3
John 1:6-9 The Witness of John
the Baptist.
Introduction: Matthew began his Gospel by taking us back to
the time of Abraham and listing the genealogy of Jesus and the story of His
birth. Mark began his Gospel by taking us
back to the time of John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness about six
months before the public ministry of Jesus.
Luke began his Gospel by taking us back to the birth of John the Baptist
which was six months before the birth of Jesus.
John began his Gospel by taking us back to eternity past, back before
the world was created. John introduces
Jesus to us as the Word who was with and who was God.
We must not forget the stated purpose of
John’s Gospel. “John 20:31 But these are
written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and
that believing ye might have life through his name.” John,
in our text today, calls his first witness by telling us about a man who is
named John. This is not the John who
wrote this Gospel but another John who is called “John the Baptist” by the
other Gospel writers. The title “John the Baptist” is not used in the Gospel
according to John. We shall examine the
authority, commission and message of John the Baptist which qualifies him to be
a witness. Remember as we study this
text that it was written that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the
Son of God and thus have life through His name.
I. What made John the Baptist qualified to be a
witness of the light.
1. He was a man. God did not send an angel to proclaim the
light of men. He did not send Gabriel to
tell men about Jesus. Gabriel knows Jesus
well. Gabriel is more powerful than
men. Gabriel could have come and walked
the streets of
2.
He was sent from God. God sent
this man to us. God calls men to serve
Him. God called the prophets of old to
testify of the light. God called John
the Baptist to testify of the light. It
is God’s message and He authorizes men to proclaim that message. We as a church of the Lord Jesus Christ have
been sent from God to make disciples and to baptize and teach them. It is by God’s authority that we speak. When I visit in the home of a lost person and
I tell them about Jesus, they need to know that I have been sent by God for it
is God’s message that they need. It is a
blessed privilege to be sent by God.
Men, is God calling you to preach His Gospel message? If He has put that desire in your heart
respond to His call by announcing your call to preach and then go and preach.
3.
His name was John. God insisted
that this man be named John. It was not
until this demand was met that his father, Zacharias, was allowed to speak
again. Upon the insistence of his mother
and her unwillingness to yield to the demands of their family and friends this
man was named John. His name means “God
is gracious”. This name would sum up the
message that God wants all men to hear.
Salvation is by grace. It is a
gift of God. It is not of works. God saves us as an act of grace. We do not deserve salvation and we only have
it by the grace, unearned, undeserved, unmerited favor, of God.
4.
He was willing and accepted his commission. Our text says “the same came”. John accepted his lot in life. God called him to be a witness and a witness
he would be. There are plenty of
examples of men who refused to go when called by God. Willingness is then a much needed
qualification. A person who has
experienced the saving grace of Jesus Christ and is not willing to be a witness
before men disqualifies him or herself by their unwillingness. I am thankful that someone was willing to be
a witness that I might come to know Jesus as my savior.
II. The commission of John the Baptist.
John was sent by God for a witness. He was to bear witness of the light. A witness is one who has seen, heard or
experienced something personally. They
may or may not share the experience with others. Whether they do or not does not change the
fact that they are a witness. John
experienced saving grace. John did not
stop there for the scripture says “he came to bear witness”. John was not saved just to sit down and do
nothing until death. He was a witness
and would bear witness that others might believe. He bore witness of the light which is Jesus
Christ. John came to tell men about
Jesus. That was his commission. Jesus existed before John. Jesus has been the light of the world ever
sense its creation. John came to tell
men that Jesus had come as the lamb of God that taketh
away the sin of the world.
John was not commissioned to save. He was not that light. He was to tell people that Jesus is the light. Jesus is the hope of men. Jesus is the savior. It is not our job to save people. We just
arrange the meeting.
III. The message
of John the Baptist.
John the Baptist’s purpose for sharing
the message was that men might believe.
John wrote this Gospel that men might believe and that believing they
might have life through His name.
John the Baptist’s message was that only
Jesus can save. Men can not save
themselves and men can not save each other.
John was not that light! John can not save you nor can you save
yourself. You are not that light. There
is only one true light, Jesus Christ.
If there is a true light then there must
also be a false light. Cain brought to
God the works of his hands thinking this was the true light. This action was an example of the false light
taught by men. Men made idols and
worshiped them. This was not the true
light. Men have taught that church
membership, baptism, Lord supper, Church attendance
and a whole host of other things would satisfy God and cause them to be saved
but these are false lights. The true
light is Jesus Christ. Light is truth
and the truth is that neither is there salvation in any other for there is none
other name given among men where by we must be saved. No one comes to the father but by Jesus
Christ. He is the Way, the Truth and the
Life. Men must repent and believe in
Jesus to be saved. There is only one
true light.
This light is offered to every man that
cometh into the world. No one is left
out. All have sinned and all need a
savior. A savior has been provided,
Jesus Christ the righteous. This light
is offered to every man but as we shall see in our next text this light must be
received. You must come to the light
acknowledging your unworthiness and confess your sin and call upon Him to save
you.
Conclusion: John the Baptist made a good witness. He told people the truth even at the cost of
his own life. Many people in John’s day
refused to come to the light. They
refused to believe. Don’t be like
them. These things were written that you
might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing you
might have life through His name. Will
you come to the light. Will you accept the truth. For the truth
is that you are a sinner condemned unclean and you need a savior. The truth, the light is that Jesus Christ is
the savior and he will save you now if you will come to Him.