John the Baptist… (4 things)

• 1^st – John the Baptists description of Jesus… vs. 15-18
  • John declared to everyone Jesus was greater than he was… vs. 15
    • John was older than Jesus by about 6 months – Luke 1:39-45
    • John also began his public ministry before Jesus – by at least 6 months…
    • But even though John had come before Jesus – Jesus was greater than John…
  • 1^st – Because Jesus had existed before John was ever born – Jesus was God!
    • John knew the only reason he was there was because of Jesus…
    • He was not about to take any credit for himself – he gave all the glory to God!
    • There is often the temptation to take the credit when God does a work…
    • Others look at you and assume that you are different – Godlier…
    • I think one reason why we do not often see miracles – people would take the credit…
    • We either serve God legitimately of a pure heart – giving all honor and glory to Him…
    • Or we are serving ourselves – looking to take the credit for God’s work…
    • Isaiah 42:8 – “I am the LORD… I will not give my glory to anyone else.”
  • 2^nd – Because Jesus gives abundant Grace…
    • God had given the Law through Moses…
      • But the commandments of God – 613 Laws – were never meant to make us ‘Good’…
      • They were given so that we would know we were NOT ‘Good’!
      • Galatians 3:24 – “Therefore the law was our teacher to bring us to Christ…”
      • Like a mirror that shows you how you look – but cannot make you prettier…
      • The Law shows us how bad we are – but cannot help make us ‘good’…
    • But Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ…
      • The solution to the problem of sin – is the cross of Christ!
      • By Grace (gift of God) we are forgiven – God transforms our heart and lives…
      • But not just Grace – ABUNDANT Grace – there is no limit to God’s forgiveness!
      • No matter how many times we sin – no matter how big the sin – we are forgiven!
      • Romans 5:20 – “God’s law was given so all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.”
  • 3^rd – Because Jesus is the only one who knows God…
    • No man has ever seen God at any time – Exodus 33:20...
      • No man can even look on God’s face and live – there are two thoughts on why…
      • 1^st – God is so holy – sinful man would perish in the pure light of God…
      • 2^nd – Upon seeing our Lord – who would want to go back to an ordinary life!
    • Jesus is the one exception – He came from the Father…
      • There was absolutely no way we could ever get to know God…
      • As sinful men we would never be able to survive in His Holy presence!
      • So God came down as a man – in Jesus we have the opportunity see God!
      • Colossians 1:15 – “[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God…”
      • When we see Jesus have compassion on the sick / care for the poor…
      • When we see Jesus love the sinners – we get to know who God is!
        
• 2^nd – Who was John the Baptist… vs. 19-23
  • John was the son of Zacharias (a priest) and Elizabeth (relative of Mary) – Luke 1:5-80
    • Filled with the Sprit – even from his mothers womb – Luke 1:15
      • He was the greatest (and the last) of all the Old Testament prophets…
      • Matthew 11:11 – “There has not risen one greater than John the Baptist.”
    • John baptized in the Jordan river – near Bethany (not far from Jerusalem)…
      • He was clothed in camel’s hair – leather belt – eating locust and honey…
      • John was not a man concerned about appearances – he did not follow the crowd
      • He was not rich – he did not wear designer clothes – he kept it simple (ate bugs)
      • Because he was not in love with/follow this world – he was sold out for God!
      • His actions / preaching gathered large crowds – began to attract a lot of attention…
  • The religious leaders from Jerusalem sent men to ask John – ‘who are you’…
    • Their first assumption was John might be the Christ…

• There had not been a prophet in Israel for over 400 years – no Word from the Lord…
• Instead the people were following their own ideas – morality was relative…

• People had lost the knowledge of right and wrong – they had forgotten God…
• They were looking for an answer – they were looking for the Messiah!
• Not all the different from the world we live in today – no sure moral standards…
• When people do not know God’s Word – they don’t know right from wrong…
• They live by their own rules – and morality tends to slip further and further away!
• But John told them very plainly – he was NOT the Messiah/Christ…

• They then asked John if he was Elijah – Malachi 4:5…
  • The last verse of the Old Testament – promised the return of the prophet Elijah…
  • Elijah was to prepare the way for the coming of the Promised Messiah…
  • For those who believe – John came in the spirit of Elijah – Matthew 11:14-15…
  • Calling for repentance that we might receive the salvation offered through the cross!
  • But for those who do not believe in Jesus – John the Baptist was not Elijah…
  • Elijah will one day return as one of the two witnesses – Revelation 11:3…
• Finally they asked John if he was ‘the Prophet’ – Deuteronomy 18:15
  • God promised to send someone to speak for Him – give the people His Word…
  • A prophet from Israel – like Moses – that the people had to listen to…
  • Peter quoting Deuteronomy 18:15 – tells us Jesus is THE Prophet – Acts 3:22…
• John told them – ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness’…
  • John was not the Christ – or Elijah – or even THE prophet…
  • John came to prepare the way for Jesus – Malachi 3:1 / Isaiah 40:3…
  • People had lots of ideas about how to get to heaven – John came to show THE way!
  • There are still a lot of different ideas about how to get to heaven – a lot of paths…
  • One is left to ask – which is the RIGHT way – do all roads lead to heaven…
  • Matthew 7:13 – “For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.”
  • The Broadway – the easy way – with all the people – is the wrong way to go!
  • The ONLY one way to get to heaven is Jesus – only He can forgive all our sins!
  • Matthew 7:14 – “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
    

Because we are firmly founded on Jesus – and have the Spirit of God!

3^rd – The Baptism of John… vs. 24-28

Those who were sent from the Pharisees asked – ‘why then do you baptize’…

John baptized with water – to reveal the sinful hearts of men…

Man’s problem is sin – but many do not know they have a problem…

John baptized them to remind them of their need to get ‘cleaned up’ before God!

If someone never takes a bath – they might convince themselves they are clean…

But as soon as anyone gets close to them – we know otherwise…

But if we refuse to tell them – confront them – they go on smelling bad…

We need to confront the sin – let people know they are ‘unclean’…

They might have convinced themselves they are OK with God – but we  know better…

Let them know they are sinners – so they see their need for a savior!

John’s baptism was a picture – picture of what happens when we believe in Jesus…

We are commanded as believers to be water baptized – Acts 2:38

Baptism does not make us part of a denomination…

And water baptism does not save you – the thief on the cross – Luke 23:43

If you have a diploma – the paper does not give you any more knowledge…

But the paper represents the time and effort that went into earning that diploma!

Water baptism is the outward statement of what takes place within us…

We are buried with Jesus – taken under the water – a picture of our death…

We are raised up with Jesus – taken out of the water – a picture of new life…

We do it publicly so that everyone can see – we believe in Jesus – Romans 6:4

John went on to tell them – ‘there is one standing among you that do not know’…

The baptism of Jesus is not recorded in the book of John…

It is assumed to have taken place by the time of this conversation with the leaders…

John was only preparing the way for Jesus – his baptism prepared men’s hearts…

But John knew Jesus was so much greater he was not worthy to take off Jesus’ shoes!

John had recognized Jesus for who He was – knew he was the Christ…

In contrast the leaders had no idea who Jesus was…

These Religious leaders who were ‘students’ of the Word of God…

They knew all the Bible passages /prophecies – but they missed Jesus!

Have you ever accidentally got a text that was intended for someone else…

It made no sense to you – because it was not written to you…

The Bible is a letter written by God to His children – if you are not saved…

Reading the Bible is like reading ma text meant for someone else!

I Corinthians 2:14 – “People who are not Christians can not understand… It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand.”

4^th – The Lamb of God… vs. 29-34

The next day John saw Jesus – ‘Behold the Lamb of God’…

Not only did John recognize Jesus was the promised Messiah – savior…

John also understood what no one else would until after the resurrection…

Jesus had come to be a sacrifice – to take away the sin of the world!

The history of Israel – slaves in Egypt for 400 years – Exodus 12

God sent Moses to deliver Israel from the Pharaoh – bring them out of bondage…

God sent 10 plagues on the Egyptians – ending with the ‘Death Angel’ (1^st born)…

The Jews were spared – IF – they put the blood of a lamb on their doors…

Then the Death Angel would ‘Pass-over’ them and they would be saved…

It was through the ‘blood of the lamb’ God brought his people our of bondage…

John picks up on this idea and uses it for a title for Jesus…

Jesus was – THE Lamb of God – who came to take the sin of the world…

Jesus is THE Passover Lamb – it is through His death sin ‘passes over’ us…

We are freed from the bondage of sin – slavery to king of this world (satan)!

John did not know Jesus was the Christ – till he saw the dove…

It is more than possible that John knew Jesus – they were cousins…

But John did not know Jesus was the Messiah – the promised savior of the world…

When John baptized Jesus – the Spirit descended on Him like a dove…

Mark 1:10 – “Immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.”

We have received the Spirit from God – so we might also know…

I Corinthians 2:10, 14 – “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him… We know because God has revealed them to us by His spirit…”

There is no way we could understand the mystery of cross on our own…

There is no way we could envision the incredible riches God has planned for us…

But the Holy Spirit can – and He then opens up our understanding – so we can too!

He is our teacher – He is the one who reveals the ‘deep things’ of God to us!

John 14:26 – “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

We do not understand because we are so smart – it is God’s spirit inside of us!