Audio Sermon File: John 1:19-28
Going Deeper: Study Guide
Who are You?
Today we are going to look at the question posed to John the Baptist - ‘Who are you?’ - and in light of his response, we are going to examine ourselves - as to ‘Who are we?’ By doing so - hopefully - we all will be able to do a reality check as to ‘Who we are’ in light of Jesus Christ.
We can answer the question posed to John the Baptist , which was ‘Who are you?’ by examining the two areas of his investigation by the Jews. These two areas are 1. CRITICAL QUESTIONS and 2. CRUCIAL ANSWERS.
John 1:19-28 reads:
19 This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." 21 They asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" And he ^said, "I am not." "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?" 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." 24 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?" 26 John answered them saying, "I baptize in water, [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.
We find the:
1. Critical Questions in vv.19-22
Last time and over the past weeks we were studying the incarnation, presented in verses 14-18. That Jesus Christ is God with us, veiled in human flesh. The Apostle now substantiates the reality of the incarnation, by calling up witnesses. The first witness is John the Baptist, found beginning in verse 19 of chapter 1. Once again we meet up with this familiar figure - John the Baptist. We had already met him in the prologue in verses 6-8, and verse 15. And these 2 brief introductions to the Baptist set up a framework which had clearly portrayed the Baptist as only a witness to Jesus Christ and that the Baptist is not the Messiah to come.
All four Gospels include John the Baptist in their record, which tells us that he is an important figure in relation to the Messiah, and His message. The Baptist points people to the coming Christ who is able to transform people’s lives from darkness into light and true life. His ministry began in the Jordan Valley when he was about 29 or 30 years old. His bold message was simple - that the people that came to him were in need of spiritual repentance and preparation for the coming of the Messiah. The Baptist’s proclamation was a "Call to repentance," preparing and point people to Jesus Christ. John The Baptist confronted people with the message that they, and likewise us today - that we need to take a stand - to make a decision - acceptance or rejection - a response to faith or a response to continued faithlessness in Christ.
By examining John the Baptist’s response to the question ‘Who are you?’, and by examining his attitude and character - we can look at our own life and see if we can follow the Baptist’s example of what a godly servant should be.
Starting in verse 19, the Apostle John simply drops us off - right into the midst of the Baptist’s ministry. The Apostle skips over the details of the Lord’s birth, and the details the Baptist’s birth, and even the details about Jesus’ baptism by John. And he launches the reader in to the heart of the Baptist’s ministry. The Baptist’s ministry drew a lot of attention and was attracting large crowds. Because of this, the local authorities decided to send a team to investigate him. This investigative unit was sent by the - Jews that came from Jerusalem (v.19). The word - Jews - used here and in the Gospels almost always, draw the attention of the reader to the fact that these are opponents. On a collective scale, the - Jews - were opponents to Jesus, and subsequently to the Christian community.
The team of investigators were comprised of priests and Levites. The priests that were present, represented the theological authority. And the Levites were the ones that concerned themselves with the practical functions of the temple. These were the representatives of the religious establishment. John’s ministry didn’t seem to fit into any of the normal patterns of religious organization and practice. Because John had a successful ministry, this aroused the priests and Levites interest and suspicions. So they sought to find out why. The CRITICAL QUESTION they sought an answer to was - Who are You?
The Jewish investigators advance 5 questions in a trial like manner. And as a result John acts like a defendant in the courtroom - after all he was, as we examined earlier in our sermon series "The Witness To The Light." The heart of their 5 questions focused on - Who are You? - they desired to get something out of John. They sought an answer to whether John the Baptist was any one of the end-times figures that the Jews awaited.
CRITCAL QUESTION #1
The priests and Levites ….ask him, "Who are you? (v.19).
They directly and bluntly ask this question of John the Baptist - because they ultimately want to know if he was the coming Christ. Out rightly, John denies this - and answers ‘I am not the Christ’ (v.20). And this was the answer that John gave faithfully as other people had also asked him this question (Lk.3:15-17). The title ‘Christ’ is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew word ‘Messiah’ - which means ‘Anointed One.’ This title pointed to the prophesied deliverer, that the Jews had awaited. They mistakenly expected this coming ‘Christ,’ to bring about political reform, renewal, and freedom to Israel - who were dominated under Roman rule. John denies that he is the Christ.
CRITCAL QUESTION #2
They asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" (v.21)
In the OT record from Malachi 4:5, it states:
5 "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. 6 "He will restore the hearts of the fathers to [their] children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."
This is the very last prophecy, and the very last verses of the OT, which began a period of silence of over 400 years. During this period there was no prophecy or revelation from God. The silence ends with the coming of John the Baptist and his ministry. The Jews believed, based on Malachi, that Elijah would come before the Messiah’s appearing. Since John denied that he was the Christ, the Jews questioned him as to whether he was the one who would precede the Messiah. John denies that he is Elijah.
CRITICAL QUESTION #3
"Are you the Prophet?" they ask him (v.21).
The Jews further pursue John, and try to link him with "the Prophet." The reference to "The Prophet" probably comes from Deut. 18:15, which states:
"The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brother. You
must listen to him." This unnamed prophet was someone like Moses who would function as God’s voice. The Jews believed this Prophet would be the Christ. John denies that he is the Prophet.
All the answers the investigative team asked, came back with NO’s. John said - I am not the Christ; are you Elijah - "I am not;" are you the Prophet - "NO."
Short and blunt were John’s replies - NO - NO - NO. John makes it clear through his answers that he is subordinate to the One that he pointed people to.
CRITCAL QUESTION # 4
And in exasperation - Then they said to him, "Who are you…’ (v.22).
They continued and added - "so that we may give an answer to those who sent us?
CRITICAL QUESTION # 5
What do you say about yourself?"
These people were sent by men to seek and destroy the threat to the religion of their day, and in contrast John was the sent one from God (v.6) - in order to start the ground war against religion - in favour of true life where the Messiah would bring the repentant into a right relationship with God. The Jews were making themselves to be religious bigshots, but John the Baptist made himself to be very little. And this is where we turn the focus upon ourselves.
How often do we find ourselves in a position where we could gain some credit for something we are not. In the work place do we ever take undo credit for the work of others on the project team? Or think about situations where you find yourself in, where you can easily take advantage of someone that you represent. How do you respond in those circumstances. In those times can we be reminded by the truthfulness of John the Baptist? He never claimed anything for himself that was not to found to be true of himself. He never sought glory for himself which was not due to him.
The great evangelist and preacher D.L.Moody recounted this of a friend of his - he said that his friend could tell when a Christian was growing. This is how he could tell that a Christian was growing - In proportion to his growth in grace, a growing Christian, would elevate his Master, talk less of what he himself was doing, and become smaller and smaller in his own estimation, until, like the morning star, he faded away before the rising sun.
John the Baptist was a humble man. He never placed himself above the Lord. Even though he had a big part to play in presenting and pointing people to Jesus Christ - the Baptist never sought to take advantage of that relationship and connection. Are you quick to boost your own image by stating that you know someone famous or someone who is popular? Or saying ‘I know so and so’ who knows ______ - you fill in the blank. I know that I do that sometimes…and that stems from pride - not humility. This is when we need to ask ourselves - ‘Who are You?’
Let us be what we are - and find our being in Christ and not in man. We as believers, seem to get an ego boost from the people we know, and not from the One we know. This is what hinders many of us from pointing people to Christ. We tend to want to associate with people more than with Jesus Christ. Since He is not a popular figure in our world, we do not want to become unpopular amongst our close circle of people.
John’s replies are short and to the point. He never tries to squeeze in some credit for himself, but he focuses on the Lord and His Word. John focuses himself on God’s glory and not on his own.
The Jews now asked specifically for a self identification from John. This leads us to the 2nd area of the investigation:
2. Crucial Answers (vv.23-28)
John the Baptist, through God’s Word, links himself as the forerunner to the Messiah, in verse 23. John quotes and applies Isaiah 40:3 to himself. "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, `Make straight the way of the Lord.'"
John was sent from God to prepare the way for the Messiah. In John’s humility he never referred to being the person that was the key to the coming Messiah - but he refers to himself as ‘the voice.’ In doing so John places the exclusive emphasis and attention on Christ. John was the one to ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’ (v.23). This imagery comes from the days where there were no paved roads. What they had were just tracks that ran across the land and fields. If the path was to be traveled by a king, then the road was to be built or smoothed out for the royalty. The traveled route had to be smooth, so the ride would be comfortable. The route had to be cleared of any debris, and hindrances which would cause unnecessary delay. In some cases the monarchs would have their heralds go before them to make causeways, straighten crooked roads and valleys, and level hills. So it is with John the Baptist - as one commentator states:
"John the Baptist called himself the ‘roadbuilder’ for one greater than he who would follow him with a fuller revelation" (Tenney).
In Vancouver the largest highway is the #1 - Trans Canada. It really is not that large of a highway. Before I was married…when I visited Carmen here in Vancouver I would say that the highways here are really just ‘wide and fast streets.’ By comparison the Trans Canada highway within Toronto, known as the 401, has one of the highest daily rates of vehicle traffic. At the junctions of highways 400 and 401, there are roughly 400,000 vehicles that use that interchange each day. That’s not all - just west of Toronto the 401 is known as North America’s widest highway. There are 18 through lanes - nine in each East/ West direction. Can you imagine that….18 lanes.
John was the one to - Make straight the way of the Lord (v.23). John was a ‘roadbuilder’ - making a straight way for Jesus Christ to be made known. Here lies a challenge for our own lives - are we reluctantly building a pathway for Christ….. or are we building a superhighway for Christ, in making Him known in the lives of others ?
Later on in the Isaiah 40 reference, in verse 5, it states - ‘And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’ The ‘glory’ spoken of came in the person of Jesus Christ - as the Apostle John reflects back to what he just stated in 1:14 of our Gospel - "We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Despite the response the interrogators received, we find from their further questioning that they were not ready for spiritual construction in their lives. The investigative team sent out to question John the Baptist were from the Pharisees (v.24). The Pharisees were representative of the religious leadership of the nation of Israel. As such they were keenly interested in any new religious movements or teachers forming in their land. The Romans were in control politically over the nation. Because of this these Jews in high places would be sensitive to any threats to the religious scene which could lead to trouble with the Romans. In the end it would be the - Pharisees - that in part would play a sinister role in the culmination of Jesus’ crucifixion.
Now the investigative team once again question the Baptist - Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet? Now they were seeking an answer to what John the Baptist was actively doing. It is now revealed that John was performing water baptisms - and up to this point in the Gospel there had been no mention of it. It is evident from this question that the Jews did not take the Baptist’s reply seriously, that he indeed was the ‘the voice’ sent from God, preparing the way. The Jews are now probing into his authority to baptize.
John’s baptism was a call for people to repent. He called people to have a change in their personal being. A change that was in preparation of meeting Jesus Christ. The symbolism of John’s Baptism likely had it’s roots in OT purification rituals (Lev.15:13). Jews accepting John’s baptism were taking a bold step of faith. These Jews were admitting that they had been living like the Gentiles - pagans devoid of any spiritual life. So these Jews who came to John for baptism, were by their very actions - publicly declaring their need to become the true people of God - genuinely, inwardly. This was an amazing admission, because there existed a strong hatred toward the Gentiles by the Jewish people - Gentiles were unclean - they were blasphemers - God haters.
John’s baptism prepared people for the arrival of the Messiah as a call to repentance.
And these baptisms pointed people to someone who was to be revealed, since it was someone that they ‘do not know’ (v.26), but John did know. The knowing, and not knowing theme, regarding the Messiah comes up again, and through out the Gospel and we re-visit it again and again. Because Jesus Christ came into the world - but as we backtrack to verse 10 - ‘the world did not recognize Him’ and in verse 11 - people ‘did not receive Him.’ This was the tragedy we see in the investigative team, that John was absolutely correct in saying that they ‘do not know’ Christ. And we should also note that upon John’s reply, the team questions him no longer. John pointed them also to the Messiah but they, inquired no more.
The One that John the Baptist did know was Jesus Christ, and because of this his perspective was really different from those who - do not know. John did not seek to ask questions in return, and try to get the upper hand upon the interrogation. Instead John, simply submitted himself to the will of God and proclaimed the coming Messiah. John humbled himself as a unworthy slave. This is John’s response - [It is] He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie. John was a model of humility because he felt that he was not even above the status of a slave. Slaves in these times were called upon to do the most menial of tasks. Slaves were called to the task of removing their master’s shoes and to wash his feet. This was the lowest job anyone could have. The Baptist considered himself not even worthy of being a slave to Christ and to perform this task. He could not even count Himself worthy in any manner of untying Jesus’ ‘shoe laces.’ He knew that he was not above the status of a slave as he bowed to the incarnate God. John demonstrated humility.
How humble are we? The following are some statements which make us reflect upon our own level of humility:
When the Other Fellow Acts … Have you noticed:
WHEN the other fellow acts that way, he is ugly; when you do, it’s nerves.
WHEN others are set in their ways, they’re obstinate; when you are, it is firmness.
WHEN your neighbor doesn’t like your friend, he’s prejudiced; when you don’t like his, you are a good judge of human nature.
WHEN he tries to treat someone especially well, he is pretentious, when you try it you are being thoughtful.
WHEN he takes time to do things well, he’s a slowpoke or lazy; when you do, you are deliberate and careful.
WHEN he spends a lot, he is a squanderer; when you do so, you’re generous.
WHEN someone picks out the flaws in things, he’s cranky and critical; when you do, you are creative.
WHEN he is mild-mannered you call him weak; when you are, it is graciousness.
WHEN someone dresses especially well, that person is extravagant; when you do, it is tastefulness.
WHEN he says what he thinks, he’s spiteful; when you do, you are being frank.
WHEN he takes great risks in business, he’s foolish; when you do, you are a wise investor.
In our passage today, John, truly was a humble man. In the rabbinic tradition, a teacher-student relationship was not a paid relationship. So the teacher could ask the student to serve the teacher in any way that he desired - just like a slave - with one exception. The exception was that the teacher could not ask the student to touch his feet in any way. This illustrates the lowliness of this task. This would include taking off his shoes, washing his feet, and anything like that for these tasks were reserved for slaves. And John the Baptist, in his true humility, recognized the significance of Jesus Christ - as he says - [It is] He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie (v.27).
In light of this statement - our minds may be drawn to remembrance of Jesus’ example. Jesus on the night that he was betrayed, just hours being crucified for our sins, did this….
John 13:1-5 - It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. 2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Jesus, the Messiah, God with us in human flesh - in a tangible demonstration of humility and love, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples including the one that would betray Him.
In a moving statement of true humility, John the Baptist, places himself below the place of a servant, and therefore again defines his position. He was only the forerunner, the ‘roadbuilder’ pointing all to Jesus Christ, and not to himself.
As we close this section of Scripture, the Apostle John, gives the geographic location of these events (v.28). The Apostle gives us the historical location of today’s text. All the CRITICAL QUESTIONS and CRUCIAL ANSWERS - as John was asked ‘WHO ARE YOU?’ took place - in Bethany. This location is not to be confused with the town of Bethany that was frequented by Jesus - the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha - and located near Jerusalem - which is on the west side of the Jordan river. But instead the Apostle gives us a clue that this area where John the Baptist was performing his baptisms was - beyond the Jordan.’ Indicating that the town of Bethany he writes about is on the east side of the Jordan river.
Israel’s geography is like this: the entire west side of Israel is bound by the Mediterranean Sea. Because of this geographic perspectives would almost always be from a west - looking toward the - east - perspective. In addition Jerusalem was the central focus of Israel, because the temple was located there. So when the text states that ‘John was Baptizing,’ on the other side of the Jordan, it is understood to mean on the east side of the river. In the course of history, this area known as - Bethany - where John was baptizing, has been lost.
John the Baptist was under interrogation by the Jews from Jerusalem. Their purpose was to investigate the Baptist. They needed to report back to the religious authorities, with the answer to this question - ‘WHO ARE YOU?’ And in reply John the Baptist - plainly, truthfully - states that he is not, who they think he might have been. The bottom line was that, he was not the Messiah. John the Baptist was only the one whom God called to point others to the Messiah, and to call them to prepare for the Savior.
From John we find a humble servant of the Lord. And we can learn from him - as we may ask ourselves - ‘Who are we?’ - in light of the One we as believers - are to point others to? ….
‘WHO ARE YOU?’ in light of Jesus Christ?
______________________________
The Venom Of Spiritual Hypocrisy
By Noah Ressler
John had already called them a "brood of vipers" in Mt. 3:7-10. He has aroused suspicion among the Sanhedrin because of his boldness and presumptuous statements that would call their spirituality into question. You have to understand that religious people have presuppositions upon which they base their religious standing and it is always a system of self righteousness based upon human effort and standards. Additionally, John has trampled upon their reasoning that because they were children of Abraham, they were okay with God. He tells them "from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham" (Mt. 3:9). But note the strong language John the Baptist uses to their face to describe them. "You brood of vipers…" John was aware of the Pharisee’s and Saducee’s insincerity and lack of repentance. They intended to carry their hypocrisy even to the extent of submitting to John’s baptism, out of whatever corrupt motives they may have had. Brood may also be translated "offspring" signifying descendents or children. Jesus Himself used the same epithet (brood of vipers) to describe Pharisees on several occasions (Mt. 12:34; 23:33).
Vipers were small but very poisonous desert snakes, which would have been quite familiar to John the Baptist. They were even more dangerous by the fact that they looked like a dead branch when still and were often picked up unintentionally. This is what happened to Paul while shipwrecked on the isle of Malta. He picked up what he thought was a stick and the natives reaction was one of alarm knowing how deadly the viper was, though Paul miraculously suffered no harm (Acts 28:3-5). Calling the Pharisees and Sadducees a brood of vipers pointed up the danger of their religious hypocrisy – as well as the fact that their wicked work had been passed on to them by the original serpent (Gen. 3:1-13) through their spiritual forefathers, of who they were the brood, or offspring. Like the desert viper, they often appeared harmless, but their brand of godliness (cf. II Tim. 3:5) was venomous and deadly. In His series of woes against the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus said, "You shut off the kingdom of heaven from men; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in" (Mt. 23:13). They were responsible for keeping countless Jews out of the kingdom, and therefore from salvation and eternal life.
In Matthew 23:33 Jesus calls the scribes and Pharisees "serpents" as well as a "brood of vipers," suggesting even more directly that their spiritual father was Satan – as He specifically charges in John 8:44 (cf. Rev. 12:9; 20:2). These religious hypocrites were Satan’s children doing Satan’s deceitful work.
A brush fire or a farmer’s burning the stalks in his field after harvest would cause vipers and other creatures to flee before the flames in order to escape. It was a common sight in many of the Mediterranean and Arab regions, and one that John the Baptist doubtlessly had seen many times. The implication is that the Pharisees and Sadducees were expecting John’s baptism to be a kind of fire insurance, giving protection from the flames of the wrath to come. True repentance and conversion do protect from God’s wrath and judgment, but superficial and insincere professions or acts of faith tend only to harden a person against genuine belief, giving a false sense of security. John would not be party to such hypocrisy and sham. It was the deceitfulness of their true master, Satan, and not genuine fear of God’s judgment that led them out to hear John and to seek his baptism as a pretentious formality.
So the setting for John 1:19 is not an innocent query of John by the priests and Levites. The stir among the Pharisees and Sadducees must have been something behind closed doors. John’s stinging rebukes startled them as no one had ever stood against them before. They were most likely searching the Scriptures to see who it was that John could be. But they had not the spiritual perception to understand that John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ heralding His coming. He was a voice in the wilderness calling all to repent so that the way for Christ would be prepared.
The clear and passionate prophet John the Baptist had, not of his own doing but of consequence of his calling and ministry, attracted the attention of the religious hierarchy of his day. His messages had aroused their suspicion of him because he so boldly rebuked them. He was baptizing Jews and that was unheard of for a Jew – a pagan converting to Judaism, yes! But, a Jew? Organized religion wields power and a threat to it must be met with.
Closer to our own day we have all heard of Martin Luther as he opposed the organized religion of his day – Roman Catholicism and the ensuing battles that took place to try and silence him. The more they tried, the more his writings and messages spread. Under persecution he committed himself to God who was able to deliver him, and He did. Like John the Baptist, Martin Luther did not compromise the Word of God.
In our cultural climate today, it is almost as if it is a popular thing to be untraditional and come up with something new, but the age old message of sin, repentance, and calling out for mercy from God is considered offensive to our generation by the so called preachers in many churches. We must get back to the old landmarks of "prepare the way of the Lord!"
John was a man with a message from God. He humbly completed his calling and purpose for which he was created. He magnified Christ. Additionally, he did not compromise the unpopular message of sin and repentance before the religious crowd. In order to prepare the way for the Lord in a person’s heart, we must preach the Gospel message of sin, judgment, repentance, and faith in the finished work of Christ.
Where are you at in life? Have you ever repented of your sins? Do you see your sin as horrible and despicable? You are being called right this very minute to repent and turn to Christ. Prepare your heart (mind) to receive Christ by repenting of your sin. Do so now as you know not when you will face God as a repentant believer in Christ or a rebellious rejecter of God’s goodness to you and end up cast in the Lake of Fire forever.
O Christian, turn your eyes upon Jesus, look fully in the face of His Word. Turn from the sin that so easily besets you and makes your way miserable and unprofitable. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin (Heb. 12:2-4).
(For a full explanation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - click here - http://www.doihaveeternallife.blogspot.com/)
.
.
.
