Much can be learned from the ministry of John the Baptist and his proclaiming to the world who Jesus Christ was. Join Dr. Marty Baker as he takes us through John chapter 1, points us to the ministry of John the Baptist, and shares with us principles from his ministry that help us to make Jesus known to others.
Scripture gives us many apt descriptions of the person who doesn’t know Christ as Savior. Saint Jude’s is representative of countless verses we could look at in this vein:
Jude’s viewpoint: Non-Christians are like …
13 “…wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.”
Just like waves appear to be wildly out of control as they crash against the beach, the non-Christians are known for their wild ways and their proclivity for living contrary to God’s laws. Seen any “wildness” lately? Consider one of Kid Rock old albums:
Kid Rock has an album titled “The History of Rock.” One song called “Ya Keep On” actually claims, “I’m like Moses with the mic as my staff, layin’ down them Ten Commandments, thou shalt not dis this Rock.” And just what kind of rock is the singer talking about? In his song “3 Sheets To The Wind” he rails against the police. Eight tracks from the record glamorize substance abuse with specific vices ranging from LSD and marijuana to malt liquor and cocaine. And he thinks he’s on par with Moses? What’s up with Kid Rock? They’re just like a wild wave.
I could go on, but I’m sure you get the point. A man without Christ in his life is like a wild wave that only deposits the shame of his sinful actions upon the shore of life. How should the Christian, who has been delivered from this wildness by the power of faith in the cross of Christ, best seek to reach those still caught in the powerful current? Learn from the life of John the Baptist, who was highly successful in rescuing folks from the perpetual cycle of sin and shame. Just what did he do? We will focus on that today.
How Should You Attempt To Rescue The Non-Christian From The Current of Chaos (John 1:19-34).
First, let us read the context, then we will be in a better position to extract much-needed concepts from it.
19 And this is the witness 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, and he confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 They said then 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 And 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. 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! 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.’ 31 “And I did not recognize Him, but in order that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32 And John bore witness saying, “I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 “And 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.’ 34 “And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1)
A cursory reading demonstrates John had a three-fold approach in his quest to save one from the endless chaotic crash of the waves of sin.
Entertain Their Questions (John 1:19-25)
People are, by nature, inquisitive. They’ll want to know answers to questions like, “Why don’t women’s blouses come in sleeve lengths, like men’s shirts?” “Why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways?” “Why are 7-11 stores, which are open 24 hours a day, have locks on their doors?” “Why does water drain out of a bathtub in a counterclockwise direction north of the equator and clockwise south of the equator?” Yes. People like to ask questions. Understand this, and realize it logically drifts into matters of religion.
From verse 19 we learn that the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem, probably the Sanhedrin, sent a priestly delegation to find out just who this John the Baptist thought he was.
In attempting to clear the air where John was concerned, you’ll observe they asked him six questions:
- Who are you (v. 19)?
- Are you Elijah (v. 21)?
- Are you the Prophet (v. 21)?
- Who are you (v. 22)?
- What do you say about yourself (v. 22)?
- Why are you baptizing (v. 25).
The fact they asked him six questions is, in my opinion, a veiled statement about their opposition to his message. How so? Six, biblically, is the number of man and the number of the ultimate anti-god man, the Anti-Christ? The answer is “Yes.” The number six tells you they had no intention of knowing truth. They were men in the sense that man is arrayed against everything God stands for. The mere first usage of the phrase “the Jews” in verse 19 underscores this point because this term will come to denote the Israelite nation opposed to Christ and Christ’s messengers. Regarding their questions, permit me to make these brief comments.
Question #1: Who are you (v. 19)? These men knew John was from the priestly tribe of Levi, as was his father, Zacharias. What they really wanted to know, in light of the huge crowds who he was attracting, was who gave him authority to preach and baptize like he did. Who did he think he was since he obviously wasn’t under their authority? Place heavy emphasis here upon the word “you” and you’ll get a flavor of their animosity toward John. Their reaction is the same reaction you get today from people when you make a stand for Christianity: Who do you think you are believing Christ is the only way to heaven?
Question #2. Are you Elijah (v. 21)? Based on Malachi’s prophecy (Mal. 4:5), Elijah was supposed to come back to earth prior to the Messiah’s appearance. Because John dressed like Elijah (camel hair and leather girdle, Mark 1:6; 2 Kings 1:8), they needed to clear the air for themselves. Again, the emphasis here is upon the word “You.” “Are you Elijah? Give us a break. We know your father. He was a priest in the temple.”
Question #3. Are you the prophet (v. 21)? Moses prophesied in Deuteronomy 18:15-19 that at the end of the age, the prophet of all prophets would come to earth. Indeed, this man would be the second Moses. Did John actually think he was that prophet? Again, I believe there is an undercurrent of sarcasm in their questions.
Questions #4 and #5. Who are you (v. 22)? What do you say about yourself (v. 22)?
Here they really repeat what they’ve asked before out of utter frustration.
Question #6. Why are you baptizing (v. 25). This one tips their hand. They were really opposed to John’s baptism. This is what ate away at their theological thinking and training. Jews baptized Gentile converts to Judaism by dunking them under the water, but they didn’t do this to Jews. To baptize a Jew was, in the strict theological system of the Pharisees, a heretical, abominable action because Jews already were part of God’s family and nation. “How dare John to baptize a Jew. Who did he think he was?” This was what they were really saying. They were questioning his actions and authority, and to think it took six questions before we really got a good look at the motives behind their religious questions.
Why was John baptizing Jews? Because he knew they needed salvation, just like the Gentiles. Their heredity wasn’t going to save them from their sinful wild, wayward ways. Only a faith relationship with God would do that.
From these questions posed to John, we learn an important lesson. Be prepared to handle the questions the world will pose to you. Some of them may honestly be searching for spiritual answers, while others might hate you for your belief in Christ. Answer anyway. John did. He didn’t let the questions undo him. He expected them. You and I should do the same.
Let me put it to you this way. If non-Christians aren’t asking you spiritual questions, then you need to do a little soul-searching, wouldn’t you agree? Look at the lives of godly saints in the Scriptures, whether it is John the Baptist or Paul, and one thread is always present: The godless world was moved to ask questions of those who didn’t follow their flow. They will want to know if you are accepting of Islam, whether you believe in Near Death Experiences, what you think about UFOs, what you think about sexual misconduct in the Catholic church, whether God exists or not, if we are living in the End Times, what is the relationship between faith and science, and so on down the line. Bear in mind the questions may be logical or illogical, loaded or unloaded, nice or nasty but they will come if you rub shoulders with non-Christians. You should always be ready to speak up for Christ.
Understand also there is a time when you don’t have to field questions. Of all the questions John received that day, he didn’t answer the sixth one. He left them to chew on that one. It wasn’t worth his time, so he moved right past it, and in this, he shows us that if and when you’re talking to a person bent solely on discrediting you and your Lord, it is enough to remain silent, or at least change the subject. But for the most part, answer! Speak up! Speak out!
Express Your Role (John 1:23)
When they pushed John to reveal who he thought he was, he simply and pointedly said:
“I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘make straight the way of the Lord.”
Quoting here from Isaiah 40:3, John says in a Marty paraphrase, “Say, look, men. All I am is the mouthpiece of God to you. All I am doing is telling you what He tells me. All I am doing is clearing the road of debris so He can come and present Himself to you. I am only a messenger boy, an ambassador, nothing more, nothing less.”
Eastern roads were nothing like our roads. They were just well-worn ruts in the hard, rock-strewn dirt. When a king or dignitary was going to visit a certain area at this day and time, people would go out and smooth out the roads, removing anything that might make His visit difficult, unpleasant, or impossible. In lieu of this, John is saying, “Hey, I’m just doing what you do when a king comes to visit. You clear the road. I happen to be clearing away false theology and false thinking so He can arrive.”
Is this not who we should be to the wild waves that come our way? Are we not just voices seeking to clear away the obstacles in their lives so the King can come to them? Are we not voices seeking to get them to straighten out their lives so Jesus can be their Savior? The answer is “yes” on all counts.
- To the person living in sexual sin, you are a voice.
- To the person who has bought into a vacuous philosophy, you are a voice.
- To the person who thinks the roles of men and women are inter-changeable, you are a voice.
- To the person who thinks our tolerance of intolerant people will lead to greater tolerance, you are a voice.
- To the person who actually believes man is intrinsically good and can, therefore, be reasoned with to live reasonably, you are a voice.
- To the person who thinks freedom of speech means total speech freedom to say anything you want, you are a voice.
- To the person who thinks euthanasia is a viable option at the end of your life, you are a voice.
- To the person who wants you to believe that Christianity and Islam can live peaceably side by side, you are a voice.
Each one of us is known to be many things, from fathers to brothers, from workers to golfers; however, in the final analysis, if we are Christians, like John, then we are nothing more than the voices of God to a wicked, decadent, dying culture. We are just as much God’s voice to our day as John was to His. Do you realize this? Should you choose to be the voice, your life, like John’s, will become a major catalyst for change wherever God places you.
You’ve got to ask, “Why was John out in the wilderness?” “Why did he call God’s chosen, yet wayward, people to head out into the middle of nowhere and repent and be baptized?” Because the wilderness was an apt description of the nation’s spiritual condition. They were dry, barren, lifeless, and in need of God. Once they got out in the wilderness it was, then, John’s voice they heard leading them to life and light. Tell me today, will you be the voice to this generation of questioners? They, too, live in a desert, but you can give them the garden. Do what you’re designed to do.
Ever used a compass? It doesn’t matter which direction you turn it, it is always going to point to magnetic north. Always. Nothing will keep it from doing what it’s designed to do. It never gets off course. It never gets led astray. It never forgets what it’s supposed to do. It never is too busy to do its job. All it ever does is point to the north.
Is this not an apt description of each of us as Christian’s? We, likewise, must be known as those who are only ever a voice for God when the opportunity presents itself. This is who we are, this is what we do, and when this happens the wild waves meet with great personal change.
Exude Humility (John 1:23, 27, 30)
John was the greatest man who ever lived, outside of Christ, of course, because his life dripped with humility. You see it in verse 23 when he said,
“I am a voice …”
He could have said, “I am a mighty prophet of God worth listening to,” or “I am John the Baptist, the wild-eyed, booming prophet that thousands are coming to listen to.” Yes, he could have said these things but he didn’t. He didn’t want anything about his life to detract from the view of Jesus.
In verse 27 you bump into his utter humility again when he says of Jesus,
“It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
And, you see it repeated once more in verse 30:
“This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has higher rank than I, for He existed before me.”
What humility!
Verse 27 is most instructive. Talk about a menial, degrading job. Only slaves untied the shoes of very important people. John says, in effect, “I’m lower than the lowest slave, thereby making me unable to even think of touching the leather strap of the Messiah’s sandal. What humility from a man who could have been quite self-consumed with his own fame. Lesser men would have seized the opportunity to touch the sandals of Christ so they could use it as a point of prestige later. “Why, this very hand here had the privilege on one occasion of actually touching the sandals of God’s Son. Would you like to shake this hand?” A humble man, on the contrary, realized that godly life is a fight not for the top but the bottom, that the background is better than the foreground, and that dim light is better than the limelight.
Had John lived our day with our emphasis upon self-aggrandizement and self-intoxication, he would have been tempted to parlay his spiritual position and personal relationship to great advantage.
- “Think of the money I can make on E-Bay selling my sandals and camel hair coat. Stuff like this will rake in the money.”
- “I think I will have a satellite broadcast in all the synagogues of Israel where I can share my secrets of the ascetic life. Since I was so successful, I know everyone will want to copy what I’ve done. ”
- “I’ll get a publisher to get my latest biography, “I Baptized the Messiah,” into print and on the top ten best sellers in Jerusalem.”
- “I’ll make a book of my special wilderness recipes designed to get you closer to God. Surely people will love chapter one, “Cooking With Crickets,” or how about chapter 2, “Basting With Beetles.”
Is this not the way we are in the West? Just let a Christian find the right church growth concept or come across helpful marriage-builder concepts, and “wallah,” you have a market born to push your spiritual goods while bringing a great deal of notoriety to your once-unknown name.
A young American student visiting the Beethoven Museum in Bonn was fascinated by the piano on which Beethoven had composed some of his greatest works. She asked the museum guard if she could play a few bars on it, and the man agreed. The girl sat down at the piano and tinkled out the opening of the Moonlight Sonata.
As she was leaving, she said to the guard, “I suppose all the great pianists who come here want to play on that piano.” The guard shook his head: “Well, Paderewski was here a few years ago and he said he wasn’t worthy to touch it.”
Isn’t the young woman a picture of most people? She thought highly of herself, didn’t she? Isn’t Paderewski, the famous pianist in his own right, a perfect snapshot of John the Baptist.? Let me be frank with you today, Christian, humility is what makes the witness.
John was made of finer stuff. He was a humble man who didn’t want anything in his life to detract from a clear view of Jesus. Perhaps you haven’t been more effective in your Christian walk simply because the non-Christians around you can’t see Jesus because you’re too busy directing them to look at you, at your faith, at your church, at your last Bible study, at your model family, and your, … well, you fill in the blank.
Humility is the key that opens the door to successful witnessing.
Educate Your Listeners (John 1:29)
John left no doubt in anyone’s mind about who he thought Jesus was:
“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
The whole gospel story is wrapped up in this one profound, penetrating statement.
From the very beginning, God showed His people, Israel, that the sacrificial lamb would be the means by which they would find forgiveness of sins before Him. A lamb was provided to take the place of Isaac when God called for Abraham to sacrifice His only Son (Gen. 22:8). A lamb was used for Passover to deliver Israel from Egypt (Ex. 11-12). A lamb was sacrificed every morning and every evening at the temple in Jerusalem (Ex. 29:38-42). A lamb was sacrificed at the beginning of a new month (Num. 28:11), each day of the Passover week (Num. 28:16-19), at the Feast of Pentecost (Num. 28:26), at the Feast of Trumpets (Num. 29:1-2), on the Great Day of Atonement (Num. 29:7-8), and on the Feast of Tabernacles (Num. 29:12-16).
Lambs were also sacrificed by worshipers in the temple who sought forgiveness of their sins in light of God’s command in Leviticus 1. Isaiah went so far as to prophesy that one day, the ultimate lamb, the Son of God, would be sacrificed for the sins of the nation (Isa. 53). So we can safely say that the Jews had ample information about the plan and purpose of the sacrificial lamb. They knew not only that forgiveness was secured through shed blood, but that THE Lamb was coming to do what no earthly lambs could do, that being a final, definitive sacrifice for all time.
John’s statement, therefore, to the Jews in verse 29 of John 1 is most appropriate. He identified Jesus for who He was to a people who should have been expecting Him. He told them that it was Jesus who would be the sacrifice the Father had spoken about. It would be this Jesus who would be able to forgive them for their sins, and NONE OTHER! Note that John made it clear that Jesus was THE Lamb, not a lamb, underscoring there is no other sacrifice for sins outside of Him. Further, he clearly said that the removal of sin only comes through Him and NO OTHER!
Christian, in a world full of religious, philosophical, scientific, metaphysical confusion, you must enlighten them, without equivocation, regarding the person and work of Jesus Christ. You must tell them He is the Lamb, the Sacrifice for sins, and that there is salvation and redemption in no other. You must tell them that it is His shed blood, and His alone, which is capable of washing away the dark stain of sin upon their life (1 Pet. 1:18). You must not just sing the hymn “There Is A Fountain,” you must believe it enough to share it outside the walls of this building.
‘There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins, and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains; Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains, And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.”
Will you, like John, give these radical words to your world? Back in the 1600s, Francesco de Zurbarin painted a picture you just can’t keep your eyes off of. It’s titled Agnus Dei or Bound Lamb, and it shows a helpless, innocent, trusting little lamb with its feet bound together, resting on a cross.
What is the picture about? It’s one man’s artistic expression of what John said in John 1:29. Truly, we cannot help but look at the picture and say with John, “Behold the Lamb!” Behold Him, indeed, for He laid His holy life down so wild waves like us can find forgiveness and hope. Will you be faithful to point people to this Lamb? Will you cause them, through your words and witness, to consider why Christ had to be a lamb? Will you educate them so they can be enlightened for all eternity?
One day back in the late 1800s a young Jewish boy named Solomon Ginsburg flipped open his Old Testament to Isaiah 53, the classic chapter about the Messiah coming as the Lamb of God. Wondering who this person Isaiah was speaking about, young Solomon went in to inquire of his famous Rabbi father. Without saying a word, his father snatched the book from his little hand and slapped him across the face. That was the last time Solomon ever asked his father anything about that chapter.
Years later while Solomon was traveling down a street in London, he ran into a Jewish friend who said, “I am going to speak on the 53rd chapter of Isaiah tonight. Won’t you come?” As he listened, his soul grew troubled because, for the first time in his life, he realized that Jesus Christ fulfilled everything Isaiah foretold of the coming Messiah. He left that meeting and purchased his own Bible, and for the next couple of months, a spiritual battle raged within him. What would his father think if he embraced Christ? What about his mother?
At last, he heard a Rev. John Wilkinson preach a moving sermon on the text, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.” That night, when he got home, he paced the floor for several hours, wondering what he was going to do. Around midnight the struggle for the soul of Solomon Ginsburg was over. There, in the privacy of his humble home, the young Jewish rabbi’s son met The Rabbi. No, better yet, He met the Lamb of God and His life was never the same.
His family later abandoned him, and friends beat and nearly killed him for professing faith in Jesus, but, as he said, “I knew I was forgiven and accepted. I felt my load was lifted. I knew that my sins were washed away by the precious blood of Jesus.”
How was it that Solomon became a Christian? One Jewish Christian entertained his questions, expressed his role, exuded humility, and educated his friend concerning who Jesus was. Go and be that to others this week.
To those of you sitting here today who feel the load of your sin like Solomon Ginsburg did, to those who can identify with Solomon who couldn’t get away from the fact he knew that Jesus had suffered for his sin, I ask you: Would not this day be a good day to do what Solomon did?
