Sermon Notes - John 1:19-28 - Littleby Baptist Church - September 4, 2022

 1.     John has talked a lot about who Jesus is.

a.      Jesus existed before the beginning of time.

b.     He is fully God and fully Human.

c.      He is the giver of life and the Light that breaks through the darkness.

d.     We have also seen how John the Baptist was called by God to point people to Jesus.

e.      People who did not hear the message or see how God revealed His nature through the gift of Jesus because of their sin.

f.      Hopefully as we live differently than the world around us, people will listen to how God has changed our lives.

g.     Hopefully people will see Jesus in us.

2.     As we move past the prologue, one thing to note about the Gospel of John is that it is not necessarily in chronological order.

a.      It is a book of signs, a recording of seven of Jesus’ miracles that point to Him being the Messiah.

b.     There is more in the book than just those 7 miracles, but the main point of John’s writing is to emphasize that Jesus is the Word, He is God.

3.     John 1:19

a.      John the Baptist, a man who ate locusts and wild honey and wore a camel-hair garment had become so popular the leaders of the day wanted to know what was going on.

b.     They were wondering who was this John? Who did he claim to be? Where did his authority come from?

4.     John 1:20-21

a.      They saw that John was important somehow, but did not understand how he fit into all of this, or if he was one of those who had been prophesied about.

b.     Who are you? He was not the messiah.

c.      Are you Elijah?

                                                    i.     Malachai 4:5-6, last book of the OT.

                                                  ii.     They thought Elijah was going to return before Jesus the Warrior King comes.

                                                iii.     I would say they were right, but they did not realize that the Lamb of God had to come first.

                                                iv.     Elijah is likely one of the prophets, one of the Two Witnesses, that proclaim the coming of Jesus during the end of days.

                                                  v.     This was not that time, so John could not be Elijah.

d.     Are you the Prophet?

                                                    i.     This is coming from Deuteronomy 18:15 but is a misunderstanding of this verse.

                                                  ii.     The Prophet in Deuteronomy is Jesus who will speak God’s words and deliver His people.

                                                iii.     John has already said that he is not the Messiah, so he is not The Prophet.

e.      John was clear, he is not the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet.

5.     John 1:22

a.      You have a following, people are repenting of sin, they are coming out to nowhere to see you… you have to be somebody… Who are you?

6.     John 1:23

a.      John is quoting the prophet Isaiah, Isaiah 40:3.

b.     John the Baptist is the voice crying out, he is God’s messanger.

c.      He is calling the people to repent and be prepared for the coming of the Lord.

d.     Make straight the way or highway of the Lord, would be like laying out the red carpet for someone.

e.      John was calling everyone who would listen to prepare their hearts.

f.      Challenging people to get right with God as the Messiah was coming, to lay out the red carpet for Jesus.

7.     John 1:24

a.      The Pharisees, the most influential people and the spiritual elite of that day wanted answers.

b.     John had not given an answer that was believed or thought to be complete.

c.      So, they dug a bit deeper.

8.     John 1:25

a.      Since you are not the Messiah…

b.     Since you are not the return of Elijah…

c.      Since you are not the Prophet, also the Messiah…

d.     Since you are not important…

e.      Since you are a bit odd…

f.      Since you are hanging out in the desert…

g.     Why are you baptizing people?

h.     What authority do you have?

9.     If this was today the questions might be a bit different…

a.      Since you are not the most educated person…

b.     Since you are not the most polished individual…

c.      Since you are not rich…

d.     Since you don’t drive a nice car…

e.      Since you are not wearing an Armani suit…

f.      Since you are not a published author with a bestselling book…

g.     Since you are not part of a large successful church…

h.     Since you obviously have your own problems…

i.       Why are you telling me about Jesus?

j.       Why should anything you say matter?

10.  When people are looking through the eyes of the world, no one will measure up.

a.      There will always be someone who is smarter, richer, or wears nicer clothes.

b.     God created John the Baptist for a reason.

11.  God does not look at us through the world’s eyes.

a.      Luke 1:11-17

b.     15 – Great in the sight of the Lord.

                                                    i.     Does not matter what others think, only what God knows.

c.      16-17 – God can use people that the world would not.

12.  1 Corinthians 1:26-31

a.      John the Baptist is an example of God using someone the world did not think could amount to much.

b.     Paul is telling us that God can use the foolish, the weak, and those the world does not value.  

c.      Many of us can probably relate to being foolish, weak, or a nobody.

13.  Not saying we are perfect today, but there was a time that all we did was make foolish decisions according to God’s wisdom.

a.      Thankfully as we draw closer to our God, His wisdom grows in us.

14.  There are many who struggle with physical pain, speech issue like Moses, insecurity… They would be seen as weak, to the world.

a.      But our God still uses us.

15.  There are a lot of people who are viewed as insignificant in this world… those who have spent time in prison, those who have struggled with addiction, single mothers, orphans… God has used people from every group of individuals to touch the lives of others.

16.  Regardless of who we are, we will face people who think we are not worth listening to.

17.  That is what the Pharisees thought about John the Baptist.

18.  But God KNEW better!

19.  John 1:26-27

a.      Yep, I baptize with water… it might be odd or out of place, but there is something more important that you need to hear.

b.     LISTEN…The Messiah is coming.

c.      We don’t know who He is yet, but He is here.

d.     John was telling them to be alert, pay attention, so that they would not miss the Messiah.

e.      The one coming is so great that John was not worthy to do one of the filthiest jobs around given to the lowest of servants, of simply untying Jesus sandals.

f.      John understood that his sin made him unworthy to take the dirt and poop covered sandals off of Jesus’ feet.

g.     But God still used Him.

h.     Matthew 3:13-17

i.       God used John to prepare the way for our Lord.

j.       God used John to make Jesus known.

20.  John 1:28

a.      This is not the Bethany that we read about elsewhere in Scripture.

b.     It is a location that is unknown to us today.

21.  Think of the message here…

a.      God used a man who was thought to be insignificant in a location that cannot be identified today, to testify about Jesus… to point people to the coming Messiah.

b.     God used a nobody to carry out His will!

22.  God can, will, and is using us in the same way.

23.  Does not matter how the world sees or thinks about us.

24.  What matters is what God knows about us.  

25.  Galatians 3:26 – we are children of God.

26.  1 Peter 2:9 – we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood.

27.  The world says we are putting our faith in an old, antiquated religion that is full of hypocrites, narrow minded people, and that we are weak.

28.  Instead of listening to those who think we are weak and that our faith is a crutch.

29.  We need to Trust in our God and what He KNOWS!

30.  Trust that when He says we are Loved, it is true.

31.  Trust that He says we are grafted into the family of God, that we are part of the best family ever.

32.  Trust that we have been set apart to be used by our God.

33.  You are:

a.      A loved family member.

b.     One whose sin has been forgiven, wiped away.

c.      One who has been equipped by God to be His messenger in the world today.

34.  Don’t listen to what the world might say about you.

35.  Listen to God when He tells you what you are!