John #09 Identity Crisis
That you May Believe … and Have Life
John #9
John 1:19-23
As we continue to walk through John 1 … we are brought back to an important Character in the early life of Christ. You remember vv 6-8 … "There came a man who was send from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light … he himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light"
Sometimes we forget who we are in Christ, who we are NOT in him … who he has called us to be …
So now go with me to verse 19 because John the Baptist Understood who he was and who he was not …
READ 19-28
If you are following Christ, making hard decisions of obedience
If you are sharing your faith with people around you
If you are trying to live a Holy and Righteous Life, somewhere along the way … you have heard these questions …
"Who do you think you are?"
"Are you Jesus or something?"
"What are you a Preacher?"
"Who died and made you God?"
These are the type of questions that they were asking John.
Remember that we know that John was the cousin of Jesus, born about 6 months before Jesus. However, we also know that John was born to elderly parents who most likely died while he was young, at least an adolescent.
The Bible also tells us that John came from the desert region of Judah. So, he had gone off on his own as a young man, he had lived in the wilderness. Luke tells us that he was given the vow of a Nazarite from birth. That is he would not drink fermented drink, he would not cut his hair and he would separate himself wholly to God.
So by the time John appears on the scene no one even knows who he is, where he comes from, he would have been a crazy looking man, in animal skins, with long wild hair …
And he comes preaching Repentance and Preparation for the coming of the Messiah, and to give evidence to the preparation and repentance he called people to be Baptized.
This was not a baptism showing Salvation, but it was a picture of personal cleansing and desire for the coming of the Messiah.
So the Pharisees, the Religious Overseers, the controllers of the people want some answers …
Who are you? Are you the Christ?
That is, are you the one that has been promised?
The Messiah was one who would set them free from Captivity to the rulers over them and free from the captivity to sin.
No … not the Messiah
Are you Elijah? That is the Malachi had promised that Elijah, or one like him would come before the coming of the Messiah. But in particular, before the coming of the very end of days, is the Elijah they were expecting … and John said,
NO, not him
The Prophet? The Jews had always been looking for "The Messiah" "Elijah" and The "Prophet" … Moses had said, in Deut. 18:15 - the Lord will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him
Other Jewish writings let us know they were expecting someone like Moses to come
Please note that when Jesus referred to himself and answered often when questioned about his identity in relation to God, or Messiah, ego eimi or "I AM" … but
John answers Ego OUK eimi "I Am NOT" the first two times and simply ou - "No" The final time
He is NOT the I AM of God, he is NOT the Messiah, he is NOT anything More than …
A voice of one calling in the desert / wilderness 'make straight the way for the Lord'
"I have one purpose" John was saying "I am making the way for the Messiah"
"I am not worthy to even unlace his sandals."
The most menial task of a slave / servant would be to untie the shoes of the Master. John said "I am not worthy to do the least thing for the Messiah."
I come to call to "make straight the way for the Lord"
This refers to Isaiah's writing.
When a King, a dignitary, was to come to a new place, across difficult territory, great preparation must be made.
Where there were no roads, through the difficult terrain, over mountains, through valleys … a road must be prepared.
Isaiah said valleys had to be raised, mountains had to be lowered, crooked roads had to be made straight.
That was what John was doing and calling to be done, to remove obstacles to make a way for the Messiah to enter.
So, with that understood? What was John really saying? And How can we learn from it as believers today trying to live for Christ as a witness to the true light of the world Jesus Christ.
1. He is Messiah I am a Captive
John knew who the Messiah was.
A. I am not the Messiah
1. He was the one promised to take the Throne of David.
2. He would rule in peace, he would rule in righteousness, he would rule in scope as did David.
3. Jesus is the promised one to rule in righteousness, to rule in peace, to rule over the earth.
4. He is to rule in our hearts.
5. No one died and made John God, he was just pointing the way to God in the Flesh, the messiah Jesus Christ
6. we should answer people with the Truth of the Word of God. If we are trying to tell people to live like WE think they ought, we won't usually be very successful. But when we use the Word of God, we are simply pointing them to Christ, making straight the way to him.
B. I'm just a Captive like you
1. John was in as much need of a Messiah as they were.
2. he needed someone to rule over him, someone to rule in his heart, someone to
3. we need to be telling people, lovingly, "listen I'm not God, I'm not the Anointed Messiah, I'm just someone that Needs a ruler, a guide, a God, a Lord, just like you.
He is the Messiah, I am just a Captive in need or being set free or I was a captive set free by the Messiah
2. He is Savior I am Sinner
A. He is Savior
1. some seemed to forget in Jesus day, but the Messiah had other predictions
2. He was to come as a King like David, but also come as a priest like Aaron
4. The Messiah was to be our Savior, to save his people from their sins. That's why he was named Jesus because he would save his people from their sins
5. Hebrews 5:4 no one takes this honor on himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.
The Priest would daily offer sacrifices for the sins of the people. And yearly the High Priest would offer sacrifice for himself to be pure, then go behind the curtain into the Most Holy Place and offer Sacrifice for all the people that the Lord would forgive them another year.
6. But he was a Savior greater than the Priests of Old because his priesthood was the result of a perfect life
Hebrews 7:11,16,22 if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood … why was there still need for another priest to come … 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life 22 because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant
7. We need to stop trying to be the Savior of the World. Hear me now carefully. I believe we should pass good laws, I believe we should elect good people to political positions, I believe that we should shape society, when possible to reflect righteousness, and lawfulness. BUT … the Savior of the World will not be elected in 08. You are not the Savior of the world, I am not the Savior of the World. The hope of the world is not in Washington, or London, or New York, or Iran, or at Busch Stadium for that matter.
The Savior of the World is still Jesus Christ
and John knew that …
C. I am just a Sinner
1. John said, I am not even worth to take off his dirty sandals at the end of the day for the purpose of washing his feet.
2. The world doesn't need to see us as substitute Saviors but as Sinners who were ourselves in need of Savior
3. Peter and John saw the Crippled man at the Temple and said "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk
4. Oh, don't get me wrong, we are told to meet needs as we are able, led by the Holy Spirit, but we are NOT the Saviors of the world, Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, our High Priest to present an acceptable sacrifice to God.
3. He is the Lamb of God, I am a Sheep
The day after this "inquisition" John sees Jesus and says "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the World!"
A. HE is the Lamb of God
1. The Messiah, he is to come as a King like David. He is to come as a High Priest like Aaron. But he is also to come as a Lamb, led to slaughter - Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
2. Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God, but he was silent not because he was clueless, like any other lamb going to slaughter, but he was silent because he had already chosen, from the foundation of the world to die as our lamb.
Rev. 5:9,12 … you are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation …
Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!
Rev 13:8 … the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world
3. The Priest has nothing to offer if he doesn't have a perfect Sacrifice. The Shepherd would look through his flock and overlook all the spotted, blemished lambs and find a single spotless lamb. Jesus was our Perfect High Priest, but there was no other perfect lamb in our fold, So, Jesus came also of our fold, that God might pluck him out as our perfect Sacrificial Lamb.
He is the Lamb of God …
B. I am Just A Sheep
1. that means I am spotted, blemished, in need of a Spotless Lamb to take away my sins
2. John knew that HE was not the Lamb of God, but Jesus was … who takes away our sin … how does that happen?
Rom 3:25 - God presented him (Jesus) as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished
All previous sins had been temporarily covered by sacrifices
But Justice had to be served and Christ became our atonement
1 John 2:2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world
1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins
3. Atonement, Propitiation, Expiation - these words all mean the same thing -
Atonement - reparation for an offense or injury
Propitiate - to gain or regain the favor or goodwill
But how do we gain God's Favor?
Expiate - to extinguish the guilt incurred; to make amends for
4. I am a sinner, and I need my offense repaired … I need to gain God's favor. Because of God's Justice, I stood in line with the burning of his wrath, but JESUS is the Lamb of God who EXPIATES … he extinguishes the guilt of my sin … as he died on the cross for me, satisfying God's punishment, poured out on Christ and when I believe in the efficacy of his blood, my guilt is extinguished as is God's wrath toward me.
5. I'm just a sheep, and Now I am HIS Sheep
Who are You?
You are Nobody without Christ, but IN CHRIST, you are somebody. Christ IN YOU is the Hope of Glory
IN Christ you can find your greatest Identity
In Christ you are …
Abraham's Seed - John 8
Anointed - 2 Cor. 1:21
Body of Christ - 1 Cor 12:27
Born Again 1 Peter 1:23
Bride Rev 21:9
Chosen First John 15:16
Complete in Him Col. 2:10
Disciples John 13:35
Dwelling of God Eph 2:22
Epistles to the world 2 Cor. 3:2 - you are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody
Elect - Ro 8:33
Flock of God - 1 Pe 5:2
Friends of Christ - John 15:14
God's Workers, Field, and Building - 1 Cor 3:9
His own House - Heb 3:6
Holy Priesthood and nation 1Pe 2:9
Image of God Gen 9:6
Israel of God Gal 6:16
Joint heirs with Christ Rom 8:17
Justified 1 Cor 6:11
Kings to God Rev 1:6
Light of the World - Mat. 5:14
Lively stones - 1 Pe 2:5
Ministers of our God Isaiah 61:6
New Creation - 2 Cor 5:17
One Body - Ro 12:5
One Bread - 1 Cor 10:17
Peculiar People 1 Peter 2:9
Pillar of truth 1 Tim 3:15
Priests Rev 5:10
Purchased 1 Cor 7:23
Quickened with Christ Col. 2:13
Ransomed Isa. 35:10
Righteous 1 Pe 3:12
Sanctified 1 Cor 1:2
Salt of the earth Mat. 5:13
Temple of God 1 Cor 3:16
Useful 2 Tim. 2:21
Vineyard of God Jer. 12:10
Washed 1 Cor 6:11
Witnesses Acts 1:8
Work of His hand Isa. 64:8
Yoked with Christ Mt 11:29,30
Zealous to fear God Pro 23:17
Zion Zech 8:2
Oh you are SOMEBODY in Christ Jesus
Not because of who you are but because of WHO he is
John knew that his worth was not in who he was but in who Christ is and so he recognized that He was not to draw attention to himself … but to Jesus …
John 3:30 - John the Baptist said "he must become greater; I must become less"
Which brings us to our conclusion
4. He is the Proclaimed One, I am a Proclaimer
John said "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'make straight the way for the Lord.'"
John was NOT confused as to his job
His job was not to make a name for himself
He cared not if anyone knew him, but that all would know Christ.
V31 says "the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed"
Our job is not to create a name for ourselves.
OH I believe you should invite people to New Life, but only that they might Know Christ and that we together might make him known
I don't care if they know the name of your Pastor, but if they know the name of your Pastor's Master
He must increase, we must decrease
Our job is not to be known as the Jesus freak, in class, at work, in the neighborhood
But that Jesus would be known by the life you live, by the testimony you give, by the example of love and faithfulness you exhibit.
He is the Proclaimed One
We the Proclaimers
We have work to do.
We need to break down the barriers
Tear down the mountains
Fill in the Valleys
Straighten out the Crooked paths
So that people can build a superhighway to Jesus Christ
And then when they ask …
"Who do you think you are?"
"Are you Jesus or something?"
"What are you a Preacher?"
"Who died and made you God?"
You can Answer them in love …
"No one died and made me God, but someone did die and to make me a child of God … would you like to know about that?"
"Can I tell you about My Ruler, Savior, and Precious Lamb?"