Summary: John the Baptist: Leading the Way John 1:6-13

John the Baptist: Leading the Way

John 1:6-13

As always, it is my pleasure to be here at Calvary Christian Center sharing God’s Word. I pray that the Lord will bless our study in His Word tonight, and not let me get in the way too much. I’m working my way through the book of John, if you’ll remember, and last time I shared, we covered John chapter 1, verses 1 through 5.

So as an introduction, we’ll look at what was covered previously. This included some background to the book and the man who was moved by God to write it. We looked at John’s calling by the Lord, by the sea of Galilee, along with his brother James. We also examined John’s special relationship with Christ. We know that he was in the “inner circle” of the Lord that saw Jesus transfigured on the mountainside. Scripture also tells us that he was the only one of the Apostles at Jesus’ crucifixion, and was charged by the Lord to care for His mother at his death on the cross.

We looked at John’s later ministry as the pastor of the church at Ephesus, where it is widely believed that he wrote the book of John. We also looked at his trials and tribulations, how he was dunked in boiling oil, and lived, and later banished to the small, barren island of Patmos, where he wrote the book of Revelation somewhere around 95 AD.

We looked at John chapter 1; verse 1, which speaks of the deity, or divine nature of Christ. We examined similarities in the original language between John 1:1 and Genesis 1:1, that tended to tie the Old and New Testaments together, not that they needed any more tying together. We learned that Christ was with God in the beginning and instrumental to the creation of our world, and universe. Finally, we saw that Christ was the light of all men, and was misunderstood by the world, but ultimately will overcome the world. This brings us to our study tonight.

John Engstrom writes – Solid, dependable, loyal, strong leadership is one of the most desperate needs in America and our world today. We see the tragedy of weak men in important places - little men in big jobs. Business, industry, government, labor, education, and the church are all starving for effective leadership. So today, perhaps more than ever before, there is such a need for leadership and teamwork to cope with the needs.

Today, we are going to look at a leader – John the Baptist.

The text of our message comes from John chapter 1, verses 6 through 14. First, we will examine the identity and message of John the Baptist; we’ll look at the True Light, which is Jesus Christ, and finally our opportunity to be born again as sons of God.

*SOMEONE READS JOHN 1:6

Here we are introduced to John. So, who is this John? Let’s look at what scripture tells us in Luke chapter 3, verses 1-6. <> This is the son of Zechariah, John the Baptist, who received a message from God. Not to be confused with the Apostle John, the son of Zebedee, the fisherman. John is our English translation of Zechariah’s son’s name. In the original Greek his name is Johaness, which is derived from the Hebrew name Johanan – A common name in Israel at that time. It means – “Jehovah has graced”. What is interesting to note is that his name is very fitting. In two ways, God graced John, choosing him as a prophet and forerunner of Christ, and God also graced us through John, as the forerunner of Christ.

John Gill, and 18th century theologian write this about John the Baptist - “his dress and his diet were both out of the common way; and his temper and spirit were that of Elias the prophet; and as for his work and office, it was very peculiar; he was the forerunner of Christ, and the first administrator of the new ordinance of baptism, and the greatest of all the prophets: this person had his mission from God, both to preach and baptize.” Let’s look at John’s mission next.

*SOMEONE READS JOHN 1:7

We read here that John’s mission was to testify, or bear witness about the Light. We read in John 9:5 where Jesus said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” So we see that Jesus is the light John was sent to bear witness to. What’s interesting to note is that the Greek words used for witness in this passage of scripture, Martureo and marturea are legal terms used to describe testimony before a judge. These words are most used the writings of the Apostle John, and testify to it’s authenticity. John’s witness was so that men might believe in Christ.

How can we apply this to our lives today? Speaking of Jesus, Acts 4:12 tells us “there is no other name under heaven whereby men must be saved”. If we are saved today, scripture tells us that we are His witnesses, and we are to be His witnesses. We do this primarily through our lives. Are you living a life worthy of your calling as a Christian? If Jesus walked down the street with you, would you be ashamed of the life you are leading? If you think you might be, He is waiting today for your repentance, and there is abundant grace to cover your sins. Another way we can witness is by our testimony. Tell other people about what the Lord has done for you, and how He wants to change their lives also. Someone once wrote, speaking of his or her walk with the Lord “I am not where I want to be, I am not where I need to be, but thank God I am not where I was!” Scripture tells us in Matthew 5:16 to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, which is in heaven”.

Let’s move on. **SOMEONE READS JOHN 1:8** Notice the Scriptures tell us here that John was not that Light, referring to Jesus. The word not there is the Greek word Ou. It is used over 1300 times in the New Testament. It is a strong negative. Now, John was a light, but, as we read here, not the Light. Scripture tells us in John Chapter 5, verse 35 that the Lord called John a bright and burning light. If we turn back two chapters in John, chapter 3, verses 26-30, we can gain some more insight into John. <>. Notice John’s humble approach to the Lord, and how he says that he himself must decrease, and that the Lord must increase. I pray that each of us would have that same attitude, and that spirit of humility when we come before the Lord.

Now, another point I feel like we need to bring out about John is that he didn’t just appear on the scene. John’s appearance and ministry to be the forerunner of Christ is prophesied in the Old Testament. In Isaiah, chapter 40, and verses 3-5 0, we read - <>. This scripture was written approximately 750 years before the birth of John the Baptist. We also see John’s ministry prophesied in Malachi chapter 4, verses 5 & 6. <>. This verse foretold John as having the spirit of Elijah. This is not to say the John was Elijah, but came in the same power and was a prophet in the spirit of Elijah. This scripture was written some 400 years before John was born as well. So, we can see that John was an important person as the forerunner of Christ, and was prophesied about in Old Testament scripture.

This brings us to our next point. **SOMEONE READS JOHN 1:9** Notice that this verse calls Jesus the “true Light”. That word True there is the word Althenos in the Greek. Now Althenos means the opposite of what is counterfeit of fictitious, it means the real deal. Not something made up. Now, scripture tells us in many places about False Christs. Acts 5:36 says -<>. How can we apply this to our lives? Let me read Matthew chapter 24 verses 21-24 <>. Now I don’t know about you, but the days are pretty dark, if you know what I mean. We have already seen cults like the one up at Waco, where David Koresh claimed to be Jesus, and dozens of his followers were killed in a mass suicide. I don’t want you or I, or anyone here to fall into this kind of trap laid by the enemy. That is why scripture tells us to be on our guard, because as we see, the deception will be so great that if it were possible, the very elect would be drawn away. So, how do we test leaders that come along – with the Word. If what they tell you is in conflict with the Word, and they claim that they have some kind of special revelation from God – that should signal you to clear out. God is going to protect us from deception, and or defense is His Word.

Moving on from there, we’ll look at John 1:10. Can someone read that for me?

**SOMEONE READS JOHN 1:10** We read here that Jesus was in the world from the beginning. In fact Scripture tells us of several places where the Lord appeared to people in the Old Testament. He appeared to Abraham, when he was camped under the trees at Mamre. He wrestled with Jacob, and one of my favorites is one that many people overlook, so I’ll read it to you, it comes from Judges Chapter 13, verses 9-22/ <> Now looking back at John 1:10, we read that even though the world was made through Him, the world did not know Him. The New Living translation translates the Angel of the LORD (or Jesus’) response to Manoah’s question about his name, "Why do you ask my name?" the angel of the LORD replied. "You wouldn’t understand if I told you." The LORD knew Manoah’s name, but Manoah just couldn’t understand His. John chapter 7 verse 5 tells us that Jesus’ own brothers did not know who He was, as the Messiah.

With the world, not believing, we also see that they rejected Him. Could someone read John 1:11? **SOMEONE READS JOHN 1:11**

We know that Old Testament scripture foretells that Jesus would be rejected. In the book of Hosea, chapter 9, verse 17 <>. We also see it foretold in the Psalms. Psalm 118, verse 22 calls Jesus “the stone that the builders rejected”. But, praise God, even the world did not know Him, and rejected Him, by God’s grace, and promises we can believe, and become sons of God. Someone read John 1:12 and 13.

**SOMEONE READS JOHN 1:12-13**

We read in verse 12 that “as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to them to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. Now, if we break this down, we see that the right to become children of God is a gift, given to those who received Him, if they believe in His name. This was radically different from the mindset of the Jewish rabbis of the day. They believed that the right to be children of God, or salvation was a birthright covenant given only to the Hebrew nation. Gentiles like you and I had to go through elaborate rituals to convert to Judaism to receive the benefits of this covenant. What John is laying a foundation for is that this covenant is a free gift, to all who would accept it. Romans 8:14 tells us that those led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. What you need to do right now is ask yourself – does the Spirit of God lead me? Have I accepted this free gift? If the answer is no, I want you to consider walking down the aisle in a few minutes when I ask, to accept this free gift. I’ll pray with you and you can enter into a personal relationship with Jesus.

Verse 13 continues the same thought outlining that with the right to become the sons of God, comes being born not of blood, or the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. 1st Peter 1:23 tells us about this re-birth. When we are born again, we are born of incorruptible seed, through the word of God, which lives and abides forever. John tells us more that this is a free gift from God, and as we saw in the last verse available to all who would receive it. Will you receive it? I received this gift at a young age, and it changed the course of my life radically. That same grace is available to you today.