Last month, we paused to honor our graduates here. For each one of those young men and women, there are some stories of moms and dads giving each other high fives, lots of smiles, lots of sharing of joy. A lot of teachers had a hand in that diploma. We have many of you in our congregation. Parents, teachers, you’re in the preparation business. You are involved in preparing the next generation of adults to face life.
You’ve heard of, maybe you use, a tax preparer. That’s the person who emotionally prepares you for hearing how much you’re going to owe the IRS this year!
The point is, we appreciate and depend on people who specialize in preparing us.
Zechariah looked at his newborn son, who would come to be known as John the Baptizer (JB), and said, “...And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,” The main purpose of John’s life was to prepare the way for Jesus. There’s a model for a good preparer in JB.
Isn’t it interesting that the work of JB is described in Mal like this:
Malachi 4:5-6
"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."
Today is Father’s Day. Dads, guess what: you’re in the preparation business. My kids, and yours, are growing up in a world that has more hazards than any we’ve ever seen. You and I have just so much time to give them the tools to make it. We ought to have a strong sense of urgency to prepare them for the days ahead.
We’re going to look at JB and the role all of us have as preparers, but I want to start by pointing out how this work is inherent especially to us as dads.
Psalm 127:3-5
Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.
Does an arrow need to be well-aimed? (William Tell) Then so do our children! Not enough can be said to us dads today to stress the vital role we have in preparing our children to enter the world – just like a warrior shooting arrows. A lot is depending on dads. We’re in the preparing business.
The man we’re looking at today wasn’t married, to our knowledge. He was taking on an even larger responsibility to help prepare the Jewish nation as a whole for the earthly ministry of Jesus. As we look at John, 2 things are going to happen:
1. Some of you here haven’t accepted Jesus. I’m glad you’re here today! This is the right place for you to be! You belong here! We want to enable you to grow in relationship with Jesus; we want to attract and win you to Him! So, hopefully we’re preparing you to meet Him.
2. For those who’ve already accepted Him, we need to keep learning how to effectively prepare people for Him. We need to learn how to get the message to people now so that they’ll be prepared for Him when He comes again!
Jesus said, “Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than JB” I’d like to be classed with a man like that. I want to be a good preparer. 4 qualities of a Good preparer...
I. Accepts His Place before God (v19-23, 27,30)
He’s hairy, and a tasteless dresser. He lives on natural food, out in the desert. He’s immersing people in the river, bellowing out how they need to repent and seek God’s forgiveness. Since he’s stepping in on the religious leaders’ territory, they naturally want to know who this guy is. So they send out a contingent of priests and Levites. “Who are you?” John’s answers make it clear that he accepts the place God has given him. First by saying…
A. I am not...
One of the first ways we can accept our place before God is to accept who we are not. That’s a good start, and it’s a good thing that John had it as he began to become very popular among the people.
John 1:19-20
Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ."
The Jews were eagerly waiting for the Messiah - Christ - the Anointed One. Today, many still are. There have been plenty of phonies who claimed to be. But JB is quick to say, "I’m not the Christ."
John 1:21a
They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not.”
Malachi had predicted, "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes…” (Mal 4:5-6) Are you Elijah, the man who didn’t die but who was taken directly to heaven by God in a whirlwind? "I’m not." Jesus made it clear that John was Elijah in a sense that fulfilled Malachi 4, but he wasn’t Elijah brought back to earth in the flesh.
John 1:21b
"Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."
Moses had said, (Deut 18:15) The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.” Are you that prophet? "I’m not."
So, that’s who John was not. It’s helpful to know who someone isn’t, sometimes. But that still didn’t answer the question. You can almost hear their exasperation as they finally say:
John 1:22
Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
What would your answer be to that question today? Who are you?
Not, what do you do or did you do for a living; not, what is your family name or nationality; not who is your favorite team or actor; not what do you do for a hobby; not where do you live.
Rather, in the big picture, in God’s plans for time/space history, where do you fit in? What part do you play? In God’s plans for everything, where do you fit? Who are you? John had a ready answer for that:
(B. I am...)
John 1:22-23 Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ’Make straight the way for the Lord.’"
You who haven’t accepted Jesus must understand about every Christian here this morning, we’re all "commentators." I’m a common tator, you’re a common tator... We’re all common tators because we all have this in common: we all have a Creator Who deserves our obedience and we’ve let Him down. Christians are sinners who are forgiven. The fact that we’re trying to prepare people for Jesus’ arrival doesn’t make us extraordinary. That’s where we’re at.
We’re not perfect; not flawless. Our numbers include not only the wise and the beautiful but also the simple and the homely; not only the rich and the people who have it all together, but also the poor and those who are facing crises; not only the strong and the famous, but also the weak and the obscure. We’re merely people who are urging you to get ready because Jesus is coming. We’re a voice, crying in a rather desolate world that it needs to prepare the way for the Lord. He told us to do that. That’s "what we say about ourselves." We’re people who want you to be ready.
Then there was a part of John’s answer about who he was becoming…
(C. I am becoming...)
John 1:32-33
Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ’The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Even JB didn’t fully know who Jesus was at first. God had given him a sign to watch for. Jesus came up out the water after being baptized and the HS came down as a dove, landed on Him and remained there. That clinched it. This was the One. But JB had been baptizing, had been preparing people, for some time before this, and what do you know, he was still discovering things!
Dads are in the business of preparing kids to face life, but at the same time, dads are still becoming something too. In fact, every person in Christ is still becoming something every day. We’re still learning, still growing, still discovering. There’s still a lot of truth from God to be viewed and appreciated. None of us has everything down yet, but we’re still in the business of preparing people. We’re just still being prepared ourselves.
A good preparer understands his place before God.
II. Lives His Purpose in God’s Plan (23)
JB knew exactly where he fit in God’s plan. No one else fulfilled the prophecies of Is 40 and Mal. 4. It’s hard for me to imagine a man yelling “Repent! You bunch of snake babies! Who told you to flee from the wrath to come?!" and then not being sure of what he’s supposed to be doing. God had a plan and JB knew where he fit into that plan, and he acted like it!
God has a plan to prepare people for Jesus. And within that God has a plan for you. Eph 2:10: God prepared good works beforehand so that we should walk in them. In His church He has appointed different people to fulfill different purposes, just like the body has different parts with different purposes.
Have you tried to understand your purpose in God’s plan? That’s why we’re continually emphasizing that every person in the Body is a minister with a God-given purpose to fulfill. A good preparer is a person who has considered his gifts, considered what he can do, and considered where God has placed him in life. He understands his purpose.
Dads, do you have a good grasp of your place in your home, especially as a father to your children? God has prepared good works in advance for you to walk in them. Are you living out that purpose at home? I can say this, because I’m pointing the first finger at myself – too many dads have decided that bringing home an income is their #1 purpose at home. We commit a grievous error if we take up our lives to make a good living and then expect that to take care of everything else we’re called to be to our family. If the average kid needed to choose between more stuff and more time with dad, there wouldn’t be any thought before the answer was dad. Do you suppose that’s because God put us there to do something?
If you’re not a Christ-follower this morning, we want you to know: not only does Jesus want you to understand He has a place for you in His family, He also has a purpose for you there. Part of the joy of being in Jesus is finding that specific purpose to which He has called you.
A good preparer lives his purpose in God’s plan
III. Understands that People Need to See Jesus *26-30
JB had quite a following by this time, but he knew that to fulfill his purpose of preparing people for Jesus, he had to direct attention away from himself and onto Jesus.
John 1:26-30
"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ’A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”
It’s easy to let ourselves get in the way when it comes to preparing people for Jesus. We tend to feel like we have to be impressive and personally attractive. What we really need to do is impress people with Jesus. They need to see Him.
John, as he writes this gospel, wants you to know Jesus, remember? He never mentions his own name once, even though he has to refer to himself along with the other 12. The other 3 gospels always refer to JB as "John the Baptist." But the writer of this gospel just calls him "John," because there’s no one else with whom you can confuse him. It’s just another example of someone saying, “Look at Jesus, not at me!”
Ill - I appreciate that about my wife and how she regards me. She thinks it’s her job to make me look good. Whenever someone says I look nice, I try to remember to tell them "Thanks! My wife dresses me nice!" I gave Carrie a Christmas card that said, "Merry Christmas to the reason I laugh, I live, I love...and the reason I don’t dress like a dork anymore!" She wants me to look good. That’s a reflection on her, but she doesn’t do it to draw attention to herself. She wants me to be regarded well. That’s what it means to be a good preparer.
Friend, when you leave here this morning, if you leave loving me that’s fine. If you leave loving your Sunday School teacher, that’s great. If you leave here loving the fellowship and music, that’s fine. But more than anything else, we want you to leave here loving Jesus. We want you to see Him and appreciate Him and give your attention to Him.
If we as a congregation have been good preparers, we’ll realize how important it is to show you Jesus. A good preparer understands that people need to see Jesus.
IV. Points to What Truly Validates His Testimony (32-34)
JB knew what confirmed his claims (v32-34). It wasn’t a shot in the dark, there were hard facts to which he and several other people had been witnesses. No one would have accepted his difficult message if the reason was: "I just think this is right" or "Trust me," or "I have a hunch." There was a higher reason to accept his message. (Imagine if they had all been from Missouri!)
Here’s a word of encouragement for dads again. Guys, when you’re pointing your kids in the right direction, or when you’re redirecting them because they’ve gotten off course, there’s something better to say than, “I want you to do this,” or “It hurts my feelings when you do that,” or “I don’t like it when you do that…” When we direct our kids and tell them, “Because this is what’s right to do,” it has a whole lot more weight to it.
I wouldn’t you today to put any stock in what I say here, or in what you heard in a SS class, or even what you sang in a song, unless it was substantiated by the objective source of truth we call the Bible. In simpler words, if it’s not in the book, you can go ahead and ignore it. If you want to convince me of what the Church ought to be or how we ought to live, show me the one thing that will validate your testimony. Show expect me where it’s in the Book.
It’s the same for every one of us: If you want to truly prepare people for Jesus, turn them to the one Source where our information about Jesus is from - the Bible. We need to understand this. If we expect people to be ready for Jesus to come be a part of their lives now so they’ll be ready when He comes to earth again, we need to get them into the Word. Our testimony is great. Our personal experience is meaningful. Our opinions may be interesting. But the bottom line is: the one thing that rightly validates Christian belief is God’s word. Take it away, and everything we say is empty and powerless. Or, don’t even take it away -- just leave it on the shelf; leave it unread. Don’t hide it in your heart. Don’t commit it to memory. Just let it sit -- and your message to the world will carry no more weight than the 2,000 other messages they’re hearing every day.
One of the greatest compliments anyone can pay to a preacher or teacher is to go home with the message you’ve heard and search the Scriptures and see whether these things are so.
A good preparer understands what validates his testimony.
Conclusion: What we call mustard, if you were to look at it closely, is really "prepared mustard." It’s mustard seeds that have been ground and mixed with vinegar and spices to make it palatable. Not many people would appreciate it if you put unprepared mustard on their sandwich. It’s just not presentable.
We’re in the "people preparation business."
We want as many people as possible to be "presentable", to be prepared, when Jesus comes again. JB had done a good job. He pointed people to Jesus before they ever met Him. Jesus is going to come again, and you need to be ready. Are you prepared?
Our mission as a church family is to present every person complete in Christ. That includes you this morning, no matter who you are. As much as the Lord will let us and help us to do it, we want to prepare you and people like you to stand before God’s throne one day, perfectly prepared by your relationship with Jesus Christ.
