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.
1.2 Who Are You?
Again, this official delegation shows up demanding to know who he is. John the Baptist or the Baptizer is featured in all four gospels, and he plays a prominent role in Jesus’ early ministry. Interestingly, unlike the other three gospels, John’s Gospel never calls John, “the Baptizer.” He is a lonely figure and will do most of his preaching in the desert area between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. Luke’s Gospel tells us that his father was a priest who couldn’t speak for a while as God taught him a lesson in faith.
1.2.1 Two Features of John’s Ministry
“And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you? 23 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).
He’s “in your face” kind of preacher. He’s the anti-Joel Osteen. Every time he opens his mouth, he’s preaching repentance. He says things like, “Make straight the way of the Lord.” He expected your religion to make a radical change in your life. He was so “in your face” with his preaching that he is eventually beheaded by a regional ruler named Herod Antipas, who he calls out for sleeping with his brother’s wife. Yes, I said beheaded, and his head was even presented to Herod the Tetrarch on a platter (Matthew 14:1-12). Secondly, his ministry featured baptism in a way that has few antecedents. Baptism is such a big deal that John gets the nickname, “John the Baptizer.”
1.2.2 The Jews
“And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you? 23 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).
To understand John’s Gospel, we need to understand a group that the Gospel of John will simply call, “the Jews.” Matthew, Mark, and Luke will use the phrase “the Jews” a total of fifteen times. John’s Gospel uses the “the Jews” 70 times!1
We should fight against anti-Semitism in all forms. We should point people of every race to the love and mercy found in Jesus Christ. John knows that Jesus is Jewish, and some Jews are believers in John’s gospel. Our study of John’s gospel will allow us to witness the hatred and opposition of the group he simply calls “The Jews.” John, a Jew, tells us about a group he calls “The Jews,” who will oppose Christianity at nearly every turn.
1.2.3 Priests and Levites
You have this official delegation. When the Gospel of John mentions, “the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem,” you should know that both the priests and the Levites belonged to the lower ranks of the clergy.2 There would have been “a profound social and educational gulf separated these two groups from the priestly aristocracy.”3
The Levites would have been the police force or the security at the Temple doors while most priests were the musicians and forbidden to participate in the offering of the sacrifices.
This is an official visit. This group of low-ranking priests goes out in a trail-like fashion to interrogate John the Baptist. Imagine a grade school teacher in her classroom while the school principal is sitting in the class to monitor her. Better yet, imagine being pulled over by a police officer in a Communist country, and they search your vehicle. The religious establishment that would grow to oppose Jesus at every turn sent out a low-ranking delegation to get some intel on John the Baptizer. Again, John is a religious outsider being confronted by religious insiders. In baseball terms, this is a fastball inside to make sure the batter is off the plate.
1.3 Are You Elijah?
“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.’” (John 1:20-21).
You could really picture all this in a modern courtroom setting. They came right out and asked him a set of questions. “Are you the Messiah?” “No, I am not the Messiah.” “Well then, are you Elijah?” “No, I am not Elijah.” “Well, are you the prophet?”
Remember, there was a lot of Messiah talk going around at this time. I imagine they suspected John to claim to be the Messiah, as so many others had done before him and were to do after him.
In popular opinion, the Messiah was conceived as a Jewish leader who would rally the Jews against Rome's tyrannical rule. There was also a prediction that someone would come who was the Elijah figure. In Malachi 4:5, it is said that Elijah would be the precursor of Messiah. So, the official delegation goes down the list of questions, if you will. There is a progression to their questions, and all the figures mentioned have to do with the coming of the Messiah. John doesn’t think of himself as Elijah. Still, Jesus will later call him the forerunner.
1.4 Unworthy to Handle His Sandals
No doubt they are exasperated by this point with all of his denials. After John’s denials, the Pharisees take up the questioning in verse 24. We’ll see a lot from the Pharisees in the Gospel of John in the coming days. This is the first time their name appears in John’s gospel, and they will wear the black hats in our story. They say, in effect, “You’ve told us who you’re not. We need to report on who you are. Who are you? Who authorized you to perform baptisms?”
“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’” (John 1:26-27).
John the Baptist says, “The Messiah is standing among you, and I’m not even worthy to untie his sandals.” In that dusty, hot culture, everybody wore sandals all day. At night, when you took the sandals off, it was really foul. It was considered unbelievably degrading to have to take somebody else’s sandals off. Taking your own off was probably bad enough, but after all, that’s you. To take somebody else’s off was considered absolutely degrading. If you had servants, one of the rules was you could never make a Jewish servant take your sandals off. That would be too degrading to make a fellow countryman do. Rabbis were not allowed to ask their disciples to do this. It was beneath them.4 John says, “I am unworthy to even take off His sandals.”
1.5 Be a Witness
John was a witness like no other. Every single believer is called to be a witness to Jesus. We are to witness not so that we will be remembered but so that Jesus will not be forgotten. John the Baptist is a witness, an incredible witness to Jesus, the Messiah.
1. How Should We Think of John the Baptist?
2. Why is Jesus Called the Lamb of God?
“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
Remember, John’s gospel was written in order that you would believe in Jesus Christ. That you would trust in Jesus.
2.1 The Next Day
John writes “The next day” in verse 29. By doing this, John takes you into a week in the life of Jesus. On the first day, John the Baptist tells the delegation that he isn’t the Messiah, beginning in verse 19. The second day, John tells everyone who is the Lamb of God in verse 29. On the third day, John will lose two of his disciples who follow Jesus in verse 35. On the fourth day, Andrew brings Peter to Jesus in verse 40. On the fifth day, Jesus calls Philip in verse 43. On the sixth day, Jesus and the Disciples journey to Galilee. And on the seventh day, Jesus performs His first miracles at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11). So, John narrates a full week of Jesus’ ministry.
2.2 Behold
“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29). Take note the Bible says, “Behold” in verse 29. To say behold means, “Stop everything to see this!” John sees Jesus coming towards Him. He wants all of us to stop in our tracks. Remember, John the Baptist is introducing Jesus; he is a witness, after all.
2.3 The Title of Jesus
Now, John will share many titles Jesus is called in John 1. Jesus is called Rabbi in verse 38, the Messiah in verse 41, the Son of God in verse 34, and the King of Israel in verse 49. Jesus collects titles here like a small boy collects baseball cards. John shares four insights in these verses in telling us just who Jesus is exactly.
1. In verse 23, John the Baptist calls Jesus Yahweh when he says, “‘Make straight the way of the Lord,'” quoting the prophet Isaiah.
2. In verse 26, John the Baptist tells us that Jesus is superior by talking about how he’s unworthy to tie Jesus’ sandals.
3. In verse 30, John the Baptist tells us that Jesus outranks Him.
4. But the Gospel of John and John the Baptist want you to focus on one title: Jesus, the Lamb of God.
2.3.1 The Lamb of God
This is the Mount Everest of John’s witness when he calls Jesus, “the Lamb of God.” When Jesus is referred to as “the Lamb of God,” John is telling you why Jesus came. Jesus is the sin remover offered to all of us. He will remove our sins by His blood, His sacrifice, His death on the cross.
2.3.2 His Death
Jesus’ death was no afterthought. His death was prearranged and predicted long before He was born. Jesus was born with the shadow of the cross upon Him. With the shadow of the cross upon His heart, He learned to walk, talk, and work. From His earliest moment upon this earth, it was His burden by day and His pillow at night.5 Jesus came to die.
2.3.3 The First Thing You Think Of
If I were to mention the name Neil Armstrong, the first thing you’d think of is that he was the first man who walked on the moon. If I mentioned the name George Washington, the first thing you’d think of is that he was our nation’s first President. And if I mentioned the name Rosa Parks, the first thing you’d think is that she was the woman who refused to the back seat on a bus so many years ago in Montgomery, Alabama and she fought segregation. But according to the Bible, one of the most significant things Jesus Christ ever did was to die. 2,000 after Jesus left this earth physically, the universal symbol of the movement that he began is not a cradle nor a crown, but a cross, the cruelest instrument of execution known to the ancient world. John says, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29b). Later, Peter calls Jesus a lamb without blemish or defect (1 Peter 1:19).
2.3.4 Sin and Death
Death is God's righteous and inescapable punishment for human sin. Before humans sinned, death was impossible; since humans sinned, death is inevitable. The best news you’ll ever hear is this: The eternal Son of God came into the world not to judge us but to take away our sins. God is just, and it is inevitable that sin should be punished. It is inevitable that your sin should be punished. You have a problem – a big problem! Because sin is so serious, it requires nothing less than the entrance of Jesus, the Lamb of God, into the world to deal with it.
1. How Should We Think of John the Baptist?
2. Why is Jesus Called the Lamb of God?
3. What’s the Significance of the Dove?
“And John bore witness: ‘I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him’” (John 1:32).
3.1 Jesus’ Baptism
The Gospel of John does share the story of Jesus’ baptism. We know from the other Gospels that the descent of the dove happened at Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:16). But John simply says that the Spirit came like a dove — without mentioning Jesus’ baptism. When John describes the dove descending on Jesus, he recalls an earlier time when this happened. We know from the other Gospels that the descent of the dove happened at Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:16).
3.2 The Holy Spirit
John’s Gospel mentions the Holy Spirit now for the first time. Some years ago, a Chinese man was trying to learn more about the Bible and God. He said, “God the Father, I understand, and Jesus Christ, His Son. But who is this holy bird forever?”6 The Spirit didn’t just descend on Jesus but remained on Him.
3.3 Why a Dove?
In the Old Testament, the dove was one of the clean animals that could be sacrificed if one was too poor to afford a lamb (Leviticus 5:7).
“….this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit” (John 1:33b).
All this is important because Jesus can take you and baptize you in the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the One who gives you the Holy Spirit. You have to trust in and believe in Jesus to experience the Holy Spirit.
3.4 John, the Witness
“And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34).
John was an incredible witness for Jesus. John says in effect, “He was absolutely before me. He ranks infinitely above me. I am the voice. He is the Message. I am the temporary pointer. He’s the eternal Person. I am a mere man. He is the God-man.”
3.5 A Problem Only Jesus Could Fix
Your sin was so big that only the Son of God could fix it! Some problems only the experts can fix, right? Do you call the company’s CEO when you want a new desk chair? You don’t schedule six sessions with a therapist over who gets to have the remote control in your marriage! And you don’t call the White House when you have a pothole in your street!
The depth of YOUR problem was so vast, so gigantic, that nothing less than the Son of God was needed to solve this. Your sin was so big that only God could fix it! Not an angel, an apostle, or a prophet! Jesus, the Lamb of God was needed to solve your sin, to wipe away your sin. The Bible says, “You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin” (1 John 3:5).
You need to call the President when nuclear war is threatened. And we need to call on Jesus, the sin-remover because some problems call for the expert to solve them. And there’s no sin, not a blot, not a blur, not a blemish, not a stain that the blood of Jesus cannot cleanse. His blood is effective because He is free of all sin! Jesus’ blood is free of any contamination of our sin. He’s paid for your sin with His blood on the cross.
If you’ll just say, “Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. My sin deserves judgment, but I need mercy. I open my heart now. I turn from my sin. I take my place at Your feet.” Pray these words silently with me, “Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. My sin deserves judgment, but I need mercy. I open my heart now. I turn from my sin. I take my place at Your feet.” If you’ve been saved, and you need to present yourself for baptism, I want you to come.
EndNotes
1 George R. Beasley-Murray, John, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1999), 20.
2 Frederick Dale Bruner, The Gospel of John: A Commentary. (Grand Rapids, MI;Cambridge, U.K.: Eerdmans, 2012), 74.
3 Bruner, 74.
4 Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of John: A Commentary & 2. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2012), 448.
5 This is an adaption from R. G. Lee.
6 John Stott, “Who is the Holy Spirit,” John Stott Sermon Archive. (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife Corporation, 2023).
