Sermon Tone Analysis

*The Gospel of John II: Baptized with the Holy Spirit*

*John 1:19-34*

*/May 4, 2008/*

 

 

*Prep: *

·         Bible: passages about John the Baptist~/~/Holy Spirit in John

·         Read: Baptism paper~/~/leftovers (role of Spirit)

 

 

*Opening: *New home group

 

*Prayer: *Aaron in Kuwait and USA (late “day of prayer”)

 

 

*The first witness*

 

Last week we studied the *Overture*, and said that several key *themes* of John were introduced there.

One of the key ones is “*witness*,” as in a witness in *court*.

·         John does *not* expect us to *blindly* *believe* his claims, *calling* *witnesses* and presenting *evidence*.

·         The *purpose* of the *book* is “that you might *believe* that Jesus is the Christ, and by believing have *eternal* *life*.”

Today he presents the *first* *witness*, John the *Baptist*.

In this passage, we will learn more about *John* and his *message*, but bulk of the message is more *controversial*: *Baptism* of the *Spirit*.

John is an interesting character, *bridge* between the *OT* and *NT*:

 

·         Born from a *barren* *woman* (a frequent *theme* in OT, indicating God’s *special* *purpose* upon an individual).

·         Wore camel’s *hair* *coat* and *leather* *belt* – simple, like Elijah.

·         Eat *locust* and *honey*: *free* *food* – off the grid.

He started to preach a message of *repentance*, and gathered quite a following.

He was the *first* *thing* they had seen like an *OT* *prophet* in many generations.

·         People started to wonder if he was the *Messiah*, so the *religious* *leader* decided to *check* in on him.

Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.

20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.”

21 They asked him, “Then who are you?

Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

An easy mistake to make: He *dressed* like him, and spoke like him.

*Elijah* is unique in that Scripture says he *didn’t* *die*, so it made sense that John could be Elijah.

·         John wasn’t Elijah, nor was his *primary* job to be a *prophet*.

Interestingly, *Jesus* says that John *was* the *Elijah* who Malachi prophesied would *proceed* *Jesus*.

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”  22 Finally they said, “Who are you?

Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us.

What do you say about yourself?”

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

/John 1:19-23 NIV/  

 

He was without precedence: a *herald*, proclaiming the *coming* of the *Lord*.

“Lord” is a reference to God (LORD).

24 ¶ Now some Pharisees who had been sent  25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”  26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know.

27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

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

/John 1:24-28 NIV/

 

In other words, “Hey guys, this is *just* *water*.

This baptism doesn’t actually *accomplish* anything.”

It symbolized *repentance*, but the cleansing of sin was *dependent* of “the one who comes after me,” the *lamb* of *God*.

29 ¶ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’  31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

Q   *How* did baptizing *reveal* Jesus to Israel?

First have to know the *background* to *baptism* was all about:

 

It probably had roots in Jewish Mikvot, a ritual bath symbolizing *washing* away *sin* and *repentance*.

John’s baptism so *unique* because it was a *one*-*time* act, not a *ritual* and for Jews.

·         *Ancestry* did not *guarantee* a *relationship* with God.

By *baptizing* Jews, he was showing them that their *heritage* as Jews was *insufficient*.

“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’

For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”*

*/Luke 3:8-9 NIV  /

 

Baptism was a *symbol* of *repentance* that found its *goal* in the *forgiveness* through *Christ*.

John was trying to *jar* *Israel* out of *compliancy* into recognize their *need* for *Jesus*.

·         This was also the *purpose* of much of *Jesus’* *teaching*.

32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.

33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” /John 1:29-34 NIV/

 

Again, thinking of the *courtroom* *scene*, here is *John’s* *testimony*: *God* *told* me that Jesus is the Son of God, and it was *demonstrated* by Holy *Spirit* coming *down* on him.

·         From *other* *Gospels*: This was when *Jesus* was *baptized*.

·         This was *beginning* of *Jesus* *ministry*.

*Baptism “en” the Spirit*

 

But now we get to the most *controversial* part of the sermon: What does John mean by “*baptize* with the *Spirit*”?

John contrasts his *symbolic* *water* baptism with Jesus’ bona fide *Spirit* *baptism*.

We know this was a very *important* *distinction*, because all *four* of the *Gospels* and *Acts* record this:

I baptize you with water for repentance.

But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

* */Matthew 3:11-12 NIV   /

 

The baptism with *fire* is fairly *straightforward*, in light of the reference to *burning* up the *chaff*.

·         The *baptism* with the *Spirit*, however has is *far* from *clear*.

*Disclaimer*: This is *my* *take*, not an *official* *stance* of TGCC.

Among the *eldership*, there are a *variety* of *opinions*, as I am sure there are in this *congregation*.

·         I’ll talk about things we *all* *agree* on, then something we *may* *disagree* on, then *return* to what we *agree* on.

Also: Don’t *worry* too much if you *disagree* with me.

My primary point will be the importance of *increasing* our *dependency* upon the Spirit, not trying to *minimize* his *importance*.

*OT Background*

 

The Baptist’s *audience* probably had *never* *heard* the expression “baptism with the Spirit,” they’d understand on the *meaning*.

·         In the OT, he Spirit did not really *live* *within* people.

...I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.*

*/Joel 2:28-29 NIV/* * 

 

A crucial difference between life *before* and *after* the *Messiah*, was the *giving* of the *Spirit*, related to *another* *difference*:

 

·         A change from *external* *motivation* to an *internal* *heart* *change*.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

/Ezekiel 36:26-27 NIV/ 

*The Holy Spirit in the believer*

 

The *indwelling* of the *Spirit* becomes the *distinctive* *mark* of the *Christian*.

In fact, in Acts “*receive* the Holy *Spirit*” is sometimes *synonymous* with “get *saved*.”

·         “Salvation” would *not* have always had *meaning* to *Jews*.

Ä  The indwelling and empowering of the Spirit was and is a distinct mark of Christians.