John 1:19–28 Sermon
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· 1,084 viewsJohn's testimony was powerful but humble.
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19 And 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.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 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.” 24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
19 And 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.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 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.” 24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
19 And 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.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 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.” 24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
English Standard Version Chapter 1
The Testimony of John the Baptist
19 And 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.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 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.”
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
19 And 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.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 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.” 24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
19 And this is the testimony of Johnwhen 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.”
20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 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.”
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
ESV
Title: The powerful and humble testimony of John
Title: The powerful and humble testimony of John
Introduction
Introduction
Question: What makes for a powerful/biblical testimony?
By testimony I mean verbal evidence of a witness by which something is affirmed to be true.
Meaning an oral account of a witness that affirms the truth of what is communicated.
The term testimony is used 14 times in the gospel of John.
It is important to note that in all 14 instances it is directly speaking of Christ as true.
John’s testimony of Jesus as greater than Himself
Jesus speaking of Himself as the Son of Man
John’s testimony of what he has seen and heard
When receiving the testimony of Christ this speaks of God being true
The women at the well. Her testimony of Jesus caused many Samaritans to believe.
With more examples we can easily see that a testimony here in the gospel of John is always out to affirm Jesus as true.
Question: What makes for a powerful/biblical testimony?
Answer: One that seeks to affirm the already truth that Jesus Christ is true.
The antithesis of a biblical testimony is a verbal account of self that does not display God as true and glorious.
We are not called to give testimonies of ourselves.
This does not mean that we cannot give an account of what God has done in our lives.
But we must guard ourselves from creating an awe of someone’s testimony because of how bad their past was.
Prior to salvation we have all fallen short of the glory of God.
Whether you were in prison or in a rich family, without Christ everyone was imprisoned in sin.
A biblical testimony must be given with the desire to make Christ known and gloriously true!
Just as every time this gospel does.
The powerful and humble testimony of John is no exception.
His testimony is not about himself. It is about Christ as true!
He seeks to affirm the already truth that Jesus Christ is true.
Outline
Outline
1. Who John is not (v. 19-21)
1. Who John is not (v. 19-21)
Verse 19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
Verse 19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
Verse 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
Verse 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
19 And 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.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
Verse 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
Verse 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
In verse 19 John the apostle writes that this is the testimony of John.
We see that it was the Jews who sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to question John.
According to verse 24, we see that the Jews were Pharisees.
Pharʹi-sees, a religious party or school amongst the Jews at the time of our Lord, so called from perîshîn, the Aramaic form of the Hebrew word perûshîm, “separated.”
The Pharisees were members of a Jewish party that exercised strict piety to the Mosaic law.
The Pharisees
Thomas J. Shepherd, The Westminster Bible Dictionary (Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1880), 404.
Bradley T. Johnson, “Pharisees,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
Throughout the gospel of John they sought to arrest and trap Jesus through arguments.
In we see an example of what they do throughout the gospel of John.
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.”
Since they only sought to trap Jesus, we know then that sending the priests and Levites to John, it was no different.
The pharisees sent priests and levites on purpose.
A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: John Exegetical and Critical
Priests and Levites.—[The two classes of persons employed about the temple service, Josh. 3:3. In the wider sense, Levites designates the descendants of Levi; in a narrower sense, as here, the subordinate officers of the Jewish hierarchy, as distinct from the priests of the family of Aaron.—P. S.] The Levites as an attendant body were designed, under certain circumstances, to arrest the Baptist, and at any rate to add state as a convoy of police, or to enhance the official dignity of the priests. It is a touch of historical accuracy.
Notice who they sent.
They sent those who were employed in temple service.
They were servants to the Jewish hierarchy.
Their role was to attend to the temple and they were act
They were the ones familiar with Jewish ordinances
This makes sense since John was baptizing people.
According to verse 28, These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan.
28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
They traveled about 2 miles west from Jerusalem to Bethany.
This is not the Bethany that is 2 miles east of Jerusalem.
The Jordan River went passed Bethany.
The KJV uses “Bethabara” beyond the Jordan as the location.
The exact location is unknown but it would have taken them a days journey to get there since the Jordan River was further east than the Bethany that was 2 miles east of Jerusalem.
They traveled a whole day to ask John the Baptist questions.
The first of which was “who are you?”
John’s response follows in verse 20.
Read Verse 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
Read Verse 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
Eerdmans Bible Dictionary CHRIST
CHRIST (Gk. Christos). “Christ” is the New Testament designation of Old Testament “Messiah” (Heb. māšîaḥ “anointed”). Frequently the RSV (like the NIV and JB; KJV less often) renders Gk. ho Christos of the Gospels as “the Christ,” meaning that Jesus is the only true Christ (e.g., John 20:31) or the anointed one specifically prophesied in the Old Testament (e.g., 1 Sam. 2:10; Ps. 2:2). At Acts 4:26, a quotation from Ps. 2:2, the RSV translates Gk. toú christoú autoú as “his Anointed,” but at Rev. 11:15; 12:10 the same Greek term is translated “his Christ.”
Christ or as the greek says Christos, is the New Testament title in the Old Testament that was designated to mean“Messiah.” In Hebrew it meant “anointed” or the anointed One.
The Gospels use it as referring to Jesus as the only true Christ and the Christ spoken of in prophecy.
In verse 20 (in the greek) the denial referred here is simply expressing John’s quick answer.
He didn’t waist time in denying that He was not the Christ.
20 He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”
He confessed quickly that he was not the Christ.
It is important to note
It is important to note
15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,
This was in the air. People were in expectation.
They were waiting to see if John was the Christ. The anointed One promised from Holy Scripture.
To a man desirous of power, this would have been an opportunity to get the crowds.
But John knew who he was in light of Jesus Christ.
Which is a benchmark for our testimony.
Question: Do we know who we are in light of Jesus Christ?
Question: What would we have done if the crowds were in expectation to give praise and glory to us?
John embodied what a witness must be.
A witness must give testimony of the greatness of Jesus Christ. Which means that you must place yourself under Christ.
Acknowledging Christ as greater.
John quickly confessed that he was not the Christ. Denying any chance of self exaltation. We must do the same.
In verse 21 we see two questions.
Read Verse 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
Read Verse 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
Question: Why did they ask if John was Elijah?
Answer: This comes from
5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
They believed that Elijah would appear before the end time and that he would prepare the way of the Lord.
They were wondering if this was that time.
Since he told them he wasn’t the Christ then of course they would go to what would follow. Elijah was known to be the one who would prepare the way for the Christ.
They asked him Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.”
What is interesting is what Jesus said in .
12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
They asked John if he was Elijah and he said I am not. But Jesus in was talking of John as Elijah.
10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
The answer is simple. Their question assumed that Elijah was to come literally.
In speaking of John the Baptist,
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.”
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.”
He was not literally Elijah but he did come in the spirit and power of Elijah. As Jesus admitted, John was the prophet who came to prepare the way.
Again, John could have caved in to the glory of man by calling himself Elijah but he remained humble. Knowing his place in light of who Christ was.
They also asked,
Read “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
Read “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
The Prophet they were expecting came from
15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—
18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
This Prophet would be like Moses which created a high expectation for the Jews.
A Handbook on the Gospel of John John 1:21
Deuteronomy 18:15, 18
Again, John the Baptist would say no.
Question: So who is John then?
2. Who John is (v.22-24)
2. Who John is (v.22-24)
Read Verse 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” Verse 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.”
Read Verse 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” Verse 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.”
Verse 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.”
Verse 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.”
It is important to know that John was not declaring himself as the one but he was declaring what was written.
He was speaking of his role not his status.
His role was to make the way straight for the Lord.
This is quoted from and recited in all 4 gospel accounts.
John is simply the one who came to prepare the way.
He wasn’t the Christ. He wasn’t the Elijah that the crowds wanted. He wasn’t the Prophet like Moses.
He was the voice in the wilderness. Which is what the crowds didn’t want and what the priests and Levites did not expect.
His appeal to this word from the prophet Isaiah again revealed that John the Baptist was only a servant.
Notice that he gave them an answer they were not looking for.
They thought maybe with his following that he would appeal to that as his source of worth.
But John the Baptist shows us how exactly we are to bear witness of our faith in Christ.
We are not to be enamored by the crowds or what the world deems as success.
We are to be preoccupied with who Christ is!
We are to remember who we are in light of who Christ is.
Verse 24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)
Verse 24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)
3. Who Christ is (v.25-29)
3. Who Christ is (v.25-29)
31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.
32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.
19 And 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.”
21 And they asked him,
“What then? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
And he answered, “No.”
22 So they said to him, “Who are you?
We need to give an answer to those who sent us.
What do you say about yourself?”
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.”
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)
25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
________________________________
Title: 19a And this is the testimony of John
Question 1: 19b when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
19b 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.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 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.” 24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Answer: 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
Question 2: 21a And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”
Answer: 21b He said, “I am not.”
Question 3: 21c “Are you the Prophet?”
Answer: 21d And he answered, “No.”
Question 4: 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
Answer: 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.”
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)
Question: 5: 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
Answer: 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Questions
Questions
Question 1: 19b “Who are you?” Answer 1: 20 “I am not the Christ.”
Question 2: 21a “Are you Elijah?” Answer 2: 21b “I am not.”
Read Verse 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” Verse 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,
Read Verse 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” Verse 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,
Question 3: 21c “Are you the Prophet?” Answer 3: 21d And he answered, “No.”
They’re questioning him about baptizing is a question of his authority.
“Why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
Question 4: 22 “Who are you? What do you say about yourself?” Answer 4: 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.”
They are assuming that John the Baptist has no right to baptize.
Question: How did John get the right to baptize?
Answer: He was sent by God.
33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
He was sent by God. And Jesus would affirm his testimony and his call later.
God gave him the right to baptize and he was called by God to prepare the way.
Some take this to mean that this is an example of one going out without the church.
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But what they fail to realize is that Jesus would affirm Him and because Jesus has given the local church authority, without the local church authorizing someone’s testimony, they must not usurp the role of the local church.
At the time the pharisees were not of God. As Jesus said to them that they were of their father the devil.
John bore witness of Christ. He was sent by God and was affirmed as true by Jesus Himself.
John stood in the place of knowing his place in light of Christ!
He did not succumb to the glory of man where he elevated himself.
Question: 5: 25 “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” Answer 5: 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
Answer 1: 20 “I am not the Christ.”
Question 2: 21a And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”
Answer 2: 21b “I am not.”
Question 3: 21c “Are you the Prophet?”
Verse 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,
Verse 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,
Answer 3: 21d And he answered, “No.”
Answer 4: 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.”
Answer: 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.”
Verse 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
Verse 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
Read Verse 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
Read Verse 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
Answer 5: 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
Question: 5: 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
Answer: 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
Verse 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Verse 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
He knew his place in light of Christ.
This is where powerful testimonies come from.
28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
"Let us remember, there is One who daily records all we do for Him, and sees more beauty in His servants' work than His servants do themselves... And then shall His faithful witnesses discover, to their wonder and surprise, that there never was a word spoken on their Master's behalf, which does not receive a reward."
- J. C. Ryle
John knew of his worthlessness. He knew his role. Because he knew he wasn’t the Christ.
Remember
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
The opportunity for John the Baptist here to think highly of himself was there.
That is exactly where many in our time have gone wrong!
The church is more about the Christian than they are about the Christ!
It is Christ that makes our testimony valid
It is Christ that makes our testimony glorious
It is Christ that makes the church the church
It is Christ that that makes our worship true
It is Christ that assures our hope to be genuine
It is Christ that makes our lives worth living
Question: What makes for a powerful/biblical testimony?
Answer: The reality of the living Christ who forces us to know that we are worthless without Him.
John knew this himself and so should we!
We are witnesses. Sent by God to go to the world, proclaiming the gospel and making disciples of all nations. Baptizing them and being witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
English Standard Version Chapter 1
my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
That is why we are here at Christ Alone Fellowship!
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”