation.
For John, this was his life.
He had devoted everything about his purpose and identity to exalting Jesus.
Every time someone came to him wanting to give him accolades, he pointed them back to Jesus.
Y’all, this mindset should be ours as well.
He must increase, but I must decrease.
END P1
John’s selflessness continues in the next few verses as he encounters Jesus again the next day.
John knew that it was better for these two to go after Jesus than to stay and sit at his feet.
He wasn’t interested in building his kingdom but the kingdom of Christ.
Jesus notices these two literally following him, and so he stops to engage them in conversation: “What are you seeking?”
There’s a couple of layers to this question.
On the surface, Jesus is responding to the actual situation; he’s inviting them to express their desire to follow him.
But on another level this is Jesus inviting the reader to consider that there is a gravitas to the decision to follow Jesus.
One of these men who came to follow Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
Jesus left quite the impact on Andrew, one that he wouldn’t soon forget, and one he wanted others to experience as well.
Put yourself back in the shoes of Andrew and Peter.
Brought up in a Jewish home.
Raised on the stories of OT Israel from the time they were old enough to listen.
Taught the Messianic prophesies which ingrained in them a hope for the Messiah’s arrival.
V. 41 “We have found the Messiah.”
We read that without much emotion or passion, but imagine the tone and the excitement of Andrew at this moment.
Imagine him running to find Peter hardly able to contain his adrenaline and joy along the way.
It probably seemed too good to be true.
But if there was any chance that this could be him, Andrew had to spread the news.
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