Here's A Man Who Needs No Introduction Series

We celebrate celebrities. Whether it is rock stars, actors, or actresses, or athletes. Our culture loves celebrities. They are celebrated because of their unique talents and skills.

The Gospel of John introduces us to the celebrity of the universe – Jesus Christ. Because there is nobody but nobody in His class.

Today’s Scripture

“And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.’ And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the Prophet?’ And he answered, ‘No.’ So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ He said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.’

(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, ‘Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?’ John answered them, ‘I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.’ These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John bore witness: ‘I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God (John 1:29-34).

Imagine being given the opportunity to introduce George Straight, the Country Music Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement winner. Straight’s career began back in 1981, and the legend from Poteet, TX, is a country music legend. Early hits like Ocean Front Property only continue to recent times. How would you introduce someone who is so successful? It would be a daunting task.

Now, imagine if you were given the opportunity to introduce the great being of all time. One who will be celebrated for all of eternity. How would you go about it? What would you highlight first? John, the Baptist had this very assignment.

1. How Should We Think of John the Baptist?

“And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said’” (John 1:19, 23).

John’s role was to introduce Jesus, history, and eternity’s greatest figure. It won’t be easy. The Gospel of John treats who John the Baptist is as a side issue to the central question of who Jesus truly is. Still, it would benefit us to know a little more about John the Baptist.

1.1 Who Was John the Baptist?

The Bible says John’s clothing and his diet were strange: “Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey: (Matthew 3:6).

The Gospel of John doesn’t comment on his clothing or his food. Instead, the Gospel of John simply says John the Baptist is a witness: “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light but came to bear witness about the light” (John 1:6-8).

Every single word of this is true – John was a man sent from God. John was a witness.

Now, John the Baptist was a really popular preacher. Just how popular was he? Even today, there is a small group of people in parts of Iraq and Iran who claim to be his spiritual descendants. Even today, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Catholic Church, and Islamic faith all have yearly events to commemorate John. Not only was he extremely popular both then and now, but John was NOT educated by an approved and recognized rabbi.

This is important: John is a religious outsider. He was NOT accredited by any approved religious institutions. Here was a religious outsider who was being confronted by religious insiders. Now, people were coming to hear him out in the wilderness. When you arrived, you’d hear him talking about the Messiah was coming.