This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

The Gospel of John – 3 – A Man Sent From God – Daily Wisdom

The Gospel of John – Part 2 Presentation Of The Word – A Man Sent From God

Today we continue our Good News series according to John the Apostle. This message focuses on the forerunner of Jesus Christ, John the Baptizer.

John 1:19-34

Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know.  He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

The Gospel of John gives us very little information about the man, where he came from, and what he was like. This is, of course, intentional. Nevertheless, the lack of information serves an essential purpose for John, which we will soon discover. We must look to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke for details.

Dr. Luke, a physician by training, was interested in the humanity of the men and women surrounding Jesus. John was born the only child to an aging priest, Zacharias, and his post-menopausal wife, Elizabeth. His birth attracted the attention of everyone in the Judean hill country, not only because it was miraculous, but also because John was set aside from day one to be a Nazirite. He was not to cut his hair, touch anything dead, or partake of anything from the grapevine—no wine, grapes, or raisins. Even before his conception, God had chosen him as the prophesied forerunner of the Messiah. Luke 1:15 He will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.

John the Baptizer didn’t grow to manhood in a palace court. Instead, Luke 1:80 says, John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.  John grew up among dust, rock, scrub bushes, heat, and the scarcity of everything, including food and water. (Picture in Bulletin) However, in those difficult days of silence, solitude, and simplicity, John communed with the Author of truth. He lived by the foundational principle of God’s kingdom—a standard Israel failed to heed centuries before. Deuteronomy 8:3 He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

When John came out of the wilderness to confront and convict the nation of Israel, how different he was from the religious leaders, that people were used to hearing! Mark 1:6 His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. So while the Sadducees, Pharisees, chief priests, scribes, and Herodians were robed in finery and nourished with meat and wine, John stood in contrast with frugal living and leathery skin from the sun. His message was just as unadorned and unyielding as his appearance. So when Sadducees and Pharisees, practitioners of hypocritical religion, came to him for a showy baptism of counterfeit repentance, he would have none of it … and he told them so! Matthew 3:7-9 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath?  Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. (Show Stones)

The religious elite hated him! And they would have killed him were he not protected by the wilderness and surrounded by growing multitudes of people who were genuinely repentant of their sins.

While John the Baptizer was as extraordinary as any human could be, he was a man nonetheless. Therefore, John the Apostle introduces him as simply 1:6 God sent a man, John the Baptist. John 1:19–34 will show us what made this mere man, remarkable.

The issue of truth was essential to the apostle John—it repeatedly appears in his account of Jesus’ ministry on earth. In this first episode, John the Baptizer is challenged by “the Jews,” the religious leaders who ruled Israel through the temple in Jerusalem. Their principle concern was his authority: Who has the right to proclaim the truth? Take note of their questions and John’s answers:

(19-20) “Who are you?”  He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”

(21) “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No,” he replied.

(21) “Are you the Prophet we are expecting? No.”

(22-23) “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself” John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:  “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”

(25) “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”

Their real question was, “Who do you think you are?” According to the world’s standard, whoever wields the greatest power has the right to determine the truth and who can proclaim it. But according to the standard of Scripture, only worthy people can be a source of truth, and we should only listen to those who live according to God’s precepts.

This strange-looking, ultra-dogmatic wilderness preacher was a mystery to the religious elite. This man, who preached in the rugged regions of Judea, claimed neither power nor worthiness. The thought of celebrity turned him off. Consequently, as noted in the verses, he took great care to strip himself of all credentials. He refused to make himself of any account, choosing to clarify his role. He said, in effect, “I am not the source of truth; I simply bear witness to the One who is the Truth.” John fiercely denied being the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet.  The wilderness preacher was indeed a genuine prophet; however, he was not the Prophet.

Having run down the list of known possibilities, the religious leaders continued to press the issue by asking if John were some other authority, perhaps someone they failed to anticipate.  Again John denied any personal credentials. Nevertheless, the bizarre-looking man was clear about his role, and the Gospel of John faithfully reflects his message.

(John 1:7–8) God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.

(John 1:15) John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”

John 1:23 John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,  ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”

To avoid any mistaken notion that he was of any importance whatsoever, John described himself as merely “a voice.” Not as a prophet, though he was one. Not as a remarkably worthy man of God, though he was. Not even as a man to be noticed, though he was certainly that! 27 Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.” He was simply “a voice.”  That is what we are called to be, also.

John, the Baptizer’s self-description in verse 23, was drawn from a well-known prophecy (Isaiah 40:3), drawing upon a familiar image. When a monarch traveled to a particular region, it was rarely unplanned. A forerunner would first go and announce the imminent arrival of the king. The city would then be prepared, and the route cleared of anything that would slow the king’s chariot or make the journey unpleasant. The forerunner was simply a voice, having no authority of his own. If people chose to heed his message, it would be because they revered the coming king.

The Pharisees cared most about rules, regulations, rituals, and rights. They established themselves as religious authorities and jealously guarded their power. So they were disturbed by John’s boldness, in baptizing people without the proper credentials, regard for the proper use of the rite, and following their established procedures.

Let me explain why the religious leaders seemed so concerned. Jewish baptism was a rite where a new Gentile converts to Judaism was ceremonially immersed in pure water as a symbolic, once-for-all cleansing from sin before entering the Hebrew covenant community. It was supposed to be administered by priests, not by a wild-eyed, locust-eating firebrand from the wilderness. It was intended for Gentile proselytes, not Jews already born into Abraham’s covenant with God. It would be done in pure water in the temple or synagogue, not the muddy Jordan River. But these were all artificial rules.  They asked him, (25),  “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”

John gave the rite of baptism a new application. He called Jews to a baptism of repentance, saying, “Because of your sin, you are outside of Abraham’s covenant with God. Therefore, you must repent like a Gentile and come to God as if for the first time.” As a result, they came in droves! Nevertheless, John admitted that his baptism was merely symbolic and quickly turned the discussion away from water baptism itself—which pointed to the Messiah—toward the One he had come to announce. After all, he was merely a witness to the truth, not the source of truth. He was only the lampstand, not the light, and so should we be.

We cannot know the precise location of John’s ministry along the Jordan River; (bulletin picture); we know that he baptized near Bethany (the east side of the Jordan River). Because the Jewish ritual of baptism at Gentile conversion involved complete immersion, John likely chose a slow portion of the river where the waters ran at least waist-deep. (bulletin picture)

The day following John’s selfless denial of any credentials and his relentless deflection of glory away from himself, the moment for which he had been born suddenly arrived. He saw Jesus and identified Him, not as the King of Israel, the Prophet, or even the Messiah. Instead, he proclaimed, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!.”  This proclamation references the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:1–13) and Isaiah’s messianic imagery (Isaiah 53:7).

John’s honesty is startling. On the one hand, he freely talks of his receiving revelation directly from God—a privilege reserved for prophets—and on the other hand, he admits that he did not recognize his relative as the Messiah. According to Luke 1:36, their mothers were related, so their families must have mingled before. Undoubtedly, Elizabeth told her son the story of Mary’s visit many times throughout the years. Yet, he did not “recognize” His true identity.

Jesus Christ, though equal with God in every respect, did not appear to be an extraordinary man on the surface. He was a man among men, a Jewish son of a Jewish mother, reared in an obscure town far from the center of religious activity. Nevertheless, he was remarkable in that He had never sinned and was extraordinary in His understanding of Scripture and spiritual matters. Still, He possessed none of the traits we expect from the religious leaders of his day.

But make no mistake; He is the Word, the Author of truth in a human body. However, no one recognized Him as He stood among His fellow humans. No one connected the dots. And let’s be honest: Truth often stares us in the face.  We have the entire written revelation of God, and we fail to acknowledge Him as Christ.

We know from the other Gospels that John baptized Jesus, but the apostle John leaves it out of this account. The incident was undoubtedly well known to him and his audience, and omitting it serves his purpose better. Moreover, in describing this scene, he has taken great care to stress Jesus Christ’s superiority and emphasize the Baptizer’s role as a witness. Perhaps this is why we see the phrase “baptize in water” three times in connection with the Greek word oida, “to know, to recognize.”

Just as light was a classic image of truth, water had long been a symbol of life. John’s baptism in water was merely symbolic of what was to come, and it took place in the context of spiritual blindness. So then, Jesus, the Word, stepped onto the scene baptizing with water and the Holy Spirit—authentic, abundant life—thus proving His identity as the Messiah. The genuine source of truth has arrived, and He baptizes in eternal life. There can be no more convincing proof of His true identity than this.

The Gospel writer closes the episode, as he opens it: This is the testimony of John the Baptizer in verse 34. I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.

John the Baptizer said, in effect, “Christ is the light; I am merely the lampstand.” (display lampstand) The purpose of a lampstand is to hold up the light so that everything around it is illuminated. No matter how expensive or beautiful a lampstand may be, it’s useless without a light. This is a crucial distinction when serving God in ministry, one the religious authorities in Jerusalem didn’t understand. John, however, never forgot his role and his purpose. He refused to let anyone overlook the message by focusing on the messenger. And that is what made him an exceptionally extraordinary man among men.

Our Application is that we are Common People with an Uncommon Message (bulletin insert)

As I reflect on the witness of John the Baptizer, this strange Elijah-like figure calling to Israel from the wilderness, I observe four truths that are helpful for us today, as each of us are a citizen of God’s kingdom, doing kingdom work.

First, John was extraordinary, but he was only human. The unusual wilderness preacher was a remarkable man in most respects. He rejected most of what his contemporaries would have considered reasonable comforts.

Second, John was a lamp, but he was not the light; he was a voice but not the Word. While John amassed a large, loyal following, he never allowed his admirers to mistake the messenger for the message. That is why it is vital that the ministry here at Putnam does not center around a single individual but that we realize all of us are messengers for the message. We may have different functions, but we are one body.

Third, John was useful, but he was not indispensable. Those who become “successful” in ministry, specifically those who attract a significant following, face a particular danger. If they are not careful, they begin to believe their press; that is, they allow the well-intentioned encouragement of others to become the basis of their perspective. And it isn’t long before they believe they are indispensable to the Lord’s work.  Let’s face it; cemeteries are full of people who thought they were indispensable.

Fourth, John was effective, but he remained humble. John effectively fulfilled the role God called him, and he knew he completed the task given to him, yet he remained humble.

Humility does not lead us to feel inferior or doubt our worth. Self-loathing is not the path to humility. Thinking too little of ourselves is a form of pride. On the contrary, humility is seeing ourselves as God sees us. Humility is understanding our place in the Lord’s plan while giving preference to the welfare of others over the self. Primarily, humility recognizes the Lord as the only worthy object of worship.

John the Baptizer put it succinctly when he said in John 3:30, He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.  Let his attitude become our testimony. Those genuinely sent from God exalt the One who sent them, and they diminish the One who is sent.

Next week our lesson will be about “Five Who Followed In Faith” I would encourage you to read John 1:35-51 in preparation for next week.