John the Baptist, Part 8 Audio
John the Baptist – 8
The Voice Encounters the Son
(#1) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
(#2 - 3) John’s purpose was to bear witness so that through his witness, they might believe – by responding to the call to repent and be baptized, they were positioned to be ready to recognize and receive Jesus
Also idea that John did not know Jesus’ identity beforehand – he had been in the same place before, but they were both in utero
The likelihood that they were together as children was small – Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt, then lived in Nazareth because Joseph was afraid to live in Judea (where Zechariah and Elizabeth were) because of the political climate there
Zechariah and Elizabeth were already old when John was born. If indeed they lived through his childhood, it would be unlikely they traveled into Galilee to see Mary and Joseph.
(#4) John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”
The word “preferred” actually means to come before someone or was in existence beforehand.
Now, by saying this, John was acknowledging that Jesus was is existence before him. If John realized who Jesus was in relationship to him, then he would have realized the implication of Jesus’ pre-incarnate state.
(#5) Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
(#6) And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
And he answered, “No.”
(#7) 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?”
23 He said: “I am
‘ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“ Make straight the way of the LORD,”’[g]
as the prophet Isaiah said.”
(#8) Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
(#9) John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. 27 It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” 28 These things were done in Bethabara[h] beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
To the Pharisees and the priests, John testifies that he is not the Christ, but that the Christ is in their midst
(#10) They knew John was testifying that the Kingdom of God was near
They knew John was preaching repentance
And they ignored it
To really understand this ramps up the realization that the Pharisees and priest could not have been seeking God on this – God was revealing Himself to people all around who were seeking Him. In the next three years, He would over and over reveal Himself through Jesus.
(#11) But clearly, by choosing to close the door on their own repentance and baptism, the Pharisees and priests had closed the door on their own spiritual understanding and revelation.
(#12) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 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.”
(#13) 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.”
Now, the Apostle John writes about the encounter with Jesus. In the other three gospels, this is where the baptism of Jesus is recorded. The event of the Spirit descending on Jesus as a dove is mentioned. But the “backstory” of this is not. Here it is revealed that John the Baptist sees this so that God is confirming to Him that Jesus is the Christ.
(#14) God confirms to John that Jesus is the One He is sending
(#15) At the same time, God is using John to confirm to the people around him that Jesus is the One He is sending to them
(#16) Lesson – if God is going to ask you to go out on a limb for Him, He’s more than willing to confirm to you that it is Him and His will
God speaking to Gideon
God speaks to Moses
God speaks to David
God confirming things for Elisha
(#17) John “forbids” Jesus to do this – to come to him for this
· John does not understand- his first response is to argue with Jesus
· First of many times that Jesus would be argued with
· Reveals John’s appreciation for Jesus
o but confusion over His methods
· Unfortunately, he is like his father rather than his cousin
Yet, when Jesus explains why, then John yields.
(#18) Lesson – It is okay to go to God and tell Him you don’t understand – but we can’t expect Him to explain.
Sometimes, He just seeks a response rooted in faith. Regardless, rebellion or disobedience are never what He wants from us.
(#19 - 20) Point of clarification – There was no need for Jesus to be made righteous. He is righteousness.
(#21) Jesus’ baptism is yet another way that God identifies with us. Jesus establishes the important preparatory work for the Spirit’s presence in a believer’s life that baptism (accompanied with their repentance and public confession) leads to
If Jesus had not been baptized, the question would have been raised as to why not?
In fact, in places later in the NT it refers to people who are unable to accept Jesus as Messiah as not being willing to receive John’s baptism. These people were not willing to repent and demonstrate and declare that repentance through baptism.
(#22) Lesson – God moves in mysterious ways – but His ways consistently involve repentance, public profession or demonstration of an internal change, and a move toward righteousness which is enabled by the Spirit
What implications does all this have for us?
Look at what the result is here.
(#23) What can this mean for us?
As we are that Voice in the Desert, preparing a way for the Lord, what can we expect?
(#24) Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
(#25) The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).
(#26) One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.
Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah.[i] You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).
Andrew and Peter had been disciples of John the Baptist
The result of John the Baptist’s obedience and willingness to obey God?
He is preparation for the Messiah
He is the one calling people back to God
He is the one God uses to reveal the wickedness of the Pharisees
He is the one who first recognizes Jesus
He is the one who first identifies Jesus
He is the one who points the disciples to Jesus
Wouldn’t it be incredible to be the preparation for the Messiah?
Wouldn’t it be great to call people back to God?
Wouldn’t it be incredible to reveal the wickedness of religious pride?
Wouldn’t it be awesome to always recognize Jesus for Who He is?
Wouldn’t it be humbling introducing someone to Jesus for 1st time?
Wouldn’t it wonderful to help others grow in Christ as disciples?
John the Baptist’s example shows us that this is what precedes the “coming of the Lord”
These are the things which we pray for:
That we repent and testify faithfully
That we are obedient and faithful
That we are not Pharasitical in our faith
That hearts are repentant and believe the truth
(#27) Go back again to the image of the moon and the eclipse
Which one will we be?