Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / John 1:19-37
Transcript
- 0:00Well, good morning to you all. Please take your copy of God's Word and join me in John chapter 1.
- 0:30The opening phrase of verse 19, and this is the testimony of John, lets us know that something new is happening.
- 0:45We've spent some slow time so far, but our pace is going to pick up a bit as the narrative takes off.
- 0:53If your Bible translation is anything like mine, there is likely a subheading inserted here before verse 19.
- 1:02So, the verses before us today tell us something of the testimony of John the Baptist.
- 1:09Let's not forget that the singular prominent aim of John the Apostle's gospel account,
- 1:16sometimes called John the Evangelist, is found in John chapter 20, verse 30 and 31.
- 1:24There he writes,
- 1:25Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book,
- 1:31but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
- 1:38and that by believing you may have life in his name.
- 1:41This entire book is the testimony of John the Apostle.
- 1:48A testimony is a spoken or written statement giving evidence of something that has occurred.
- 1:56Now today's text is not the first time that John the Apostle has mentioned the testimony of John the Baptist.
- 2:03In verses 6 through 12 of this very same chapter,
- 2:08He wrote,
- 2:38But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name,
- 2:41He gave the right to become children of God.
- 2:46The word translated witness in these verses is the same translated testimony in verse 19.
- 2:55It's the very same Greek word.
- 2:57And then again, we'll see it translated witness in verses 32 and verse 34.
- 3:03So those two terms I may use interchangeably this morning as the translators of John do.
- 3:11I think that John is doing here is he's placing an emphasis on the need for the gospel to be
- 3:18proclaimed by faithful witnesses in order that others might believe.
- 3:24He's right at the outset speaking of faithful proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ,
- 3:31even as he's about to lay out his own proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ.
- 3:37Beloved, if we have been shown the grace of God in the person and work of Jesus Christ,
- 3:44if we have been given the right to become children of God,
- 3:48if we have life in his name,
- 3:52then a significant marker of our lives should be faithful proclamation of that very gospel that saved us.
- 4:00It should characterize God's people that we share the good news of Jesus.
- 4:07We can learn something of what being a faithful witness looks like from the earlier account of John the Baptist in chapter 1 that I just read to you.
- 4:17Notice, firstly, that a faithful witness is humble.
- 4:23John records of John the Baptist that he was not the light.
- 4:30John the Baptist could save no one,
- 4:33but his job was to point people to the one who could save them.
- 4:39So a faithful witness, secondly, exalts the person and work of Jesus Christ.
- 4:45John the Baptist was not the light, but he came to bear witness about the light.
- 4:51He goes on in verse 9,
- 4:53The true light which gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
- 4:58So John the Baptist, not the light.
- 5:00Jesus Christ, the true light.
- 5:03So a faithful witness exalts the person and work of Jesus Christ.
- 5:08And a faithful witness offers the means of salvation.
- 5:13Good for us to talk about Jesus, who he is and what he has done.
- 5:18But we also must say to people,
- 5:20And this is how you can be saved.
- 5:25Verse 7, John the Apostle records,
- 5:28John the Baptist,
- 5:28He came as a witness to bear witness about the light
- 5:31that all might believe through him.
- 5:36And then verse 12,
- 5:37But to all who did receive him,
- 5:40who believed in his name,
- 5:41he gave the right to become children of God.
- 5:45So there's this pattern that's established in verses 6 through 12 of the chapter.
- 5:49And we're going to see this pattern repeated in today's text.
- 5:53As John the Apostle, once again,
- 5:55speaks of the testimony of John the Baptist.
- 5:59So again, John chapter 1, verses 19 through 37.
- 6:06Before I read it, let me remind you, beloved,
- 6:08this is God's word to us,
- 6:09written for his glory and our good,
- 6:11that we might believe its promises,
- 6:13obey its commands,
- 6:15and have affection for its author.
- 6:18May we hear it and respond accordingly to it.
- 6:22And this is the testimony of John.
- 6:24When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him,
- 6:29Who are you?
- 6:30He confessed and did not deny,
- 6:32but confessed,
- 6:33I am not the Christ.
- 6:36And they asked him,
- 6:38What then?
- 6:39Are you Elijah?
- 6:40He said,
- 6:41I am not.
- 6:43Are you the prophet?
- 6:44And he answered,
- 6:45No.
- 6:47So they said to him,
- 6:48Who are you?
- 6:49We need to give an answer to those who sent us.
- 6:52What do you say about yourself?
- 6:55He said,
- 6:56I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
- 6:59Make straight the way of the Lord,
- 7:02as the prophet Isaiah said.
- 7:04Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.
- 7:08They asked him,
- 7:09Then why are you baptizing,
- 7:11if you are neither the Christ,
- 7:13nor Elijah,
- 7:14nor the prophet?
- 7:16John answered them,
- 7:17I baptize with water,
- 7:19but among you stands one you do not know.
- 7:22Even he who comes after me,
- 7:23the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.
- 7:28These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan,
- 7:31where John was baptizing.
- 7:33The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
- 7:37Behold the Lamb of God,
- 7:39who takes away the sin of the world.
- 7:42This is he of whom I said,
- 7:44After me comes a man who ranks before me,
- 7:46because he was before me.
- 7:49I myself did not know him,
- 7:51but for this purpose I came baptizing with water,
- 7:54that he might be revealed to Israel.
- 7:58And John bore witness.
- 7:59I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove,
- 8:01and it remained on him.
- 8:03I myself did not know him,
- 8:04but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me,
- 8:07He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain,
- 8:11this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
- 8:14And I have seen and I have borne witness
- 8:16that this is the Son of God.
- 8:19The next day again,
- 8:21John was standing with two of his disciples,
- 8:23and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said,
- 8:26Behold the Lamb of God.
- 8:29The two disciples heard him say this,
- 8:31and they followed Jesus.
- 8:33John the Apostle structures his narrative
- 8:36of John the Baptist's testimony
- 8:38concerning Jesus Christ
- 8:40around three successive days.
- 8:44John seems to be more concerned about chronology
- 8:47than the other gospel writers.
- 8:49We're going to see this phrase on the next day
- 8:52many, many times throughout this text.
- 8:55So as we walk through the text
- 8:57and consider some details of it,
- 8:59I will lead us with perhaps the simplest
- 9:02three-point outline I have ever presented to you
- 9:05or ever will.
- 9:07It is as follows.
- 9:09Number one, day one, verses 19 through 28.
- 9:14Number two, day two, verses 29 through 34.
- 9:18And number three, you probably know,
- 9:21day three, verses 35 through 37.
- 9:25As a joke, I thought about making that point
- 9:26really obscure and different,
- 9:27but I resisted.
- 9:29Then, after we look at some of those details,
- 9:32I'm going to revisit those three characteristics
- 9:35of a faithful witness
- 9:36and highlight them in the text for you.
- 9:39So that's our plan
- 9:41as we work through the text together.
- 9:43So, number one, let's look at day one.
- 9:46Remember, this is the testimony of John the Baptist
- 9:47recorded in three successive days.
- 9:50Day one, verses 19 through 28.
- 9:54Before looking at the questions
- 9:55that were asked of John
- 9:57and his responses,
- 9:59let's deal with who it is
- 10:01that is asking these questions.
- 10:03Because there are four groups mentioned,
- 10:06and we could get a little lost
- 10:07if we don't understand who they are.
- 10:11So you see in verse 19,
- 10:13this is the testimony of John,
- 10:14when the Jews sent priests and Levites.
- 10:18So, number one group, Jews.
- 10:20Number two group, priests.
- 10:21Number three group, Levites,
- 10:24to ask these questions.
- 10:26And then we get the parenthetical
- 10:27that John puts in there in verse 24.
- 10:30Now, they had been sent from the Pharisees.
- 10:33So there's the fourth group.
- 10:36So, lest we be confused.
- 10:39The Jews is a term
- 10:40that certainly can be used
- 10:42of any and all ethnic Hebrew people.
- 10:46Like, any Israelite could be called a Jew.
- 10:49But John most regularly uses the word
- 10:52to refer to religious authorities
- 10:54who were hostile towards Jesus.
- 10:57So it's this broad term that he's using,
- 11:00but to speak of a group of the Jews
- 11:02that were hostile towards Jesus.
- 11:05Most likely, he's referring to
- 11:07what he has in his mind
- 11:09is the Sanhedrin,
- 11:11which was the governing body of Israel
- 11:13that was allowed to function
- 11:15under Roman authority.
- 11:16Whenever Rome would go and conquer a land,
- 11:19they would allow some of the government
- 11:20to stay intact,
- 11:22some of the culture to remain
- 11:24while they ultimately ruled over and above them.
- 11:27So that was the Sanhedrin
- 11:28that ruled as the Jewish governing authority.
- 11:32That's probably who John has in mind
- 11:34when he says the Jews.
- 11:36So it's the Jews,
- 11:37this group, this Sanhedrin,
- 11:39this council that sends priests,
- 11:42which were officiators
- 11:44of religious ceremonies,
- 11:45and they were the theological authorities
- 11:48of Israel.
- 11:50They were the most qualified
- 11:52to come and ask theological questions.
- 11:55And we see that they're not sent alone.
- 11:57They're also sent with Levites.
- 12:00Levites were men from the tribe of Levi
- 12:02who assisted the priests with their duties.
- 12:06Temple security consisted of Levites.
- 12:10So when we see the phrase priests and Levites,
- 12:14it is most likely a group of theological experts,
- 12:18those who were sent to ask questions,
- 12:21gather information, challenge,
- 12:24and they're bodyguards.
- 12:27So think theological experts with bodyguards as well.
- 12:31And the last group we see are the Pharisees.
- 12:35The Sanhedrin was largely made up of Sadducees
- 12:38who were theologically liberal.
- 12:41Religion for them was largely social and political.
- 12:46And the Pharisees,
- 12:48these two parties within the Sanhedrin,
- 12:51the Pharisees were theologically conservative.
- 12:55It is this minority group
- 12:57that would have been most watchful
- 12:59for the Messiah,
- 13:01which is the Hebrew word for the chosen one,
- 13:04this deliverer.
- 13:05We also know the Greek word Christ,
- 13:07and we see that word used most often.
- 13:10They were the most watchful for the Messiah
- 13:13and most concerned about anyone
- 13:15who had a significant following
- 13:17as John the Baptist did.
- 13:20So, what I'm gathering from that
- 13:23is it's most likely that this group,
- 13:25the Jews, the Sanhedrin,
- 13:27send the experts along with some guard,
- 13:30and those experts that they send
- 13:31are those that were most concerned
- 13:34about who this John the Baptist is.
- 13:37They were watchful for the Christ.
- 13:41So, a delegation is sent to John the Baptist
- 13:45and sent to ask the question,
- 13:48who are you?
- 13:50We see that in verse 19,
- 13:53and then in verse 21,
- 13:54what then are you Elijah,
- 13:57and are you the prophet,
- 14:00and who are you?
- 14:01We need to give an answer
- 14:02to those who sent us.
- 14:03What do you say about yourself?
- 14:06Verse 22,
- 14:07and then why are you baptizing
- 14:09if you are neither the Christ,
- 14:11nor Elijah,
- 14:12nor the prophet?
- 14:14Verse 25.
- 14:16We're trying to sort out
- 14:18who this John the Baptist is.
- 14:22Who are you?
- 14:25Now, many false messiahs had come
- 14:28before the true messiah's arrival.
- 14:33Jewish people had a gross misunderstanding
- 14:35of who the Christ was going to be.
- 14:37They were a conquered people.
- 14:39Don't lose sight of that,
- 14:41even though there's some structures
- 14:42in place of authority.
- 14:43They were a conquered people,
- 14:45and they were oppressed
- 14:47under Roman rule.
- 14:49And as any conquered people will,
- 14:51they were looking for a way out
- 14:53of that oppression.
- 14:55And they found in the Old Testament text
- 14:57this anointed one,
- 14:58this Christ,
- 14:59this deliverer,
- 15:00and they thought that he would come
- 15:02and he would rule militarily.
- 15:04They were looking for a temporal release
- 15:07from this oppression,
- 15:09and they were constantly looking for it,
- 15:10and there were men who constantly arose
- 15:12claiming to be this Christ,
- 15:15and were found not to be so.
- 15:18So, they're rightly concerned.
- 15:20Anybody who's got a following going on,
- 15:23they want to know what's happening.
- 15:25And, not only do they genuinely want there
- 15:28to be a messiah who will deliver them,
- 15:30but often these false Christs would arise,
- 15:33and they would form a little insurrection,
- 15:36and Rome would have to come
- 15:38and crush that insurrection,
- 15:39and more oppression would come with it.
- 15:42And so, they were concerned, rightly.
- 15:44They were trying to get out ahead
- 15:46of any possible wrongdoing,
- 15:49and if certainly John the Baptist
- 15:51was the messiah,
- 15:51they'd like to know this as well.
- 15:55So, this initial question that they ask,
- 15:59John knows exactly what they're asking, right?
- 16:02John the Apostle records in verse 20,
- 16:05he confessed and did not deny,
- 16:08which the Greek can just mean
- 16:09did not fail to confess.
- 16:12They're saying emphatically,
- 16:13he confessed and he didn't fail to confess,
- 16:16but confessed,
- 16:18I am not the Christ.
- 16:21John the Baptist already knows
- 16:22this is what they're trying to get at
- 16:24as they come and ask
- 16:25this initial question of him,
- 16:27and he's very clear.
- 16:29He wants there to be no misunderstanding.
- 16:31I am not the Christ.
- 16:35So, it follows.
- 16:37What then?
- 16:38Are you Elijah?
- 16:40And they would ask this question
- 16:43because of a prophecy found in Malachi,
- 16:46chapter 4, and verse 5.
- 16:49There we can read,
- 16:50Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
- 16:54before the great and awesome day
- 16:58of the Lord comes.
- 17:01And so, the Jews understood
- 17:02that there was going to be Elijah
- 17:04and they thought it was going to be
- 17:05a returning from heaven, Elijah.
- 17:08Elijah himself that would come back.
- 17:13And it's understandable
- 17:14why they may have thought
- 17:15that John the Baptist
- 17:17was that very Elijah
- 17:19because of his appearance.
- 17:23In Mark, chapter 1, and verse 6,
- 17:25we read,
- 17:26Now John was locusts and wild honey.
- 17:31Elijah is described in 2 Kings, chapter 1, and verse 8
- 17:34as wearing a garment of hair
- 17:36with a belt of leather
- 17:38about his waist.
- 17:41So, they see one that appears
- 17:44like Elijah
- 17:46and his response to them is,
- 17:49I am not.
- 17:52Now, it could be a little bit of a confusion
- 17:54at this point
- 17:55because, as I'm going to show you
- 17:57in just a moment,
- 17:59John the Baptist was the fulfillment
- 18:01of the prophecy
- 18:01in Malachi, chapter 4, and verse 5.
- 18:06And I'm going to confirm that for you here
- 18:09in a moment.
- 18:09When there that prophecy is made,
- 18:11behold, I will send you Elijah.
- 18:13It's not Elijah himself,
- 18:14but one like Elijah.
- 18:18And we know that to be true.
- 18:20So, he's saying,
- 18:20I am not Elijah,
- 18:22but he is the fulfillment
- 18:23of that prophecy
- 18:24in Malachi 4, and verse 5.
- 18:27So, let me show you
- 18:29from Matthew, chapter 17.
- 18:30This is verse 10.
- 18:32And I describe,
- 18:33say that first,
- 18:34Elijah must come.
- 18:37This is coming from Malachi, chapter 4,
- 18:39and verse 5.
- 18:41Jesus says,
- 18:42Elijah does come,
- 18:44and he will restore all things,
- 18:45but I tell you
- 18:46that Elijah has already come,
- 18:50and they did not recognize him,
- 18:51but did to him
- 18:53whatever they pleased.
- 18:55At this point in Matthew's narrative,
- 18:57John the Baptist
- 18:58has already been beheaded.
- 18:59So, also,
- 19:01Jesus goes on,
- 19:03the Son of Man
- 19:03will certainly suffer
- 19:05at their hands.
- 19:07Then, verse 13,
- 19:09the disciples understood
- 19:10that he was speaking to them
- 19:12of John the Baptist.
- 19:15So,
- 19:16is John the Baptist
- 19:18this Elijah character
- 19:19in Malachi 4 or 5?
- 19:20Yes,
- 19:21but he's answering the question
- 19:22most honestly
- 19:23because he is not
- 19:24Elijah.
- 19:25So,
- 19:27they go on.
- 19:27Are you
- 19:28the prophet?
- 19:30And this is coming
- 19:31from a prophecy
- 19:32made by Moses
- 19:33found in Deuteronomy 18
- 19:34and verse 15.
- 19:36There we can read,
- 19:37the Lord your God
- 19:37will raise up for you
- 19:38a prophet like me
- 19:40from among you,
- 19:41from your brothers.
- 19:42It is to him
- 19:43you shall listen.
- 19:45And there's
- 19:46more to it
- 19:47in the context,
- 19:48but that's most
- 19:48narrowly there.
- 19:49The prophet.
- 19:50They're looking
- 19:51for this one.
- 19:53Now,
- 19:53there's no consensus
- 19:54who the prophet
- 19:55was in Jesus' day.
- 19:57There's a lot of confusion
- 19:58about who
- 19:59the prophet was.
- 20:01Some thought
- 20:01another prophet
- 20:02like Jeremiah
- 20:03or Isaiah.
- 20:05Some rightly thought
- 20:07the prophet
- 20:07is the Christ.
- 20:10That's the right
- 20:11understanding
- 20:11of that text.
- 20:14Both Peter
- 20:14in Acts chapter 3
- 20:15and Stephen
- 20:16in Acts chapter 7
- 20:17apply
- 20:18Deuteronomy 18
- 20:1915
- 20:19to
- 20:20Jesus.
- 20:22So,
- 20:22they're asking
- 20:23the question,
- 20:24it's really a repetition
- 20:25of their initial intention
- 20:27to see if he was
- 20:27the Christ,
- 20:28but there was a lot
- 20:29of misunderstanding
- 20:29about who the prophet
- 20:30may have been.
- 20:32And so,
- 20:32John the Baptist
- 20:33rightly answers
- 20:35no.
- 20:37So,
- 20:38they say,
- 20:38who are you?
- 20:39We need to give
- 20:39an answer
- 20:40to those
- 20:40who sent us.
- 20:41They can't go back
- 20:42empty-handed.
- 20:43What do you say
- 20:44about yourself?
- 20:46So,
- 20:46after this string
- 20:47of denials,
- 20:47John speaks
- 20:48of himself
- 20:48in the affirmative.
- 20:50He says who he is
- 20:52in verse 23.
- 20:54I'm the voice
- 20:55of one crying
- 20:56out in the wilderness,
- 20:57make straight
- 20:58the way
- 20:59of the Lord,
- 21:00as the prophet
- 21:00Isaiah said.
- 21:03John is here
- 21:04citing Isaiah
- 21:05chapter 40
- 21:05and verse 3.
- 21:08A voice cries,
- 21:09in the wilderness
- 21:10prepare the way
- 21:11of the Lord,
- 21:12make straight
- 21:13in the desert
- 21:14a highway
- 21:14for our God.
- 21:16all four
- 21:18gospels
- 21:19cite this verse
- 21:20in connection
- 21:20with John
- 21:21the Baptist.
- 21:23But only in this
- 21:23gospel is John
- 21:24himself recorded
- 21:25as using it.
- 21:27And we're going to
- 21:28pick up his answer
- 21:29to this question
- 21:30and to the next
- 21:32back up in my
- 21:33concluding
- 21:33comments.
- 21:35But they go beyond
- 21:36that, right?
- 21:36After the answers
- 21:37with this,
- 21:38I am the voice
- 21:39of one crying out
- 21:40in the wilderness,
- 21:41make straight
- 21:41the way
- 21:42of the Lord
- 21:43to ask,
- 21:45then,
- 21:46why are you
- 21:47baptizing?
- 21:49If you are
- 21:50neither the Christ
- 21:51nor Elijah
- 21:52nor the prophet.
- 21:55And we'll say
- 21:56some more about
- 21:57this in just a bit.
- 21:59But John
- 21:59answers them,
- 22:00I baptize
- 22:01with water,
- 22:02but among you
- 22:03stands one
- 22:04you do not
- 22:06know.
- 22:07And it's
- 22:07unsure at this
- 22:08point,
- 22:08but it's suggested
- 22:10that perhaps
- 22:10Jesus is actually
- 22:11there as they're
- 22:12asking these
- 22:13questions,
- 22:14right?
- 22:14In the larger
- 22:14crowd,
- 22:15he's actually
- 22:15standing there.
- 22:18Even one
- 22:19who comes after
- 22:20me,
- 22:20the strap of
- 22:21whose sandal
- 22:21I am not
- 22:22worthy to
- 22:23untie.
- 22:25So John
- 22:26gets grilled,
- 22:27right?
- 22:28Who are you?
- 22:29And he gives
- 22:29a very clear
- 22:31denial of all
- 22:32the possible
- 22:32people they
- 22:33thought he may
- 22:34be,
- 22:34and a very
- 22:36clear message
- 22:37that he is one
- 22:38preparing the
- 22:39way.
- 22:39for the
- 22:41Christ.
- 22:43Secondly,
- 22:43let's look at
- 22:44day two,
- 22:45beginning in
- 22:46verse 29.
- 22:47You'll notice
- 22:47that phrase,
- 22:49the next
- 22:49day.
- 22:51This time his
- 22:52address is to
- 22:52the broader
- 22:53crowd.
- 22:54So before it
- 22:55was just to
- 22:55this group
- 22:57that was sent
- 22:57to him,
- 22:57this delegation
- 22:58now,
- 22:59to the
- 22:59broader
- 23:00crowd as he
- 23:01sees Jesus
- 23:02coming toward
- 23:04him and
- 23:04cries out,
- 23:05behold the
- 23:06Lamb of God
- 23:07who takes
- 23:08away the
- 23:09sins of
- 23:10the world.
- 23:12On the
- 23:12second day,
- 23:13John is not
- 23:13being questioned,
- 23:14but he still
- 23:15gives a
- 23:16faithful witness
- 23:17to Christ
- 23:18in making
- 23:18this
- 23:19extraordinary
- 23:20declaration.
- 23:22Behold the
- 23:23Lamb of God
- 23:24who takes
- 23:25away the
- 23:25sin of
- 23:26the world.
- 23:28This phrase
- 23:29is not found
- 23:30in this form
- 23:31in the Old
- 23:32Testament,
- 23:33but the idea
- 23:34is everywhere.
- 23:38Some examples,
- 23:39Genesis chapter
- 23:4022,
- 23:42verse 7 and
- 23:438,
- 23:43and we know
- 23:44there that
- 23:44Abraham is
- 23:45given the
- 23:45command to
- 23:45go and
- 23:46sacrifice his
- 23:48son Isaac.
- 23:49And Isaac
- 23:50says,
- 23:50Behold the
- 23:51fire and the
- 23:51wood,
- 23:52but where
- 23:52is the
- 23:53Lamb for
- 23:54a burnt
- 23:55offering?
- 23:56And Abraham
- 23:57replies to
- 23:58him,
- 23:58God will
- 23:59provide for
- 24:00himself the
- 24:01Lamb for a
- 24:02burnt
- 24:02offering.
- 24:03my son.
- 24:04And then we
- 24:05see his
- 24:06hand stayed
- 24:06and in
- 24:07verse 13
- 24:07God provides
- 24:08a substitutionary
- 24:09ram for
- 24:10Isaac which
- 24:11prefigures a
- 24:13greater sacrifice
- 24:14that will
- 24:15come.
- 24:16We get
- 24:17the whole
- 24:17another place,
- 24:18Exodus chapter
- 24:1829,
- 24:2038 through
- 24:2039,
- 24:21Leviticus
- 24:22chapter 23,
- 24:24just one
- 24:24example here,
- 24:25Exodus 29
- 24:26verse 38,
- 24:28a command
- 24:29for the
- 24:29continual
- 24:30giving of
- 24:31Lamb for
- 24:32sin.
- 24:33Lambs were
- 24:34part of
- 24:34daily,
- 24:35ongoing
- 24:36sacrifices
- 24:37for the
- 24:37sin of
- 24:38the people.
- 24:39Now this
- 24:39is what
- 24:40you shall
- 24:40offer on
- 24:41the altar,
- 24:41two lambs
- 24:42a year
- 24:43old by
- 24:43day,
- 24:44regularly.
- 24:47And if
- 24:48you back
- 24:48up,
- 24:49Exodus
- 24:49chapter 12
- 24:50verses 3
- 24:52through 13,
- 24:53if you look
- 24:53at verse
- 24:535,
- 24:55we hear
- 24:55this account
- 24:56of the
- 24:57Passover
- 24:58Lamb.
- 25:00And the
- 25:00command is
- 25:00given,
- 25:01your Lamb
- 25:01shall be
- 25:02without
- 25:02blemish,
- 25:03a male
- 25:03a year
- 25:04old.
- 25:05And they
- 25:05were to
- 25:06slaughter
- 25:06that Lamb
- 25:07and spread
- 25:07the blood
- 25:08on the
- 25:08doorposts
- 25:09that the
- 25:09angel of
- 25:10death
- 25:10would pass
- 25:10over
- 25:11their
- 25:12homes.
- 25:13So there's
- 25:14lots of
- 25:14imagery
- 25:15that tends
- 25:17in this
- 25:17direction,
- 25:18pushes us
- 25:18toward an
- 25:19understanding
- 25:19of what
- 25:20John is
- 25:20declaring
- 25:21when he
- 25:21cries out,
- 25:22Behold
- 25:23the Lamb
- 25:24of God.
- 25:27I like
- 25:27to imagine,
- 25:28so hear
- 25:29me,
- 25:29this is an
- 25:29imagination
- 25:30piece,
- 25:31but that
- 25:32this
- 25:32declaration
- 25:32would have
- 25:33had a
- 25:33particular
- 25:34resonance
- 25:35because the
- 25:37Passover
- 25:37was going
- 25:38to be
- 25:39celebrated
- 25:39shortly.
- 25:41As I spend
- 25:42a little more
- 25:42time on this,
- 25:43I might be
- 25:43able to tell
- 25:43you the
- 25:44exact number
- 25:44of days,
- 25:45but I at
- 25:45least know
- 25:46it's some
- 25:47days out.
- 25:48John
- 25:49chapter 2
- 25:49verse 13,
- 25:50the Passover
- 25:51of the
- 25:52Jews was
- 25:53at hand.
- 25:55It's not
- 25:56too many
- 25:56days later
- 25:57that this
- 25:58is taking
- 25:59place.
- 26:01So,
- 26:02perhaps,
- 26:03lambs were
- 26:04being or
- 26:05had been
- 26:06recently herded
- 26:08past the
- 26:09place that
- 26:10John was
- 26:10baptizing.
- 26:11It's very
- 26:12possible,
- 26:13right,
- 26:13that they
- 26:13were being
- 26:14brought from
- 26:14the fields
- 26:15outside and
- 26:16being brought
- 26:17to this
- 26:17great number,
- 26:19massive number
- 26:20of lambs
- 26:21that were
- 26:21sacrificed
- 26:21at the
- 26:23Passover.
- 26:24And so,
- 26:24the image
- 26:25is fresh
- 26:26in everybody's
- 26:26mind of
- 26:27lambs being
- 26:28taken to
- 26:29slaughter.
- 26:30It's my
- 26:31imagination.
- 26:32It's possible.
- 26:34That is why
- 26:34the detail of
- 26:35his location
- 26:36is included
- 26:37in verse
- 26:3828,
- 26:39about a
- 26:40two days
- 26:40journey from
- 26:41Jerusalem.
- 26:44He cries
- 26:44out,
- 26:45Behold
- 26:45the Lamb
- 26:47of God
- 26:48who takes
- 26:49away
- 26:49the sin
- 26:50of the
- 26:52world.
- 26:54What stands
- 26:55in our
- 26:55place is
- 26:56the
- 26:56propitiation
- 26:57that takes
- 26:58God's
- 26:58wrath on
- 26:59our behalf.
- 27:01Not a
- 27:01sacrifice that
- 27:02needs to go
- 27:02on and
- 27:03on and
- 27:03on,
- 27:04but a
- 27:04one-time
- 27:05sacrifice
- 27:06once for
- 27:07all.
- 27:07That anybody
- 27:08who believes
- 27:09in him
- 27:10has our
- 27:11sin taken
- 27:12away,
- 27:13punished
- 27:13in him,
- 27:14his
- 27:15righteousness
- 27:15granted
- 27:16to us.
- 27:20This idea
- 27:21of the
- 27:22Lamb of
- 27:22God
- 27:23is picked
- 27:24up,
- 27:24I think,
- 27:25in a way
- 27:25that's
- 27:25rather stark
- 27:26when you
- 27:26understand
- 27:27the geography
- 27:28of the
- 27:29land.
- 27:30John
- 27:30chapter 18
- 27:31and verse
- 27:311.
- 27:33This is
- 27:33just after
- 27:34the last
- 27:35supper,
- 27:35which was
- 27:36a Passover
- 27:36meal.
- 27:39There John
- 27:39records,
- 27:39when Jesus
- 27:40had spoken
- 27:41these words,
- 27:42he went
- 27:42out with
- 27:43his disciples
- 27:44across the
- 27:45brook
- 27:46Kidron,
- 27:47where there
- 27:48was a
- 27:48garden which
- 27:48he and
- 27:49his disciples
- 27:49entered.
- 27:51So to
- 27:52get to
- 27:52the garden
- 27:52of
- 27:53Gethsemane,
- 27:54the place
- 27:55where we
- 27:55know that
- 27:56Jesus
- 27:56weeps
- 27:57and
- 27:58sweats
- 27:59blood,
- 28:00he's in
- 28:00great anguish
- 28:01because he
- 28:01knows of
- 28:02his coming
- 28:02crucifixion,
- 28:04bearing the
- 28:04wrath for
- 28:05all who
- 28:05would ever
- 28:05believe in
- 28:06him,
- 28:06he goes
- 28:07across the
- 28:09brook
- 28:09Kidron.
- 28:12That's a
- 28:12significant
- 28:12thing.
- 28:13It's an
- 28:14important
- 28:14detail that
- 28:16all of the
- 28:16early readers
- 28:17would have
- 28:17totally understood
- 28:18and we
- 28:18just need a
- 28:19little help
- 28:19in order
- 28:20to do
- 28:22that.
- 28:23Now you
- 28:23might have
- 28:24noticed,
- 28:24or maybe
- 28:25you didn't,
- 28:26I did not
- 28:26bring up
- 28:28with me
- 28:28this morning
- 28:29the
- 28:29program's
- 28:29progress,
- 28:30so I'm
- 28:30not planning
- 28:31on reading
- 28:32out of it.
- 28:33But I
- 28:34am going
- 28:34to quote
- 28:34Charles
- 28:35Spurgeon
- 28:35just so you
- 28:36all know
- 28:36I'm okay.
- 28:38No one's
- 28:38taken over
- 28:39my body,
- 28:40it's me,
- 28:40really.
- 28:42This is what
- 28:42Charles Spurgeon
- 28:42says of the
- 28:43brook Kidron.
- 28:45The brook Kidron
- 28:45was an
- 28:46insignificant but
- 28:48usually a
- 28:49most foul
- 28:50and filthy
- 28:51ditch outside
- 28:52the walls
- 28:52of Jerusalem.
- 28:54If it was
- 28:55not, as some
- 28:55have called
- 28:56it, the
- 28:56open town
- 28:57sewer, yet
- 28:58there are
- 28:58reasons for
- 28:59believing that
- 28:59at least the
- 29:01filth of the
- 29:01temple ran
- 29:03into it.
- 29:04The scouring
- 29:05of the
- 29:05sacrificial
- 29:06places went
- 29:07by an
- 29:08under
- 29:08channel
- 29:09into this
- 29:10brook.
- 29:12Let me
- 29:12pause there
- 29:13in the
- 29:13quote for
- 29:13just a
- 29:14moment.
- 29:15This means
- 29:16the Passover
- 29:17is taking
- 29:17place,
- 29:18these lambs
- 29:19have come
- 29:19in and
- 29:19they've
- 29:19been being
- 29:20slaughtered
- 29:21all day
- 29:22long.
- 29:24The brook
- 29:25Kidron would
- 29:26have been
- 29:26flowing with
- 29:27blood from
- 29:28those lambs.
- 29:30It would
- 29:30have just
- 29:30been full
- 29:33of blood.
- 29:34They crossed
- 29:35over it.
- 29:35It was a
- 29:36small stream.
- 29:37Maybe they
- 29:37hopped.
- 29:38They crossed
- 29:39over it on
- 29:40their way
- 29:40to
- 29:41Gethsemane.
- 29:43Further,
- 29:44Spurgeon
- 29:44goes on.
- 29:45And we
- 29:45have one
- 29:46or two
- 29:46instances in
- 29:47Holy Writ
- 29:48where when
- 29:49houses were
- 29:49purged and
- 29:51cleansed,
- 29:52the filth was
- 29:52thrown in
- 29:53to the
- 29:54brook
- 29:54Kidron.
- 29:56So when
- 29:56the sinfulness
- 29:57of a home
- 29:57was purged,
- 29:58where did
- 29:59all of it
- 29:59go?
- 30:00They threw
- 30:00it into
- 30:01the brook
- 30:02Kidron.
- 30:04The passing
- 30:05therefore over
- 30:05that foul
- 30:06and black
- 30:07brook becomes
- 30:07the symbol
- 30:08of a time
- 30:09of deep
- 30:09sorrow and
- 30:10acute distress.
- 30:13The king
- 30:13himself then
- 30:14passed over
- 30:15the brook
- 30:16Kidron.
- 30:18The royal
- 30:18road lies
- 30:20over the
- 30:20place of
- 30:21sorrow.
- 30:23The way
- 30:23even for
- 30:24kings is
- 30:26by the brook
- 30:26of grief
- 30:27and shame.
- 30:30Behold,
- 30:31the lamb
- 30:32of God.
- 30:34The one
- 30:34who comes,
- 30:35the one
- 30:35who could
- 30:36come and
- 30:36die in
- 30:38our stead
- 30:40to take
- 30:41away the
- 30:42sin.
- 30:44It's
- 30:44incredible.
- 30:46Verse 31,
- 30:47John says,
- 30:48I myself
- 30:48did not
- 30:48know him,
- 30:50but for
- 30:50this purpose
- 30:51I came
- 30:51baptizing
- 30:52with water
- 30:53that he
- 30:54might be
- 30:55revealed
- 30:55to Israel.
- 30:58On day
- 30:59one,
- 31:00John is
- 31:00asked a
- 31:01question
- 31:02about
- 31:02baptism,
- 31:04which he
- 31:05answers.
- 31:06Here,
- 31:07he is
- 31:07clear why
- 31:08he is
- 31:09baptizing.
- 31:10The Jews
- 31:11were concerned
- 31:12about his
- 31:12baptism
- 31:13because he
- 31:15was baptizing
- 31:16Jewish
- 31:17people.
- 31:19You see,
- 31:19the Jews
- 31:20baptized
- 31:20proselytes,
- 31:23converts to
- 31:24Judaism,
- 31:25but not
- 31:25Israelites,
- 31:26as they
- 31:27viewed
- 31:27Israelites,
- 31:28as already
- 31:29God's
- 31:31people.
- 31:33John's
- 31:34baptism
- 31:34acknowledged
- 31:35that sin
- 31:36had placed
- 31:37all people
- 31:39outside of
- 31:39God's
- 31:40covenant,
- 31:41and therefore
- 31:42that all
- 31:43people need
- 31:44to repent
- 31:44and believe
- 31:45in Christ.
- 31:47All of
- 31:48them were
- 31:49outside of
- 31:49the Mosaic
- 31:50covenant.
- 31:51Every single
- 31:51one of them
- 31:52had sin.
- 31:53None of them
- 31:53had kept
- 31:54God's
- 31:54law.
- 31:55And so
- 31:56everybody
- 31:57needs to
- 31:57repent
- 31:58and believe
- 31:59in Christ.
- 32:02His
- 32:02baptism
- 32:02was a
- 32:03sign of
- 32:04repentance.
- 32:06And so
- 32:06it's unique,
- 32:07and that's
- 32:07the reason
- 32:08they're
- 32:08concerned
- 32:09about what
- 32:09it is
- 32:10that he
- 32:11is doing.
- 32:13Behold
- 32:13the Lamb
- 32:14of God
- 32:14who takes
- 32:15away
- 32:15the sin
- 32:16of
- 32:17the world.
- 32:20Unless
- 32:20you be
- 32:20mistaken
- 32:21at this
- 32:21point,
- 32:22I am
- 32:22not
- 32:22going to
- 32:23argue
- 32:24from
- 32:24this
- 32:24text
- 32:24for
- 32:24general
- 32:25atonement.
- 32:26We have
- 32:26to be
- 32:26very,
- 32:27very careful
- 32:27at this
- 32:28point.
- 32:28If you
- 32:29narrow it
- 32:31down,
- 32:31you ignore
- 32:32the rest
- 32:32of the
- 32:32teaching
- 32:32of
- 32:32Scripture,
- 32:33you would
- 32:34think
- 32:34that
- 32:34Jesus'
- 32:35death
- 32:35took
- 32:36away
- 32:36every
- 32:37sin
- 32:37of
- 32:37every
- 32:38person
- 32:38ever.
- 32:39You
- 32:39become
- 32:39a
- 32:39universalist
- 32:40to be
- 32:40sure.
- 32:42John
- 32:43uses
- 32:43this
- 32:43word
- 32:44cosmos
- 32:44in
- 32:45a lot
- 32:46of
- 32:46different
- 32:46ways.
- 32:48Here
- 32:48he's
- 32:49saying
- 32:49not
- 32:50only
- 32:50does
- 32:51he
- 32:51take
- 32:51away
- 32:51the
- 32:51sin
- 32:52of
- 32:52Jews,
- 32:53but
- 32:53also
- 32:54of
- 32:54Gentiles.
- 32:56This
- 32:57letter
- 32:57written
- 32:57to
- 32:57both.
- 32:59Anybody
- 32:59and
- 33:00everybody
- 33:00who
- 33:00would
- 33:01place
- 33:01their
- 33:01faith
- 33:02in
- 33:02Christ.
- 33:04And
- 33:04we'll
- 33:04unpack
- 33:04that
- 33:05more
- 33:05likely
- 33:05in
- 33:06John
- 33:06chapter
- 33:073.
- 33:08everybody
- 33:10needs
- 33:11to
- 33:11repent
- 33:11and
- 33:11believe
- 33:12in
- 33:12Christ.
- 33:12Our
- 33:13very
- 33:13greatest
- 33:14of
- 33:15needs.
- 33:17And
- 33:17he
- 33:17goes
- 33:17on
- 33:18on
- 33:18the
- 33:18second
- 33:19day
- 33:19and
- 33:19John
- 33:19bore
- 33:20witness.
- 33:20I
- 33:20saw
- 33:20the
- 33:20spirit
- 33:21descend
- 33:21from
- 33:21heaven
- 33:21like
- 33:22a
- 33:22dove
- 33:22and
- 33:22it
- 33:22remained
- 33:23on
- 33:23him.
- 33:23I
- 33:24myself
- 33:24did
- 33:25not
- 33:25know
- 33:25him
- 33:25but
- 33:25he
- 33:26who
- 33:26sent
- 33:26me
- 33:26to
- 33:26baptize
- 33:27with
- 33:27water
- 33:27said
- 33:27to
- 33:28him.
- 33:28So
- 33:28God
- 33:28the
- 33:28father
- 33:29said
- 33:29to
- 33:29him
- 33:29!
- 33:29He
- 33:30on
- 33:30whom
- 33:30you
- 33:31see
- 33:31the
- 33:38Mark
- 33:38records
- 33:39in
- 33:39Mark
- 33:39chapter
- 33:391
- 33:39verse
- 33:409
- 33:40through
- 33:4111
- 33:41in
- 33:41those
- 33:41days
- 33:42Jesus
- 33:42came
- 33:42from
- 33:43Nazareth
- 33:43of
- 33:43Galilee
- 33:44and
- 33:44was
- 33:44baptized
- 33:45by
- 33:45John
- 33:45in
- 33:46the
- 33:46Jordan
- 33:46and
- 33:47when
- 33:47he
- 33:47came
- 33:48up
- 33:48out
- 33:48of
- 33:48the
- 33:48water
- 33:48immediately
- 33:49he
- 33:49saw
- 33:49the
- 33:49heavens
- 33:50being
- 33:50torn
- 33:50open
- 33:51and
- 33:51the
- 33:51spirit
- 33:52descending
- 33:52on
- 33:53him
- 33:53like
- 33:54a
- 33:54dove
- 33:54and
- 33:54a
- 33:54voice
- 33:55came
- 33:56from
- 33:56heaven
- 33:57you
- 33:57are
- 33:58my
- 33:58beloved
- 33:59son
- 34:00with
- 34:00you
- 34:00I
- 34:01am
- 34:01well
- 34:02pleased!
- 34:04So
- 34:08we
- 34:09don't
- 34:10get
- 34:10the
- 34:10first
- 34:11hand
- 34:11account
- 34:12of
- 34:12it
- 34:12but
- 34:12we
- 34:12get
- 34:13John
- 34:13telling
- 34:14us
- 34:14that
- 34:14this
- 34:14very
- 34:15thing
- 34:15happened
- 34:16God
- 34:16the
- 34:16father
- 34:17told
- 34:17him
- 34:17that
- 34:17God
- 34:17the
- 34:18spirit
- 34:18would
- 34:18descend
- 34:18on
- 34:19God
- 34:19the
- 34:20son
- 34:20and
- 34:20confirm
- 34:21who
- 34:22he
- 34:23is
- 34:23and
- 34:23it's
- 34:23with
- 34:23that
- 34:24confidence
- 34:24of that
- 34:25confirmation
- 34:25in
- 34:26verse
- 34:2634
- 34:27John
- 34:28the
- 34:28Baptist
- 34:28says
- 34:28and
- 34:29I
- 34:29have
- 34:29seen
- 34:29and
- 34:29have
- 34:30borne
- 34:30witness
- 34:30!
- 34:31that
- 34:31this
- 34:31is
- 34:32the
- 34:33son
- 34:33of
- 34:34God!
- 34:34thirdly
- 34:38day
- 34:38three
- 34:39very
- 34:40briefly
- 34:41some
- 34:42of
- 34:42this
- 34:42is
- 34:42going
- 34:42to
- 34:42roll
- 34:42into
- 34:42next
- 34:43week
- 34:43the
- 34:45calling
- 34:45of
- 34:45the
- 34:45disciples
- 34:46the
- 34:46next
- 34:48day
- 34:48again
- 34:48John
- 34:48was
- 34:49standing
- 34:49with
- 34:49his
- 34:49two
- 34:49disciples
- 34:50heard
- 34:51him
- 34:51say
- 34:52this
- 34:52and
- 34:52they
- 34:53followed
- 34:54Jesus
- 34:55so
- 34:55we've
- 34:55got
- 34:55this
- 34:56delegation
- 34:56that
- 34:57was
- 34:57sent
- 34:57to
- 34:58ask
- 34:58them
- 34:58the
- 34:58questions
- 34:59we
- 34:59have
- 35:00the
- 35:00broader
- 35:00crowd
- 35:01all
- 35:01together
- 35:01and
- 35:02then
- 35:02we
- 35:02see
- 35:03John
- 35:03with
- 35:04just
- 35:04two
- 35:05of
- 35:05his
- 35:06disciples
- 35:07and
- 35:07we'll
- 35:07learn
- 35:07more
- 35:08about
- 35:08them
- 35:08next
- 35:09week
- 35:09and
- 35:09he
- 35:09makes
- 35:10that
- 35:10declaration
- 35:11again
- 35:11and
- 35:11those
- 35:12two
- 35:12disciples
- 35:13in
- 35:13response
- 35:14to
- 35:15that
- 35:15faithful
- 35:15witness
- 35:16to
- 35:16Jesus'
- 35:17person
- 35:17and
- 35:18his
- 35:18work
- 35:18followed
- 35:19Christ
- 35:20so
- 35:22with
- 35:22that
- 35:22let me
- 35:23loop
- 35:23back
- 35:23to
- 35:24this
- 35:24three
- 35:26point
- 35:26outline
- 35:26of
- 35:27what
- 35:27a
- 35:27faithful
- 35:28witness
- 35:28is
- 35:29what
- 35:30he
- 35:30does
- 35:30a
- 35:31faithful
- 35:31witness
- 35:31number
- 35:33one
- 35:33is
- 35:34humble
- 35:34I
- 35:35just
- 35:35want
- 35:35to
- 35:35draw
- 35:36your
- 35:36attention
- 35:36back
- 35:37up
- 35:37into
- 35:37the
- 35:37text
- 35:38a bit
- 35:38to
- 35:39observe
- 35:40the
- 35:40humility
- 35:41of
- 35:41John
- 35:42the
- 35:42Baptist
- 35:42he
- 35:43thought
- 35:43very
- 35:44little
- 35:44of
- 35:44himself
- 35:45he
- 35:47could
- 35:47save
- 35:47no
- 35:48one
- 35:48right
- 35:49he
- 35:49was
- 35:49just
- 35:50there
- 35:50as a
- 35:50messenger
- 35:51sent
- 35:52a
- 35:52heralder
- 35:53of
- 35:53news
- 35:54his
- 35:54whole
- 35:55intention
- 35:56was to
- 35:56point
- 35:57to
- 35:57the
- 35:57one
- 35:58who
- 35:58could
- 35:58save
- 35:59right
- 36:00point
- 36:00to
- 36:01Christ
- 36:02he's
- 36:02so
- 36:02clear
- 36:03verse
- 36:0320
- 36:04he
- 36:04confessed
- 36:04and
- 36:05did
- 36:05not
- 36:05fail
- 36:07to
- 36:07confess
- 36:07but
- 36:08confessed
- 36:08I
- 36:09am
- 36:10not
- 36:10the
- 36:11Christ
- 36:11he
- 36:12said
- 36:13I
- 36:13am
- 36:13not
- 36:13to
- 36:14the
- 36:14question
- 36:14of
- 36:14he's
- 36:14Elijah
- 36:15he
- 36:15said
- 36:16no
- 36:16to
- 36:16the
- 36:16question
- 36:17of
- 36:17is
- 36:17he
- 36:18the
- 36:18prophet
- 36:19right
- 36:19and
- 36:20then
- 36:20he
- 36:20says
- 36:20I
- 36:21am
- 36:21the
- 36:21voice
- 36:22of
- 36:23one
- 36:23crying
- 36:23out
- 36:24in
- 36:25the
- 36:25wilderness
- 36:25you
- 36:26cannot
- 36:27look
- 36:27to
- 36:27a
- 36:27voice
- 36:28a
- 36:28voice
- 36:29just
- 36:29declares
- 36:30a
- 36:31message
- 36:31make
- 36:32straight
- 36:33the
- 36:33way
- 36:34of
- 36:34the
- 36:35Lord
- 36:35point
- 36:36people
- 36:36to
- 36:37send
- 36:37people
- 36:38toward
- 36:38right
- 36:39the
- 36:39Christ
- 36:40is
- 36:41coming
- 36:42what a
- 36:43privilege
- 36:44John
- 36:45had
- 36:45to be
- 36:46a
- 36:46heralder
- 36:47of the
- 36:47coming
- 36:48of
- 36:49Christ
- 36:49beloved
- 36:50we have
- 36:50the very
- 36:51same
- 36:51privilege
- 36:52we get
- 36:53to declare
- 36:54the good
- 36:54news
- 36:55of
- 36:56Jesus
- 36:57to be
- 36:57his
- 36:57witnesses
- 36:58!
- 36:58in the
- 36:58world
- 36:58in which
- 36:59we
- 37:00live
- 37:01if
- 37:03it's
- 37:03not
- 37:03on
- 37:04our
- 37:04hearts
- 37:04if
- 37:04it's
- 37:04not
- 37:05a
- 37:05great
- 37:05desire
- 37:05of
- 37:06ours
- 37:06to
- 37:06declare
- 37:07what
- 37:07God
- 37:07has
- 37:07done
- 37:08for
- 37:08us
- 37:08in
- 37:09Christ
- 37:09something
- 37:10is
- 37:10amiss
- 37:11something
- 37:12is
- 37:12wrong
- 37:13we
- 37:13either
- 37:14never
- 37:14have
- 37:14experienced
- 37:15the
- 37:15grace
- 37:15of
- 37:15God
- 37:15to
- 37:16us
- 37:16in
- 37:16Christ
- 37:16or
- 37:17our
- 37:17hearts
- 37:17need
- 37:18some
- 37:18serious
- 37:19tuning
- 37:20we
- 37:20have
- 37:21to
- 37:21want
- 37:21to
- 37:21regularly
- 37:22talk
- 37:22about
- 37:23what
- 37:23Jesus
- 37:24has
- 37:25done
- 37:25for
- 37:26us
- 37:27humble
- 37:29it
- 37:30starts
- 37:30with
- 37:30humility
- 37:31we
- 37:32can
- 37:32save
- 37:33no
- 37:34one
- 37:35I'm
- 37:36so
- 37:36grateful
- 37:36as a
- 37:37pastor
- 37:37to
- 37:37have
- 37:37a
- 37:37big
- 37:38God
- 37:38theology
- 37:39to
- 37:40believe
- 37:40that
- 37:40God
- 37:40has
- 37:41a
- 37:41people
- 37:41that
- 37:41he's
- 37:41saving
- 37:42for
- 37:42his
- 37:42purpose
- 37:42because
- 37:44oh
- 37:44if it
- 37:44depended
- 37:45on
- 37:45me
- 37:45it
- 37:47would
- 37:47be
- 37:47crushing
- 37:47I
- 37:48wouldn't
- 37:48be
- 37:48doing
- 37:49this
- 37:49anymore
- 37:49I
- 37:50would
- 37:50have
- 37:50already
- 37:50thrown
- 37:51in
- 37:51the
- 37:51towel
- 37:51too
- 37:52much
- 37:52work
- 37:53too
- 37:53hard
- 37:54too
- 37:54much
- 37:54pressure
- 37:55I
- 37:56just
- 37:56get
- 37:56to
- 37:56be
- 37:56a
- 37:59let
- 38:00the
- 38:00lion
- 38:00out
- 38:00of
- 38:00the
- 38:01cage
- 38:01as
- 38:01Spurgeon
- 38:01said
- 38:02and
- 38:03God
- 38:03does
- 38:04saving
- 38:04work
- 38:04he
- 38:05uses
- 38:05the
- 38:05message
- 38:06of
- 38:06Jesus
- 38:06Christ
- 38:06to
- 38:07draw
- 38:07people
- 38:07to
- 38:08himself
- 38:08lift
- 38:09Christ
- 38:09high
- 38:10he'll
- 38:10say
- 38:10later
- 38:11and
- 38:12God
- 38:12will
- 38:12draw
- 38:13people
- 38:13to
- 38:15him
- 38:15he
- 38:17says
- 38:17John
- 38:18answered
- 38:19I
- 38:19baptize
- 38:20with
- 38:20water
- 38:21but
- 38:21among
- 38:21you
- 38:21stand
- 38:22ones
- 38:22you
- 38:22do
- 38:23not
- 38:23know
- 38:23even
- 38:24he
- 38:25who
- 38:25comes
- 38:25after
- 38:26me
- 38:26the
- 38:27strap
- 38:28of
- 38:28whose
- 38:28sandal
- 38:29I
- 38:29am
- 38:29not
- 38:30worthy
- 38:30to
- 38:31untie
- 38:32the
- 38:33lowliest
- 38:35of
- 38:35servant
- 38:36positions
- 38:37in a
- 38:37home
- 38:37the
- 38:38removal
- 38:38of
- 38:39shoes
- 38:39and
- 38:39the
- 38:39washing
- 38:40of
- 38:40feet
- 38:41John
- 38:42the
- 38:42Baptist
- 38:42says
- 38:42I'm
- 38:43not
- 38:43even
- 38:43worthy
- 38:43of
- 38:44that
- 38:44position
- 38:45when
- 38:45it
- 38:45comes
- 38:46to
- 38:46my
- 38:47Lord
- 38:48verse
- 38:4930
- 38:49this
- 38:50is
- 38:50he
- 38:50of
- 38:50whom
- 38:51I
- 38:51said
- 38:51after
- 38:51me
- 38:52comes
- 38:52a
- 38:52man
- 38:53who
- 38:53ranks
- 38:54before
- 38:54me
- 38:54because
- 38:55he
- 38:55was
- 38:56before
- 38:57me
- 38:57right
- 38:58Christ
- 38:58was
- 38:59preexistent
- 39:00and
- 39:01deserves
- 39:01exaltation
- 39:02and
- 39:02therefore
- 39:03we
- 39:04ought
- 39:04to
- 39:05be
- 39:05humble
- 39:06so
- 39:06a
- 39:07faithful
- 39:07witness
- 39:07is
- 39:07going
- 39:07to
- 39:08be
- 39:08humble
- 39:09John
- 39:09the
- 39:09Baptist
- 39:10models
- 39:10that
- 39:10for
- 39:11us
- 39:11secondly
- 39:12a
- 39:12faithful
- 39:12witness
- 39:13exalts
- 39:13the
- 39:14person
- 39:14and
- 39:14work
- 39:15of
- 39:15Jesus
- 39:15Christ
- 39:16right
- 39:16who
- 39:17he
- 39:17is
- 39:18and
- 39:18what
- 39:18he
- 39:19accomplished
- 39:19both
- 39:20things
- 39:21are
- 39:21important
- 39:22so
- 39:23just
- 39:24really
- 39:24fast
- 39:25he
- 39:27points
- 39:27to
- 39:27Jesus
- 39:28as
- 39:28the
- 39:28Lord
- 39:28verse
- 39:2923
- 39:29he
- 39:30says
- 39:30he's
- 39:30going
- 39:31to
- 39:31send
- 39:32the
- 39:32spirit
- 39:33to
- 39:33come
- 39:33and
- 39:33indwell
- 39:34them
- 39:34he
- 39:35says
- 39:35he's
- 39:35the
- 39:35lamb
- 39:36of
- 39:36God
- 39:36in
- 39:36verse
- 39:3629
- 39:37who
- 39:38takes
- 39:38away
- 39:38the
- 39:38sins
- 39:39of
- 39:39the
- 39:39world
- 39:40he's
- 39:40exalting
- 39:40his
- 39:41person
- 39:41he's
- 39:42talking
- 39:42about
- 39:42his
- 39:43work
- 39:44all
- 39:44amidst
- 39:45this
- 39:45what a
- 39:46wonderful
- 39:46place
- 39:46for us
- 39:47to start
- 39:47our
- 39:47gospel
- 39:48proclamation
- 39:48to
- 39:49talk
- 39:49about
- 39:49the
- 39:49person
- 39:50of
- 39:52work
- 39:53that
- 39:53he
- 39:53came
- 39:53to
- 39:54accomplish
- 39:55this
- 39:55gospel
- 39:56proclamation
- 39:57is a
- 39:58great
- 39:58privilege
- 39:59that's
- 40:00given
- 40:00to
- 40:01God's
- 40:01people
- 40:01and
- 40:02it
- 40:02must
- 40:02be
- 40:03proclaimed
- 40:04you
- 40:05may
- 40:05have
- 40:05heard
- 40:05it
- 40:05said
- 40:05at
- 40:06one
- 40:06point
- 40:07preach
- 40:08the
- 40:08gospel
- 40:08at
- 40:08all
- 40:08times
- 40:08and
- 40:09when
- 40:09necessary
- 40:09use
- 40:09words
- 40:10it's
- 40:11always
- 40:11necessary
- 40:12to
- 40:12use
- 40:12words
- 40:13whether
- 40:13written
- 40:14or
- 40:14said
- 40:15our
- 40:16good
- 40:16works
- 40:16adorn
- 40:17the
- 40:17gospel
- 40:18right
- 40:18our
- 40:19good
- 40:19works
- 40:19are
- 40:19apologetics
- 40:20for
- 40:21the
- 40:21gospel
- 40:22it's
- 40:22a
- 40:22foundation
- 40:23people
- 40:24see
- 40:24us
- 40:24and
- 40:25they
- 40:25see
- 40:25us
- 40:25as
- 40:25different
- 40:26they
- 40:26see
- 40:26that
- 40:26we
- 40:26hope
- 40:26in
- 40:26something
- 40:27else
- 40:27they
- 40:27see
- 40:27our
- 40:28lives
- 40:28ordered
- 40:28properly
- 40:29all
- 40:30of
- 40:30those
- 40:30things
- 40:30I'm
- 40:30not
- 40:30negating
- 40:31any
- 40:31of
- 40:31that
- 40:32at
- 40:32all
- 40:33but
- 40:33just
- 40:33merely
- 40:34being
- 40:34nice
- 40:34to
- 40:35somebody
- 40:35is
- 40:35not
- 40:36sharing
- 40:36the
- 40:36gospel
- 40:36with
- 40:37them
- 40:37right
- 40:37you
- 40:38got
- 40:38to
- 40:38open
- 40:38your
- 40:39mouth
- 40:39and
- 40:39you
- 40:39have
- 40:39to
- 40:39speak
- 40:40!
- 40:40he
- 40:40done
- 40:41on
- 40:41your
- 40:41behalf
- 40:42it
- 40:43must
- 40:43be
- 40:43done
- 40:43it
- 40:43must
- 40:44be
- 40:45proclaimed
- 40:46a
- 40:47faithful
- 40:47witness
- 40:47I
- 40:49just
- 40:49want
- 40:49to
- 40:49insert
- 40:49a
- 40:50Christian
- 40:50a
- 40:51Christian
- 40:51exalts
- 40:52the
- 40:52person
- 40:52and
- 40:52work
- 40:53of
- 40:54Jesus
- 40:54Christ
- 40:55and
- 40:55proclaims
- 40:56that
- 40:56to
- 40:57others
- 40:58and
- 40:59thirdly
- 41:00a
- 41:01faithful
- 41:01witness
- 41:01offers
- 41:02the
- 41:03means
- 41:03of
- 41:04salvation
- 41:05it's
- 41:06so
- 41:06good
- 41:06to
- 41:06talk
- 41:06about
- 41:07Christ
- 41:07and
- 41:07it's
- 41:07so
- 41:07good
- 41:08to
- 41:08talk
- 41:08about
- 41:08his
- 41:09work
- 41:09but
- 41:09we
- 41:09also
- 41:10must
- 41:10!
- 41:10call
- 41:10people
- 41:11to
- 41:11believe
- 41:12turn
- 41:12from
- 41:13their
- 41:13sins
- 41:13!
- 41:13place
- 41:14their
- 41:14faith
- 41:14in
- 41:15Christ
- 41:15we
- 41:16we
- 41:16have
- 41:16yet
- 41:17to
- 41:17share
- 41:17the
- 41:17gospel
- 41:18if
- 41:18we
- 41:18haven't
- 41:19quite
- 41:19gotten
- 41:20there
- 41:21and
- 41:21I
- 41:21know
- 41:22sometimes
- 41:22that
- 41:22takes
- 41:22a
- 41:23series
- 41:23of
- 41:23conversations
- 41:24but
- 41:24we
- 41:24want
- 41:25to
- 41:25drive
- 41:25to
- 41:25that
- 41:26point
- 41:26to
- 41:26say
- 41:26to
- 41:26people
- 41:27this
- 41:27is
- 41:28true
- 41:29and
- 41:29it's
- 41:29the
- 41:29thing
- 41:29you're
- 41:29most
- 41:30needful
- 41:31of
- 41:31and
- 41:31it's
- 41:32the
- 41:32kind
- 41:32of
- 41:32truth
- 41:32that
- 41:33demands
- 41:33a
- 41:34response
- 41:34you
- 41:34have
- 41:34to
- 41:35respond
- 41:35to
- 41:35it
- 41:35one
- 41:35way
- 41:36the
- 41:36!
- 41:36you have
- 41:36to
- 41:36reject
- 41:36it
- 41:37wholeheartedly
- 41:38or
- 41:38you
- 41:38have
- 41:39to
- 41:39accept
- 41:39it
- 41:39wholeheartedly
- 41:40you
- 41:40only
- 41:41have
- 41:41two
- 41:41choices
- 41:43now
- 41:45I've
- 41:45got to
- 41:45stretch
- 41:46a
- 41:46little
- 41:46out
- 41:46of
- 41:46our
- 41:46text
- 41:47but
- 41:47I
- 41:47just
- 41:47want
- 41:47you
- 41:47to
- 41:47see
- 41:48the
- 41:48pattern
- 41:48here
- 41:50the
- 41:50means
- 41:50of
- 41:51salvation
- 41:51he
- 41:53says
- 41:53verse
- 41:5333
- 41:54that
- 41:55he
- 41:55baptizes
- 41:57and
- 41:58it
- 41:58was
- 41:58said
- 41:58to
- 41:58him
- 41:59he
- 41:59on
- 41:59whom
- 41:59you
- 41:59see
- 41:59the
- 42:00spirit
- 42:00descend
- 42:00and
- 42:01remain
- 42:01this
- 42:01is
- 42:02he
- 42:02who
- 42:02baptizes
- 42:03with
- 42:03the
- 42:06spirit
- 42:07of
- 42:07christ
- 42:08comes
- 42:08into
- 42:08us
- 42:09makes
- 42:10us
- 42:10new
- 42:10causes
- 42:11us
- 42:12to
- 42:13believe
- 42:13go
- 42:14back
- 42:14to
- 42:14earlier
- 42:15in
- 42:16the
- 42:16chapter
- 42:16where
- 42:17there
- 42:18john
- 42:18the
- 42:18apostle
- 42:18says
- 42:19of
- 42:19john
- 42:19the
- 42:19baptist
- 42:19he
- 42:20came
- 42:20as
- 42:20a
- 42:20witness
- 42:21to
- 42:21bear
- 42:21witness
- 42:21about
- 42:22the
- 42:22light
- 42:22that
- 42:22all
- 42:22might
- 42:23believe
- 42:23through
- 42:24him
- 42:25verse
- 42:2612
- 42:26but
- 42:26who
- 42:26did
- 42:27receive
- 42:27him
- 42:28he
- 42:28just
- 42:28spoke
- 42:29his
- 42:30name
- 42:31he
- 42:31gave
- 42:32the
- 42:32right
- 42:32to
- 42:32become
- 42:33children
- 42:34of
- 42:35God
- 42:35so
- 42:37Jesus
- 42:37is
- 42:37the
- 42:37Christ
- 42:38the
- 42:38anointed
- 42:39one
- 42:39of
- 42:40God
- 42:40the
- 42:40lamb
- 42:41of
- 42:41God
- 42:41the
- 42:41son
- 42:42of
- 42:42God
- 42:43who
- 42:43takes
- 42:44away
- 42:44the
- 42:44sin
- 42:45of
- 42:46the
- 42:46world
- 42:46and
- 42:47if
- 42:48we
- 42:48are
- 42:48in
- 42:48Christ
- 42:48this
- 42:49morning
- 42:49then
- 42:49we
- 42:50have
- 42:50been
- 42:50called
- 42:50to
- 42:51be
- 42:51proclaimers
- 42:52faithful
- 42:53witnesses
- 42:55to the
- 42:55personal
- 42:56work
- 42:56of
- 42:56that
- 42:57Christ
- 42:57to
- 42:57call
- 42:57people
- 42:58to
- 42:58repentance
- 42:59and
- 43:00faith
- 43:00may
- 43:01it
- 43:01be
- 43:01so
- 43:02let's
- 43:02pray
- 43:02to
- 43:02that
- 43:03end
- 43:03as