Because the Messiah is Jesus

Proposition: We can Enjoy life in his name because Jesus is the Messiah. John, the prophetic voice of Isaiah preparing the way of the Lord, testifies that Jesus is that person. Messiah will set captives free and give them new life.

Would you agree that recommendations from some individuals are better than others? I think I learned the saying “it is not what you know, but who you know” in high school.

During my working career I learned what that statement really meant. You see, I have rarely gotten a job that I applied for (outside the time I was 17 and they only asked if I was on drugs and if I had reliable transportation … The requirements for employment were relatively low. Judging from my co-worker’s behavior, I think you could be on drugs as long as you were not high during the actual interview). I don’t tend to count that one.

• Why was it so hard for me? You might ask. Well, I do not interview well. I make mistakes. At the conclusion of interviews people tend to be amazed that I passed high school, I am socially awkward, and I will single handedly bring down the company or ministry.

That might raise the question … If you have rarely gotten a job you applied for, then how have you been employed for 33 years? That, my friends, is a fabulous question!

• The best answer is “by the wonderful grace of Jesus … do you know the old hymn? Wonderful grace of Jesus … greater than all my sin … How could I get a job … that's where the praise begins, taking away my boredom, giving me work to do … O the wonderful grace of Jesus can reach you too!,” but more specifically because God, In his grace, provided a person who would say the things that opened opportunities I could not open.

But isn’t that like our God to pour his wonderful grace? We are going to see this morning the prophetic voice that God sent ahead to show that the long-awaited Messiah was Jesus. With that in mind please turn in your Bibles to John 1:19.

• Pastor Viars explained last week that the first 18 verses introduce us to some of the major themes in the gospel.

• John does not tell us the story of Jesus’ birth. Instead, he explains the deity and eternality of Jesus.

• John the gospel writer reminds us of the way John the Baptist testified about Jesus.

• John reminds us that many did not receive him, but those who did receive him were adopted into his family.

• John reminds us that the eternal second person of the trinity took on flesh and people saw him.

John uses this evidence to prove that the Messiah is Jesus and that by believing you may have life in his name. Our annual theme is Enjoying Life in His Name. Please follow along as I read John 1:6-8, 15, and 1:19-34. This is the Word of the Lord.

In the introduction John the gospel writer tells us two things about John the Baptist: (1) he came testifying about the light, but he was not the light; and (2) that the light/Messiah is greater than he is. Now in vv. 19-34 the gospel writer explains these points more fully. Our title this morning is Enjoying Life in His Name because the Messiah is Jesus.

I would like us to Consider 3 truths that remind us why believers worship Jesus and unbelievers need to trust Christ for salvation.

I. Because John is the prophetic voice preparing for Messiah’s arrival

Why is vv. 19-34 in our Bibles? Why did the writer decide to expand on the information he gave us in vv. 6-8 and in v. 15?

• I suggest that the writer wanted to show us that John the Baptist was not just any voice. He was the voice preparing the way for Messiah.

The nation of Israel was eagerly awaiting the coming of the Messiah. Since many interpreted Messiah as a conquering ruler, they were very excited about the prospects of national independence.

• They were under Babylonian rule, then under Persian rule, then they experienced a short time of political independence, and then they were conquered by Rome. They wanted national freedom and they believed the Messiah would give it to them.

• But that raises a very important question. Who is this Messiah?

Now John the Baptist enters the scene. This seems as good a place as any to say that we have the challenge today of two different people with the same name.

• We have John the gospel writer, the disciple of Jesus, one of the twelve. We have John the Baptist, the forerunner preparing the way for the Lord. I will do my best to make the referent clear.

Verse 19 says that the Jews sent some priests and levities. The gospel writer uses the phrase “the Jews” typically, although not exclusively, to mean leaders who oppose Jesus.

• All priests were levities but not all levities were priests. At this time in history they served as musicians or temple guards. A delegation arrives to determine what is happening with John the Baptist.

I think there is good reason to question his activities. The gospel of John does not tell us what he looked like, nor does it explain his message – “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand” (Matt 3:2).

• It seems clear that word had gotten back to Jerusalem … “Hey there is this dude who looks weird and eats weird calling people to repent and be baptized. What is that about?” The gospel writer picks up the story after this delegation arrives.

Remember it is possible, if not likely, that some of these priests and levities know the basic story of John the Baptist. His father, Zacharias, was a priest. He served at the temple in Jerusalem. In Luke 2 an angel appeared to him and as a result of expressing some doubt Zacharias could not talk for 9 months. How awkward! When he writes that the baby’s name is John, he is free to speak.

Luke 1:64-66 “And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. 65 Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.”

It is difficult to imagine that the basic storyline was unknown. Yet, that still does not fully answer the question of John’s identity.

John’s identity was not

1. 1. The Messiah (v. 20)

John 1:20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

It appears that at least one member of this delegation asked if John himself was the Messiah. He makes it perfectly clear that he was not.

1. 1. Elijah (v. 21)

John 1:21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he *said, “I am not.”

Some of you are thinking, wait a minute. John, what are talking about? Yes, you are! The angel who made Zacharias mute said so. You don’t want to end up mute like your dad, do you?

Luke 1:15-17 “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. 16 “And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 “It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Not only did the angel Gabriel say it, but so did Jesus. It is generally a bad idea to disagree with Jesus. He is the speaker in each of the following three passages:

Mark 9:13 “But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him.”

Matt 11:14 “And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come.

Matt 17:10-13 And His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11 And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things, 12 but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also, the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

I love this point right here. I have been itching to share it with my church family.

John the Baptist did not fully understand his own identity. This is not surprising, there is a growing understanding among many in the gospel of John.

• In Matt 17, the disciples did not understand that John was Elijah until later.

• One of my NT professors in seminary wrote a short commentary on John. He called it Growing Belief.

I am speaking to those right now who have trusted Christ as Lord and savior. John’s gospel is very evangelistic, but it is not exclusively evangelistic. It is meant to grow the belief of believers!

Yes, when I trusted Christ as my savior, I understood that Jesus died for me. I understood that he took my sin on the cross. I understood that I could never earn my salvation.

But is that the sum total of everything there is to know about Jesus? Have I mined the depths of the implications of being “in Christ”? Of course not.

• How many of you get discouraged when you think about sin you have committed in your life? The more you think about it, the worse it gets. Maybe you have not fully embraced what It means for you to be forgiven and cleansed. So, you struggle looking back on your sin and learning the lessons from it because you have not grasped the fact that looking back does not change your forgiven and cleansed state. It takes you back to all the guilt and shame.

• How many of you struggle to believe that God loves you? You define love as God gives me what I want or because I read my Bible 2 days in a row God should give me my heart’s desire. Giving you your heart’s desire might not be a loving thing to do. God surely gives us more than we deserve but mining the depths of his love does not happen overnight.

• How many of you want contingency plans for every possible scenario in life? Learning to trust our commanding general, the Lord Jesus, does not happen at the moment of salvation. Trusting God with your future. Trusting God with your children. This does not happen overnight. I can be tempted to attempt to plan my way out of trusting God. I, like you, have fears. Not everything in my life is smooth sailing. Do I try to create contingency plans so that I do not need God?

Frankly I could have given a dozen examples. John the Baptist was wrong. He did not fully grasp his role. The disciples were also wrong. I have been wrong. Growing belief in who Jesus is, growing belief in who I am in Christ, growing belief in trusting him, growing belief in his love and care for me. That is part of the message of the gospel of John. It comes, at least partially, by reading what this gospel says about Jesus.

Okay, back to the text… John Is not Messiah and not Elijah … what about

1. 1. The Prophet like Moses (v. 21b-22)

John 1:21b “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”

They do not ask whether he is a prophet, but the prophet. Deuteronomy 18:16-18 promised another prophet like Moses. These three questions highlight the three eschatological figures that they were expecting. Are you the Messiah, no, Elijah, no, the prophet, no. Okay, then who?

John is the promised voice from Isaiah preparing God’s people for Messiah (v. 23)

John 1:23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

This answer is so awesome. It reinforces what I say earlier about growing belief. John the Baptist did not fully understand the role God assigned him. However, he understood part of it.

• When asked who he is, he quotes Isaiah 40:3. Isaiah 40-48 might be Pastor Aucoin’s favorite part of the Bible. It discusses the captives being set free from their bondage. It discusses the kingdom of God and not the kingdom of men.

John knows that his job is to get out in front of Messiah and prepare his people for his arrival. He is going to pull out the red carpet for him and announce him as the one who sets captives free and he is the one who brings the kingdom.

John may not understand everything, but he understands something. When he quotes Isaiah 40, he is saying that he is the long promised prophetic voice sent by God to communicate to the nation that they need to repent and prepare for the arrival of Messiah.

I suggest that John the Baptist’s role in the gospel storyline should result in worship. It should result in growing belief. It should result in calming doubts one might have about their salvation.

• There were many people who claimed to be Messiah, but only one had the long promised prophetic voice of Isaiah.

To those who have yet to place their faith in Christ … I encourage you to do that today.

• If you are looking to yourself to earn your salvation you are not qualified … you do not have the prophetic voice announcing your arrival.

• If you are struggling to believe there will be anything after death, then look no further than the prophetic voice which would be completely irrelevant if there was nothing else. Today is the day of salvation.

Now that John explained who he was that raised a further question. The Baptist’s answer highlights a second reason why believers should worship Jesus and non-believers need him.

II. Because Jesus is far greater than the prophetic voice of Isaiah

We assume that the Pharisees were part of the delegation the Jesus sent according to v. 19. While they heard his answer, something did not make sense. They now desire to understand authority

John 1:24-25 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

I need to explain a bit about baptism. We should not assume that John’s baptism is the same as believers’ baptism. John’s baptism was in a category all its’ own.

• It was a baptism of repentance to prepare one’s heart for the coming of Messiah. In John 1:11-12 we learned that some accepted Jesus and others rejected. Some were open to repentance and others remained stubborn.

The Pharisees want to know who authorized this baptism. It seems that they could understand it if John was Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet of Deut 18. But they cannot quite get their head around the prophetic voice of Isaiah 40 baptizing.

It is hard to tell in John’s gospel whether this question is an honest question looking for an answer or whether it is a snarky question with their answer already revealed.

Regardless, John the Baptist’s answer is very interesting, and it perfectly illustrates his role.

John minimizes his baptism (v. 26a)

John 1:26 John answered them saying, “I baptize in water …”

The prophetic voice is not about himself. The synoptic gospels tell us that he is calling people to personally repent because the Messiah is coming - emphasis on Messiah is coming. He tells them, look it's just water … relax. His baptism is important, but not the most important thing.

In fact, at every turn of John the Baptist’s ministry he minimizes his role to maximize the role of Jesus. Instead …

John maximizes the priority of the Messiah (vv. 26b-28)

John 1:26b-28 but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27 “It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

In John 1:15 he said that Jesus existed before he did. If we remember our chronology from the Synoptics correctly, John the Baptist is older. Elizabeth was pregnant before Mary. This Is not just about age, but about priority.

In John 3:30 some of John’s disciples are concerned that he is losing followers to Jesus to which he replies, “He must increase and I must decrease.”

Here in v. 27 by saying that he is not worthy to untie Messiah’s sandal, John is saying that there is no task too low for him. That is extraordinary humility. He does not care one bit about receiving the proper praise or respect of people.

Now … let me tell you how I would be tempted to answer the Pharisees' question…

"I just told you that I am the voice of Isaiah 40. I think that when you are fulfillment of Isaiah 40, a prophecy made like 700 years ago, that is kind of a big deal. Did you catch that? You want to know what authority I have … Dude, I am the fulfillment of a 700-year-old prophecy, what more evidence to you do need?”

That is not even close to John the Baptist’s response. He might not know everything about his role, but he understands that his life calling is pointing people to Messiah. Messiah is so much greater and so much better than him.

• John rolls out the red carpet, but Jesus is the one who walks on it.

• John is baptizing them with water as a symbol of a repentant heart ready for Messiah, but Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit giving us new hearts.

When you think about it, John does not answer their question. They ask a question about him and he says let me tell you about Messiah. He is so great and so awesome that even though I am the fulfillment of a 700 year old prophecy who received direct prophecy from God (I will show you that in a minute) I am not worthy to untie his dirty, smelly, nasty sandal.

• In vv. 25-28 John the Baptist tells the Pharisees that they are asking the wrong question. They should be repenting of their personal sin and preparing their heart for the arrival of the Messiah.

That should direct our heart to worship. The long-awaited Messiah truly is Jesus. Christian friend, I hope our study through John results in greater faith and greater confidence in your savior. I hope that your love, trust, and confidence grow as you think about your savior.

We can also ask whether we are pointing people to Jesus like John the Baptist did.

• Are we quick to turn the praise, honor, and glory to our savior?

• Are we quick to focus other people’s attention onto Christ?

• Are we quick to show how whatever gifts, abilities, and accomplishments we might have achieved, they pale in comparison to the greatness of our savior?

• We realize that a significant number of people are nervous to be in groups and are choosing to continue to join us online. But one goal that our service pastors have Is to encourage and Inspire you to Invite people to church. Not because church Is the end goal, but because they will hear more and more about Jesus.

President Reagan issued a presidential proclamation on January 22, 1984 declaring that day the first National Sanctity of Human Life day. Since that time many churches set aside a Sunday to especially pray and mourn the ongoing murder of children whose cries mean nothing, to long for the day when our society will end the barbaric practice and bring perpetrators to justice, and to celebrate the gift of life. We hope and pray for change. But we also know that the supply will end when the demand is no longer there. The demand will not end until people experience the transforming power of God’s grace.

Our lives must continually point people to the greatness of Jesus. When we are thinking about him correctly it motivates our worship and our desire and willingness to tell others about him. This passage tells us something else about why believers should worship and why unbelievers should trust him…

III. Because Jesus is the only one who can rescue us from our sin and make us alive with Christ

Let’s remind ourselves of the flow of the passage. The gospel tells us about John’s testimony. Identity was the first issue – who are you? John answers that I am the prophetic voice of Isaiah preparing the way for Messiah. Next comes the authority question and John says you are asking the wrong question. Your thoughts should be focused on personal repentance and the coming of Messiah. Now, we find the testimony that Jesus is that Messiah.

A. Jesus is the Lamb to deal with sin (v. 29)

John 1:29 The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John the Baptist may not have understood the significance of his statement. Even he, according to Matt 11 and my comments earlier, grows in his understanding of Messiah. But now that we are reading these words, we know that the Bible connects Jesus as the sacrificial lamb. The servant who suffers according to Isaiah 53. He is also the eschatological conquering lamb who will put an end to sin.

B. Jesus is the one who existed before John (v. 30)

John 1:30 “This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’

This is the same thing he said in v. 15. John knows that Jesus is that Messiah and that he existed in the beginning and was involved in creation itself. Pastor Viars explained this in his sermon last week. In comparison, John is nothing more than a voice pointing people to the savior. John’s humility is extraordinary.

God directly identifies Jesus as the Messiah (vv. 31-33a)

John 1:31 “I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32 John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. John 1:33 “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’

This might sound a bit confusing. Some of you might be thinking, well, if John did not initially recognize Jesus as the Messiah, then why would he object to baptizing him as the Synoptics report? Again, I think there is a clear explanation.

• John the Baptist and Jesus were relatives. It is possible that they were very close. Luke 1:56 reports that Mary lived with Elizabeth and Zacharias during the last three months of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. We are not told why, but the fact that she went there indicates close family connections.

• John knows about Jesus and he knows that Jesus is different. He objects to the baptism because John’s baptism does not make a lot of sense. Why would Jesus need to repent and prepare for Messiah?

But John does not know that Jesus is the Messiah until this moment. God directly revealed it to the Baptist that the Spirit would descend like a dove and rest upon the Messiah. When it happened, John recognized it.

I believe God revealed to John exactly how he would know the identity of the Messiah. Up to this point, John knows he is the voice, he knows he is preaching repentance and baptizing with water to prepare God’s people for the coming of Messiah, and now he knows who that Messiah is – Jesus!

God revealed it. Jesus will proclaim that he is Messiah, and he will do the works of Messiah (that is coming up in the gospel). But before that happens, God identified him as the long-awaited Messiah.

D. Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit (v. 33b)

John 1:33b …this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.

Spirit baptism is the act by which we are placed in the body of Christ. John’s water baptism prepared hearts for the coming of Messiah. Spirit baptism gives us a new one.

E. Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God (v. 34)

John 1:34 “I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

At first glance it does not seem like John 1:19-34 has much to offer. Yet, when you get into the details you find the opposite is the case.

• This is a passage dedicated to proving that the long-awaited Messiah is Jesus because the prophetic voice testified about him.

Christian friend, this gospel encourages us to grow in our worship, faith, hope, trust, knowledge, and confidence in our relationship with Jesus. Just like John the Baptist, or any of the disciples, we do not understand everything right away.

• John 1:19-34 tells us of the Baptist’s role in identifying Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God. All the truths about Messiah that he is great, that he is the lamb who takes away the sin of the world, that he is the pre-existent Son of God, and that he baptizes with the Spirit placing us into his body should light a fire for us to point people to him.

There is also a message for all of you who are listening or watching this message online who do not know Christ. The Bible provides compelling evidence for you to see Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah.

• Please do not remain hardened to the message. John warns us that some would not receive him … do not be in that group. Instead, be in the group that are described by these words, “as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”

• The service pastors would be happy to talk to you right now or we can arrange a time to meet personally to answer any question you have. For those who have no questions, today is the day of salvation. You can in this moment repent of your sin and place your faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus for your salvation.