Witness of John
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Today we are introduced to John the Baptist by John the Apostle
John in these few verses tell us :
Who he was
Where he came from
When he came
Why he was sent
How to tell others
and what to tell them.
It is a set of verses that tell us the purpose of John
Our message today is about
Eternal life and Heavenly light come to those
who trust in Jesus and are born again.
The Story of John
The Story of John
John was the Forerunner of Christ
Luke chapter 3 is our source of information on John the Baptist
From priestly descent, his parents righteous before God
Gabriel an Angel of God proclaimed the birth to Zechariah in the temple
Elizabeth is mother was barren
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
John had a purpose prior to birth and lived it out fully until his death
John was known as a youngster to be “strong in Spirit” {lk1:80]
If you like to make notes and research further during the week
It is believed that John may have been adopted by the Essenes and reared in that wilderness community
there is a possible connection to the Qumran - Known for the Dead Sea Scrolls
The Last Prophet in a long line
John preached the NEED FOR FORGIVENESS
and that Baptism was a symbol of Repentence
Conduct a ministry in the Judean Wilderness
Preached and Baptized for God
He was a social justice guy
He PROCLAIMED THE COMING OF CHRIST
He Proclaimed Him boldly and with out regard
23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
He threatened the established way - Preach God not the world
He was arrested, imprisoned, and executed by Herod a few years prior to Jesus
I think it is appropriate that John lead the way
John seemed to know his role and lived it out for God.
We learn our call as we are used by God to
BE THE FORERUNNER TO CHRIST TO OTHERS
[PAUSE}
Witnessing for Christ
Witnessing for Christ
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
John makes it clear that John the Baptist was send from God
the Last Prophet
Sent from God
The first five verses told us that
Jesus is the Word, The Wisdom
That Jesus is God and not created for a Purpose
Jesus was, is and will always BE
Jesus was the creator of all things
for God and Jesus are the same and are ONE
Then we understood that because of these things that Christ is the Light and the Life
7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
John’s role was to WITNESS
He was sent (vs.6) to witness(vs.7), so that you might believe
to tell the WORLD that ....
John B. Purpose of the Lamb (1:6–13)
John was a man, Jesus is God; John was a witness, Jesus is the Word; John was a servant, Jesus is the Son
What is our Role?
the same
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
John seemed to have a HUMILITY about himself that permeated his character
Johns conduit displayed his character
8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
John preached that that we needed to be forgiven for our SIN in our nature and our actions and then we obey with Baptism
We get Baptized because Jesus will say so, and to model our Saviour
John was granted the privilege of
Baptizing Jesus
Making Christ Known
Making Christ Known
We are called to be a flash light, a living light to the world to direct our lights to the LIGHT THAT SHINES THROUGH THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
John (B. Purpose of the Lamb (1:6–13))
John taught incarnation, creation, and rejection all in one verse
Believe and Be Saved
Believe and Be Saved
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
The Gospel two chapters from John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
receive Him
believe in Him
Made Right
Reborn in Christ Jesus, Reborn in God’s sight
Believe the Gospel, Receive the Savior, Accept the new birth
No human traditions needed !!!!!
For it is BY FAITH WE ARE SAVED
Through Faith we receive Grace through Grace the forgiveness of our sin,
to that we will have everlasting life.
We are to be known by Christ, because we know Christ.
Not a Golden Ticket, but a Golden Security
We enter the gate and walk towards the Light
John B. Purpose of the Lamb (1:6–13)
Patrick Henry once said, “The most cherished possession I wish I could leave you is my faith in Jesus Christ, for with Him and nothing else you can be happy, but without Him and with all else, you’ll never be happy” (cited in Detzler, p. 39).
John B. Purpose of the Lamb (1:6–13)
John was a man, Jesus is God; John was a witness, Jesus is the Word; John was a servant, Jesus is the Son
He was sent (vs.6) to witness(vs.7), so that you might believe that the Light is the way to Life( vs. 8-9)
Who he was - Jesus is God
Where he came from - from Heaven to Earth
When he came - at the virgin birth
Why he was sent - to bring forgiveness through repentance for you to BELIEVE and RECEIVE
How to tell others --- to witness give the testimony
and what to tell them.
that JESUS is the LIGHT and THE LIFE
Jesus sent John to witness to others, so that ALL could BELIEVE AND RECEIVE the Light of Christ to be Reborn as an Heir — a Child of God.