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“The Baptist's Testimony" • 4.28.19
• Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- The first eighteen verses of the gospel of John
might be the single greatest apologetic that exists against many of the God
opposed systems ever devised upon the Earth.
- It destroys Modalism, the belief that God
only manifests Himself in three persons. "The Word was with God." It dismantles
any cult that doesn't affirm the deity of Christ. "The Word was God!"
- There isn't a shred of textual support to
conclude that the Word, Jesus Christ, was "A" God! Mormons, Jehovah's
Witnesses, et all, don't have a leg to stand upon.
- Additionally, Jesus is the transcendant Creator,
not a disinterested and disengaged deity. "He was in the beginning and
without Him, nothing was made that was made."
- Deism and evolution both fail under the
weight of John 1:1-18. Finally, and perhaps most poignant to John's time,
the Word took on flesh and dwelt, tabernacled, among us!
- If the Gnostic heretics of John's time
believed that matter was evil and only spirit mattered, how then could a Holy
God add flesh, humanity, to His deity? It's not possible.
- By itself, this first section of the gospel
is a crushing tome, but that wasn't all of the evidence.
- The author John calls the baptist John into
the courtroom, in order that he might witness of what he knew of Jesus. We'll
pick that up in verse 19.
Text
• John 1:19-23 : "Now this is the testimony of John,
when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, 'Who are you?'
He
confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, 'I am not the Christ.' And they asked him, 'What then? Are
you Elijah?' He said, 'I am not.' 'Are you the Prophet?' And
he answered, 'No.' Then they said to him, 'Who
are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about
yourself?' He said: 'I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'’ as the prophet Isaiah said.'" : The Apostle gives to his audience the
solemn, legal testimony that John the Baptist gave when he was confronted by
this delegation from Jerusalem. He was very clear on that day.
- Being the first prophet in Israel for 400
years, naturally, there was rampant speculation about who he was prophetically.
- Matthew 3:5 remarks that people from
Jerusalem, Judea and the rest of the region, flocked out in droves to meet with
him. This is how the Priest and Levites came to their knowledge of John.
- We'll discover that they have been sent with
a desire for this information: "Who are you?"
- There was an expectation among the leaders of
Israel that the Messiah would appear upon the scene. John fit into that
expectation somehow, but they weren't sure how. Was he the Messiah?
- He makes it clear to them that he was not the
Christ. The NLT translates verse 20, "He came right out and said, 'I am
not the Messiah!" Several commentators note that the emphasis is on
"I."
- The implication is that he was not the
Messiah, but that they were very warm! He might have even been very near to
them!
- If he was not the Messiah, the Greek being
Christ, then there were only a few other options. Perhaps he was Elijah. Why
would they consider that a possibility?
- God had promised to send Elijah again to the
nation in the last chapter of the last OT book.
• Malachi 4:5 : "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of
the great and dreadful day of the Lord." : Unfortunately and fortunately for
them, John denies being Elijah, as well as the prophet. John was A prophet, but
he was not THE prophet.
- These men were anticipating the fulfillment
of Deuteronomy 18:18 and the prophet that would be sent from God that
was "like Moses." Again, John flatly refused that title.
-
What he would accept was the role of Isaiah's forerunner, quoting from Isaiah
40:3. He is the one that is crying loudly, like one crying for help in the
wilderness to all that he would encounter.
- There is an urgency in John's ministry as the
call to God's people was urgent and pressing. John knew that his ministry was
transitory and that the One he served was coming imminently!
- Most ancient Kings, prior to their own
travel, made men go out before them. Their task was to make the various towns
repair their roads for the sake of the King's impending arrival.
- This is what John is doing spiritually! He is
going before the Messiah, making sure that the road of men's hearts is clear
and the old paths are level before Him.
- Additionally, by quoting from Isaiah,
he is acknowledging that this Messiah is actually the Lord, the Almighty,
Himself!
- When you see in your Bible the word
"Lord" in all capitals, that is the very Name of God Himself! John
the Baptist identifies Jesus as being synonymous with God Almighty! Verse 24.
• John 1:24-28 : "Now those who were sent were from
the Pharisees. And
they asked him, saying, 'Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor
Elijah, nor the Prophet?' John answered them, saying, 'I baptize with water, but there
stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is
preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.' These things were done in Bethabara
beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing." : These priests and Levites did not
come on their own authority or curiosity. The Pharisees were the ones who had
the interest. Because they figure prominently in this book, let's re-aquaint
ourselves.
- Unlike the Sadducees, who were politically
affiliated elitists, the Pharisees were heroes among the people and scholars.
- Many credit them for keeping Judaism alive
during the intertesamental period. Their presence became quite strong in the
vacuum created by a lack of God ordained prophecy.
- We would have liked the Pharisees because
they valued the entirety of the Old Testament. Their interest in John is piqued
by his fit into their well considered eschatology.
- Unfortunately for John and the Pharisees, they
couldn't figure out how he fit! If he wasn't the Christ, Elijah or the Prophet,
why would he baptize?
- The implication, as the NLT spells out, is that
they wanted to know where John had procured the "right" to do this!
Why would they be concerned?
- They are concerned for the
"religion" of the Jews, especially in occupied Israel! The Pharisees
viewed themselves a "guardians" or "stewards."
- On the one hand, they are keeping themselves
free from Roman interference by policing such movements and protecting their
people from "fringe" elements.
- Remember during this time in history that Israel
lived under Roman occupation and some used the teaching of Messiah as a excuse
for zealous uprisings against them.
- The Pharisees were on high alert for these
reasons. On the other hand, they are also beginning to place themselves as
authorities above God's work. Their duty is already blinding them!
- John lets them know that all he was doing was
baptizing with water, which, calling people to repentance. People, like
vessels, were coming to be to cleansed from their past.
- He was getting the people ready for the One
that was coming, that they knew nothing about.
- In fact, the language here indicates that
Jesus had literally been standing very near them! I can almost see these men
asking Jesus to move aside so that they could talk with John!
- That is an apt picture of much of
Christianity today! People are looking to glorify servants and are willing to
push Jesus out of the picture! John was not having this!
- He knew that he had no business being in the
same class with Jesus. He has only appeared before Him, but Jesus wasn't
actually before Him!
- John was born 6 months older, but as we noted
last week, Jesus is from eternity!
- The concept of loosening a sandal strap is the
most menial task that the lowest slave would perform. John couldn't even reach
that level in his own mind when it came to his cousin Jesus!
- John's understanding of himself is incredibly
refreshing! We would do well to imitate that humility which cares nothing of
our reputation and everything about His.
- Before we move on, don't miss the
geographical witness of John. The Baptist spoke these things to the
representatives of the Jewish nation at Bethabara.
- Most scholars believe this to be the very
point that Israel crossed over when they came into the promised land! This was
the beginning of their journey as a settled nation!
- What a picture! God is telling these Jews
that they will only be settled in the promise of rest when they come into their
Messiah Jesus! The same is true for you and I! Verse 29.
• John 1:29 : "The next day John saw Jesus coming
toward him, and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world!" : As it
would happen, Jesus made His way to John down beyond the Jordan! It could not
have been a better time!
- When the NKJV translators use the word
"Behold" with the exclamation point, the intention is to express
great surprise! From what I can tell, it's the desert island captive trying to
hail a ship!
- John's eyes have seen Jesus and before He
moves on or before the audience turns their gaze, he wants them to see Him!
- John's eyes were open wide like saucers at
the sight of the Lord! We aren't sure that he said this loudly for all of the
public to hear it, or just a select few.
- His statement is the perfect type of
prophetic utterance that you would have expected from an Old Testament prophet
and one that answers a question from Abraham's time.
- John identifies Jesus as the "Lamb of
God" or "God's Lamb." Let's hold our thoughts there as we turn to
Genesis 22 and the story of Abraham and his son Isaac.
- For several chapters, Abraham anticipated a
son that would carry on the spiritual legacy that God had promised him. We
watch him mis-identify his heir and even act on his own to procure a son.
- The Lord finally gives Abraham his son Isaac
and 20 years or so into his life, God calls upon Abraham to sacrifice "his
only son" on a mount that he will show him.
- Apparently, that part of the program was not
known to Isaac at the time. Verse 6.
• Genesis 22:6-8 : "So Abraham took the wood of the
burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand,
and a knife, and the two of them went together. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his
father and said, 'My father!' And he said, 'Here I am, my son.' Then he said, 'Look,
the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?' And Abraham said, 'My son, God will
provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.' So the two of them went
together." : Recall
to mind that Abraham was very near 120 years old at this time! He takes the
wood and lays it on his only son, who only has a single question: "Where
is the lamb for a burnt offering?"
- They had everything else except for the
actual sacrificial animal. Abraham's answer is not exactly what we have here in
English.
- The literal translation of this verse is
"My son, God will provide Himself the lamb!"
- With this information, the two men go on
together, Isaac perhaps thinking that this was going to be a hunt of sorts or
that a lamb would literally walk up to them to be sacrificed. Verse 9.
• Genesis 22:9-12 : "Then they came to the place of
which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in
order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand
and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the Lord called to him
from heaven and said, 'Abraham, Abraham!' So
he said, 'Here I am.' And He said, 'Do not lay
your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God,
since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.'" : Notice the deliberation. Abraham, a
120 year old man builds an altar AND binds his 20 year old son!
- You cannot tell me that this type of action
could be possible between people of this age difference! What we see here is
cooperation! Isaac bought in to the Father's plan.
- Abraham's faith had brought them up the
mountain. Isaac's faith allowed the sacrifice to be a possibility! Isaac chose
on the mount, to trust His Father and His God!
- The theory of faith is always easier to put
together than the actual action of faith. Can you imagine what was going
through Isaac's mind as he lay back upon the wood?
- The real terror began when he saw the look of
determination upon his Father's face when he actually raised the knife above
his head to sacrifice him to the Lord!
- What he thought he saw was confirmed through
the next voice that he heard, which was the voice of the Angel of the Lord
commanding Abraham to stay his hand! His Father was going to do it!
- Keep in mind that this is the "Angel of
the Lord" who calls this sacrifice to a halt.
- When Abraham had passed the test, God put a
stop to it. It was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that Abraham valued God's
command over his human emotions!
- He valued God's command over the love that he
had for his only son! Verse 13.
• Genesis 22:13,14 : "Then Abraham lifted his eyes and
looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So
Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead
of his son. And
Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to
this day, 'In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.'" : Abraham had to lift his eyes. He was
truly intent upon sacrificing his son. Something had to be sacrificed and the
Lord showed it to him.
- Just over there, a ram was caught up in the
bushes by it's horns. Of all things to happen on this day! It was readied,
provided by the Lord to be sacrificed to the Lord God! What a picture!
- What happened on the mount? In the place of
Abraham's son, a substitute offering was provided in Isaac's stead. It was a
sign of what would come to pass.
- In fact, I suggest to you that this was a moment
that made Abraham's life that Jesus references later in John.
• John 8:54-56 : "Jesus answered, 'If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know
Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. Your
father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.'" : When the Angel of the Lord, the
Pre-incarnate Christ, spoke directly to Abraham, he got to see exactly how God
would provide!
- That is the explanation behind the name.
Abraham didn't call it "The Lord Has Provided" but rather, the
"Lord WILL provide!" This leads us right back to John's statement.
- God will provide Himself the Lamb and John
gets to announce it as Jesus walks up!
- The Lamb that would take the place of Mankind,
that would take away the sins of the world, was right in front of his
eyes! The word "take
away" is worth noting.
- It means to "raise up" or to
"lift away," as when an anchor is lifted up from the sea floor. John
says that He is the One that is taking them away!
- Didn't the lambs in the Old Testament provide
this same service? Not at all. The multiplied millions of lambs that were slain
in the Old Testament only provided a cover to the sin stain!
- That cover would only last for a short time
and then another lamb's blood would be needed to re-cover the stain! The Lord's
Atonement will be far superior by His single sacrifice!
- The entire World will have one representative
Lamb with the capacity to unburden them from their sins. This is God providing
Himself the Lamb to deal with the problem of sin!
- Can you imagine what was going through John's
mind as he said this? On the one hand, you have to think about the joy that was
his to announce this!
- All of history had been pointing to this
moment! Think of all the people whose lives were wrecked because of sin and
it's effects. Here was God's final solution!
- But, what else did that mean to John
regarding his cousin? Certainly, he knew how a lamb was treated and what
purpose that lamb icon would serve.
- He had to understand that this lamb would be
slaughtered beyond recognition and that He would be considered stricken,
smitten and afflicted by God Himself!
- Certainly, there was a moment of triumph,
followed immediately by a moment of great and overpowering sobriety. This Lamb
would bear the burden of an entire world's sin!
- Before we move on from that, understand that
it's not that Christ sacrifice will be applied to all of the world, but the
world, as opposed to the nation of Israel, would benefit from His work!
- God's program through Christ will reach well
beyond the commonwealth of Israel. It would reach to every corner of the globe
and to every person from every time that would trust Him!
• John 1:30-34 : "This is He of whom I said, ‘After
me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ I did not know Him; but that He
should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.' And John bore witness, saying, 'I saw the Spirit descending from
heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent
me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending,
and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that
this is the Son of God.'" : After
John pointed to Jesus, he explained that this is the same person he was
describing earlier. "This is the pre-existent one!"
- This is the one whose way he had been
preparing! He knew this because God had given him the definitive sign of the
Holy Spirit's descent. Before that, even John didn't recognize Him!
- This is significant, in that John didn't plan
this along with his cousin. He was as in the dark as the contingent from the
Pharisees were! He didn't suspect that His cousin was divine until then!
- He had been enlightened just 40 plus days
earlier when He baptized the Lord and witnessed the Spirit descending and
remaining upon Him.
- He realized that Jesus would be the one that
would baptize, not with water, but with the Holy Spirit! John leaves us with no
other conclusion.
- John the author has already explained that
Jesus is the Word of God. Now, John the Baptist adds his repeated and present
confession that Jesus is the Son of God!
Conclusion
- John the
Baptist's testimony corroborates the testimony that John the author has already
offered: Jesus Christ is the Divinely appointed Lamb, who will take away the
sin of the World!
- As we come to
communion, remember that we can come because of who He is: The Lamb of God who
has taken away our sins!