The Voice Points To The Word | Sermon 09/18/2022

John the Baptist as the Second Introduction to the Word Made Flesh

Please turn with me in your Bibles to John chapter 1. John chapter 1 we're finally out of the prologue. We're going to be in verses 19 through 28 today. John chapter 1 verses 19 through 28. Church the title of this sermon today is the voice points to the word the voice points to the word starting in verse 19 of Chapter 1 of the gospel according to John here now the inerrant and infallible words of a living and true God.

This is the testimony of John when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him who are you and He confessed and did not deny but confessed. I am the Christ. They asked him I'm sorry, and he confessed and did not deny but confessed.

I am NOT the Christ. They asked him what then are you Elijah? And he said I am NOT are you the prophet and he answered no. Then they said to him who are you so that we may give an answer to those who sent us?

What do you say about yourself? He said I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness make straight the way of the Lord as Isaiah the prophet said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him and said to him why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ nor Elijah nor the prophet.

John answered them saying I baptize in water. But among you stands one whom you do not know. It is he who comes after me the thong of whose sandal. I am NOT worthy to untie. These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Thus ending the reading of God's holy and inspired word, let's pray quickly one more time Church Father we come before you asking you to bless the proclamation of the word Lord. Would you please speak through me today?

Would you edify and teach your people Lord today? Would you illuminate the scriptures for this church? God would you help our every focus to be on the Word of God today and on the message you want us to receive.

And especially on you Lord and help me God to decrease and you do increase and. That all that would be said here today would be helpful and clear and let it always be true in Jesus name. I pray. Amen.

Why Introductions Point Beyond Themselves

Introductions. Introductions are important in our communication and in our distribution of information. When you go into a job interview the interviewers typically ask for a brief introduction of yourself.

They want to know succinctly and yet naturally who you are and what you stand for typically in a brief amount of time. In many ways those first words matter just as much as the rest. When I first met my wife I wanted to introduce myself in such a way where I conveyed strength a Genuine nature and most importantly to me.

I wanted to show that I had humor good humor. Turns out it's humor. It's not good humor. That's okay. She'll tell you that I Thought if I could smile or make her laugh, it'd be all downhill from there a good introduction to something Will establish a solid foundation and encourage the continued interest and attention beyond it.

I Remember when I was in seminary I was in my Old Testament one and two class for the first year, maybe my second year in seminary and We were required to write what was called a critical introduction.

I Write a critical introduction for Deuteronomy and then six months later. I had to write a critical introduction for Hosea and Of course it started with a preface which is like an introduction to the introduction.

Then I had to cover things like authorship the theories behind the different authors dates. You know possible locations main theological Themes and structure and all those all those things are covered in a critical introduction.

It would serve kind of as an overview. It would be a highlights so to speak, but it wasn't the actual scriptural text. It wasn't actually scripture. It wasn't the main course. It was still just the appetizer and in many ways the introduction points to.

What's more important the introduction points to the substance of something. An introduction is just the portrait of a person and the actual text is the full painting. In that way the prologue of John served as an introduction.

The prologue of John served as an introduction to the eternal and divine word. We learned all about the past few weeks the logos. Every word was intentional as John wanted to set the stage for the rest of the gospel account.

The word is God. He said the logos is God in our gain. Ha logos, right. And the word Came among us that was verse 1 and verse 14 there is the word who who was who was God who is God who is face-to-face with God and then the word who Came among us.

The word created everything in the beginning and he has recreated in in his coming a people made new. I Talked about that last week. In the beginning of chapter 1 it shows that Jesus is the creator then once again He steps into his own creation and he creates again.

It says that he gave us the right to become children of God. Not of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man. But of the will of God and so Jesus is creating again in a sense He's creating a people being new for him to dwell with him forever.

The Baptist Will point to Jesus Christ. We'll see that John the Baptist Gives the second introduction so to speak. One was a spiritual introduction while now this introduction will be in a historical context two introductions.

Of the word the eternal word and now the word made flesh in Jesus Christ. John the Baptist in a sense is the introduction to the Messiah. That's his calling. Like a like a master of ceremonies that gives an exciting an exciting introduction for someone who's famous.

John the Baptist goes back. He moves his hand and out of the Curtains walks Jesus Christ pointing to The one that everyone really came for. Pointing the one whom we should clap for and give praise to.

That's what John the Baptist is doing. Look who has arrived? What's so amazing? Is that with the rest of chapter 1? We will see that promise of recreation symbolized. Let me explain that Genesis 1 Displays the first creation in seven days right six days.

On the seventh day God rested and the gospel according to John Displays the coming of Christ in seven days as well indicating again a new Creation has begun. So when you think about it in Genesis 1 You have two sections of three days two sections of three days and I would call the first three days Preparation the second group of three days Fulfillment.

So what do you have on day one light and darkness was created on day two? You have the the sky and sea was created. Day three was land and plants. Okay, that's the first section and then the second section of three days was a fulfillment of those things.

So what on the fourth day you then get the Sun Moon and stars as A fulfillment of the light that was created on day one in in on day five you have birds and fish. To fill the sea in the sky that was created on day two.

Then finally on day six humans and land animals were created to occupy. Then the land and the plants for food. It's perfect preparation and fulfillment in days one through six. On the seventh day God rested and it was a day of blessing a day of rest.

The text in this gospel, I think shows us something similarly. There's some symbolism here the first three days start with John the Baptist giving witness and testimony to Jesus Christ for three days John will preach of the coming Christ and.

And then following that are three more days. Where Jesus is then? Finding and making his twelve apostles. He is bringing his twelve apostles to him. And so you have three days preparation with John the Baptist preparing everyone's hearts then three days where Jesus comes and fulfills that and and the rest of chapter one will show him finding Nathaniel and and and and you know the rest Philip and the rest of the the apostles.

He will gather them in those three days and finally on day seven. It reaches its climax a special day has occurred. What happens on the seventh day when Jesus has arrived on the scene. He does his very first miracle at the wedding in Cana.

Where he turns the water and the wine that is the inauguration. That is the start of his Miraculous ministry where he does signs and wonders and miracles. That is the first time he does that so just like the first creation is an introduction to the world the coming of Jesus the Word made flesh is the introduction of the God-man to his recreation and beginning of supernatural wonders.

And we're going to now spend our time looking at some of those first three days. We're gonna look at the first three days of preparation with John the Baptist go to verse 19. This is the testimony of John when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him Who are you?

Who are you? This is this is right in step with the synoptic Gospels that is The other Gospels Matthew Mark and Luke Luke if you don't know synoptic means Seeing together optic and sin Sy sy n is something together.

Okay, so the synoptic Gospels are seeing are being seen together. John is is separate from that but in those Gospels they all start with the account of the John the Baptist and so the Apostle John will here be marrying the Old Testament prophetic witness to the apostolic witness of the New Testament with John the Baptist the forerunner announces the coming King.

And this precedes Jesus's earthly ministry. We learned that from verse 7 that John came as a witness to testify about the light. We saw that in verse 7 you could say that is the main purpose of his hint of his entire life and calling to witness and testify about the Lord and in a way his first trial begins now a Delegation of priests and Levites from Jerusalem were sent by the Jews to question him.

They want to record his first official witness and testimony and so they come to him. And this will be no issue for the Baptist as this is why he is here doing what he is doing to give witness. So that is perfect.

They ask him. Who are you and he's like I got this. But it's not what you would think. There's no positive identification in a sense. We're gonna see that he answers very strategically. Priests, of course were of Aaron's direct lineage while Levites were of the general lineage of Levi and the social status levels of Israel at these at this time at least these two class Priests and Levites were of kind of a lower class.

Priests and Levites were charged with maintaining the temple functions and activities as well as teach the people facilitate the worship of God and The activities that they had going on about there, but here they are running an errand for the Jews.

They're running an errand. It's possible. Maybe even the Sanhedrin that the Sanhedrin sent them and the Sanhedrin is a a council made of high priests Pharisees Sadducees political and religious figures who made judgments and administrative Decisions, it's possible that the Sanhedrin sent them that is the same group that Jesus had to stand before before his crucifixion in The rest of the gospel account.

Although many many Jews will become followers of Christ. When John refers to the Jews it typically mostly carries a negative connotation. Why. Because in those moments in those contexts, it's not anti-semitic or anything like that, but it's in those Contexts that the Jews are trying to silence him and put him away get rid of him.

They're conspiring together To rid themselves of the Messiah the King of Kings. So the Levites and priests ask him who are you who are you. And Before we get into John's answers, let's consider that question for ourselves.

What do we know about John the Baptist? What does scripture say about him? Just as he is intimately bound with the Savior in this chapter. He is also intimately bound with the Savior at his birth. Let's see that That's really in the gospel according to Luke mostly gives great detail of this immediately we see in the gospel according to Luke there is a priest named Zacharias of the division of Abijah and He had a wife of Aaronic lineage named Elizabeth.

Elizabeth had a barren womb and both of both of them were said to have been of old age. Now One day when Zacharias was performing one of his priestly duties in the temple the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias.

It records this in Luke chapter 1 verse 13. But the angel said to him do not be afraid Zacharias for your petition has been heard. And your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you will give him the name John.

You will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth for he will be great in the sight of the Lord and he will drink no wine or liquor and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb and He will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.

It is he who will go as a forerunner Before him in the spirit and power of Elijah. To quote turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children and the disobedient of to the attitude of the righteous.

So as to make ready a people ready for the Lord. Now this is right after this this is where Jesus comes in. The angel Gabriel then visits a young woman named Mary and who is betrothed to a man named Joseph.

This angel tells her how the Holy Spirit will come upon her and The power of the Most High will overpower her overshadow her and she will bear a son and the Holy Child he says will be called the Son of God and He also informs Elizabeth of her relative Elizabeth and some translations say cousin.

But there actually is in the original text there. It just is a female kinsman that is not actually the word cousin, but they were they were related we just don't know exactly how related Mary and Elizabeth were and so Elizabeth is six months pregnant at this point with John the Baptist and Mary then goes to the hill country to visit Zacharias and and Elizabeth and She's going to visit them.

And it says that when they came together. The two wombs of these women one with John the Baptist one with Jesus in the wombs they came together. Babies who are also going to be relatives. John the Baptist is related to Jesus.

They come close to each other and it says that John the Baptist leaped in his mother's womb. He leaped in his mother's womb and she was filled with the Holy Spirit as Jesus came near and see. John probably just couldn't wait to start his ministry.

He's like a new believer. I just got to get out there. He's ready to Share the gospel the truth of Jesus Christ, so he leaps in his mother's womb. John is then born and his father Zacharias. Who was mute for a time?

His mouth is loosed and. And he speaks a prophecy by way of the Holy Spirit. Zacharias says this. He speaks mostly about Jesus Christ, but he says this briefly about his own son. He says towards John and you child will be called the prophet of the Most High.

For you will go on before the Lord to prepare his ways. To give his people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. Because of the tender mercy of our God with which the sunrise from on high will visit us.

So he prophesies even about his own son. John grows up as well as Jesus. Our text in John 1 coincides With what we believe to be the same events in Matthew 3 Mark 1 and Luke 3. Okay. One of them state this the Word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

The Word came to him and he came into all the district around the Jordan. Preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew records John Preaching repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Repent. You have to imagine the people were without a prophet in the land from the time of Malachi. Unto now this historical context of Matthew is 400 years 400 years the people without a prophet. The people hear this prophetic voice.

And they were even listening to him. What should I do? What should I do to repent and he's and he instructs them do this if you're a soldier do that so a delegation at that point. Because this prophetic voice was reaching Jerusalem.

This delegation has to come and investigate This anomaly out by the Jordan River. So go to verses 20 and 21. To to the question. Who are you it says and he confessed and did not deny but confessed I am NOT the Christ.

They asked him what then are you Elijah? And he said I am NOT are you the prophet. And he answered? No and what's interesting is When they came to him and said who are you they didn't say are you the Christ.

They didn't ask him that but John assumes their question. That they are looking for the identity of the Christ. He just goes straight to what he believes they are there for. There was there was at this time high messianic expectation in the first century.

There was this messianic fervor that someone is coming. Prophecies and timelines were starting to converge and The people were into had anticipatory feelings. They were getting ready for something. Everyone could feel it in the air so to speak.

The people had unrest unrest with the Roman occupation surely. Another deliverer will come the the Romans are oppressing us. Some looked for a Davidic warrior king Messiah. Others looked for a priestly Messiah.

And as we will see the prophet as they say. And nevertheless John is not the long prophesied anointed one of Holy Scripture. He is not the one of Prophecy that pointed to the Christ. It says confessed and did not deny it is meant in a judicial kind of way as if he raised his right hand and said I am NOT the Christ as If he sworn an oath he emphatically Speaks truthfully in his confession and The way this is narrative narrative is it has a positive Then a negative than a positive.

Confess did not deny confess. It is intended to convey his allegiance to his calling and objective as the Forerunner witness as well as his loyalty to the one who is coming. He's very serious. I will confess That I'm not the Christ and yet there are many people throughout history who have said yeah, I'm the Christ.

I Am a Christ. I am the Christ. Many people have said that but are not. What temptation could have come from this? John could have elevated himself. But he didn't. Most men want all eyes on them, but John is quick to point their gaze elsewhere.

Don't look at me. John The Baptist is an example. For all of us in that way. We should never act like we are something we are not. Every preacher. Every pastor every theologian every seminarian every lay person everyone.

In their conduct and in their speech and in their heart Should be conveying that they are not the Christ. We should act like Christ in his moral standards, but we are not the Christ. I mean that in such a way to not be prideful.

Never to exalt ourselves never act like we are the ones who save people who change people's lives. You know, I've heard people Even in this city who have said Yeah, I saved another person last week. Yeah.

Yeah, another conversion another notch on the belt. I Kid you not. I have heard people speak that way. They think they are the ones doing the saving men do this they want to receive worship. Unfortunately, even pastors receive and Eventually desire worship.

I've seen it they are just as much false Christ as People of false religion men of false Christ of false religions. So they continue to question him on his identity. Who are you then? What are you? They ask if he is Elijah.

Now some of you who know your Bible might be thinking. But I thought Elijah was long gone by now. It's probably been over a thousand years since Elijah. The people didn't expect a reincarnation. But they didn't know what to make of the prophecies.

Is Elijah coming back from heaven. Or is something related to Elijah coming? Elijah and John did look similar though in 2nd Kings chapter 1 verse 8 It says Elijah was a hairy man with a leather belt bound to about his loins.

Elijah the tishbite. While mark chapter 1 verse 6 says John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and His diet was locusts and honey. So they even look similar. So they go right to that.

Are you Elijah. So why does he say no. Why does he say no, I'm not Elijah. Malachi 4 speaks about Elijah. It says behold. I am going to send Elijah. I'm gonna. I'm going to send to you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.

He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. So that I will not come and smite the land with a curse. Malachi 4 Elijah is coming in Matthew 17 Peter John and James see the transfigured glorified Christ on the mountain.

It's the most magnificent sight one that they have never seen before. And what's interesting in this divine occurrence. Standing next to Jesus. They see Elijah and Moses talking with him. If you remember that Matthew 17 Elijah and Moses are talking the Apostles see the glorified Christ.

And so the question of Elijah comes up. It's removed. Jesus comes to them they speak and the disciples asked Jesus this why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first. And Jesus answered and said Elijah is coming and will restore all things.

But I say to you that Elijah already came and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands and it says then the disciples Understood that Jesus had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

They understood What Jesus was saying this Elijah who came is John the Baptist. So although Elijah Was taken up in the whirlwind if you remember Elijah did not die at the passing of the mantle to Elisha.

Elijah gets taken up in a whirlwind to heaven so he did not die upon this earth. But this is not him again. This is not the Elijah that has gone up. The angel Gabriel said that John is coming in the spirit and power of Elijah.

And Elijah was considered one of the most godly and powerful Prophets of God in the Old Testament time if not the most they looked up to Elijah. The people loved Elijah. Especially centuries moving forward.

I know poet back there. He loves spider-man. To the young Jewish boys Elijah would have been their superhero. They loved Elijah. He prepared the people for the coming day of the Lord and Elijah and John both spoke directly to the need of repentance among the people.

Very similar John the Baptist and Elijah. Jesus even said in Matthew 11 verse 14 He says this. And if you are willing to accept it John himself is Elijah who was to come. Jesus identifies John the Baptist as Elijah.

So the question remains. If he is this new type of Elijah, why does John say he is not? That he's not Elijah. Now it's possible John the Baptist did not realize the connection between himself and the Elijah passages.

He did not see the great significance in his ministry even though Jesus did that is Jesus knew John was the new Elijah, even if John didn't but I don't think that's true. I don't think John the Baptist would be unaware of these prophecies.

I don't think he would be unaware of the Word of God. The key lies in the phrase Jesus said If you are willing to accept it John himself is the Elijah who was to come. Jesus differentiates between the Elijah who was from the past who was taken up in the whirlwind to the Elijah.

He says who was to come. In other words John the Baptist. Identification as Elijah was not predicated upon him being the original Elijah, but the forerunner coming in a similar prophetically powerful way as Gabriel said in the spirit and power of Elijah and Here's the thing.

To the people who were changed and transformed by the Spirit of God who believed on Christ. They knew John the Baptist was Elijah they knew it. But to the people who didn't know Jesus and rejected the Christ to them.

They didn't believe that John was Elijah. Does that make sense? Whether he would have identified himself as such or not the people Wouldn't be able to accept it unless they were saved and given new eyes.

Finally they ask are you the prophet? Are you the prophet. Instead of saying I am NOT. The straight no is more forceful. He is not the prophet. This is referring back to Deuteronomy chapter 18 verses 15 through 18 and the promise of a coming Prophet.

It says in Deuteronomy the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you from among your countrymen and Excuse me, you shall listen to him. I Will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak them.

If you remember in our Solas series our five Solas series. We did a Solas Christus series on Christ alone on Jesus being the prophet priest and king and We went over the prophet of Deuteronomy 18 and that it was Jesus.

It was completely fulfilled in Jesus. John is the last of the prophets transitioning to the apostolic witness. He is a prophet apostle. He is not the prophet. Okay Jesus is actually identified as the prophet in the Gospels as well as in Hebrews chapter 1 in other places but John has a specific function and He takes that very seriously.

This continues to demonstrate his humble nature. He could have simply said he was Elijah. We could have all seen the scriptures prophesied about him. He could have said yes, I am Elijah and we would have seen them and we was yeah, you're right.

You're you're the Elijah who was to come. We could have agreed. But he likely said no to prophet as well because he didn't want to be exalted. He Doesn't want anyone to make anything of himself. He's here for a mission and his mission is not about him.

His mission is about someone else. He doesn't want any focus on him. Let's it be taken away from the one who is coming. He takes it very seriously. His whole calling is to direct everyone's attention to the coming Christ to prepare their hearts for the gospel.

He would say repent now for one is coming who can truly forgive the sins. That you have in their entirety. So moving on let's go to verses 22 and 23. Then they said to him who are you? So that we may give an answer to those who sent us.

What do you say about yourself? He said I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness make straight the way of the Lord as Isaiah the prophet said. They're done proposing their own suggestions of who John is.

Who are you? They reveal that they've been sent by some authority. They need an answer to bring back to someone. Apparently this delegation didn't simply need a negative statement. But they needed a positive statement of identification.

They knew they couldn't come back to the Jews or the Sanhedrin with a series of denials. They needed a positive identification. Who is John? What do you say about yourself? According to John he may not be the Messiah.

He may not be Elijah. He says or the prophet, but he's not some loon. He identifies himself with a reference from Isaiah the prophet. I Think it provides much more clarity and context when you go to it.

Isaiah chapter 40 Speaks more fully to this Isaiah 40 which he quotes starting in verse 3 of Isaiah 40. It says a voice is calling Clear the way of the Lord in the wilderness make smooth the desert a highway for our God.

Let every valley be lifted up and every mountain and hill be made low and let the rough ground become a plain and the rugged terrain a broad valley. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed and all flesh will see it together for the mouth of the Lord has spoken so the original context of Isaiah 40 is a prophecy pointing to the end of the exile in Babylon of God's people and a return to Jerusalem and The Lord will join them.

It says okay clear the way. Make straight the highways. The Lord is returning to his people. Isaiah 40 through 66 although point to a time post exile and then a return to Israel. They are also what's called typological.

That is to say before I've talked to you about what's called type and substance. Type and substance or shadow and fulfillment. Okay, and that's what's happening here. Isaiah even points to a future new heaven and new earth in the later part of his book.

And that would mean that Isaiah 40 is fulfilled right here is completely fulfilled with John the Baptist. That voice that is calling is John's. The Lord is coming. Make his path straight. The glory of the Lord will be revealed.

Remember it said we saw The words glory in the prologue. It says we saw his glory glory of the monogamous the only begotten of the Father. The one and only Son of God it was translated. Isaiah says what?

Says the glory of the Lord Will be revealed. Specifically it is in all capitals Lord. It is Yahweh. The glory of Yahweh will be revealed and we will see it. So How does this? Translate what am I saying?

This ties back to the prologue. But it also affirms the deity of Christ and the triune nature of God. The one that is coming according to Isaiah is Yahweh and Yet we know that the one who is coming is Jesus Christ.

So what does that mean? Jesus Christ is Yahweh. Jesus Christ is the Lord. Jesus Christ is God. It's amazing. So John makes it clear though right here. He doesn't say his name. He doesn't say I'm John.

All he says is I am a voice. I am a voice. No spotlight for him. He doesn't want it. John's ministry. From one theologians is this the cry of the Baptist is one of penitence and conversion without which the coming one cannot be received.

He's just a cry. He's just a voice. Many people long to make a name for themselves. They want the whole world to know who they are. People vie for their so-called 15 minutes of fame not John not John.

And so the question we have to ask ourselves. How concerned are we about our name? How badly do you want people to know your name? How badly do you want people to remember your name if only people remember me?

Or maybe I should be asking the question how concerned are you with people knowing the name of Jesus? That we may pray Lord. Give me no recognition for my works deeds or ministry or converts. Let people say if they remember me even at all.

Let them be able to say Jesus saved that man. Jesus saved him and Jesus gets all the glory. Jesus changed him. That's what I know about that man. Jesus changed him. May they remember if anything that the forerunner understood that John the Baptist knew that.

It will not be John the Baptist who exegetes God but the one coming with his kingdom. He will introduce him he. Jesus will be the one to exegete the father as we talked about last week. John will simply Show who he is.

The Authority of John’s Baptism and the Meaning of Christian Baptism

Let's go on to verses 24 and 25. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him and said to him. Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ? Nor Elijah nor the prophet so we have a bit more of a clue of.

Who sent this delegation? The Pharisees. It could have still been the Sanhedrin, but the Pharisees maybe influenced the decision to send the priests and Levites. Could have been a solo group of the Pharisees, but it says nevertheless the Pharisees sent these priests and Levites.