A Study of John's Gospel: Pt. 5 John the Baptist preaches repentance.
Good morning to all....
Our Lord has granted us another day where we can make choices and decisions that bring honor to our Father in heaven. May our Lord make this become the desire of each one of us so that we edify one another and seek to evangelize the lost.
John the Baptist points to Christ.
John 1:15-18 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
The apostle John recorded part of the message proclaimed by John the Baptist during his brief ministry as the forerunner preparing the way of the LORD. At this point the text tells us that John the Baptist had been preaching and telling the people gathered to hear him that Christ Jesus is the one of whom he has been speaking about.
The apostle John goes on to tell us those who are born again receive abundant grace and fullness. Grace is freely granted and the fullness of Christ means that we receive blessing upon blessing as believers.
Grace flows into us like endless ocean waves that break on the seashore. The picture is that God is perfectly pleased and satisfied in the work and person of His Son, Jesus Christ such that He opened the doors of heaven to allow grace to come upon all who believe.
John the Baptist told the crowd that not only is Christ preferred over him, but that He was before John the Baptist. The word translated "preferred" is the same word where it says that all things were "made" by the Word.
John is telling the people that Christ is the uniquely born Son of God and that He preexisted. Thus, John the Baptist is also giving witness to the true Divine Nature of Jesus Christ.
The apostle John brings out the contrast of the law given by Moses and grace and truth that Jesus Christ brought through His perfect obedience as God's only Son. Elsewhere in the New Testament we learn that the law is a perfect moral standard that we cannot measure up to. (See Romans 3-6; Galatians 3-4 for examples).
God giving His Law to Moses was considered to be the pinnacle of Jewish religion. God did not give His law to any other people but Israel. They had the great privilege of having God's Word, being able to worship the One, True God of Heaven and to live a separated life dedicated to serving Jehovah. They were to tell the nations about God.
The apostle John wants us to see that God is bringing us something far greater than the law by giving us grace and truth through Jesus Christ. Christ would satisfy every element of the holy law and His obedience even to the death of the cross is what opened the floodgates of grace.
John concludes this paragraph by pointing out that no man has ever seen the Father because God is a Spirit. However, not only is the Son of God one with the Father and beloved of the Father, He declares the Father. When Jesus speaks, He speaks the Father's words and when He works, He does the Father's works. (See John 14:8-14).
The Apostle John gives details of John the Baptist's preaching.
John 1:19-28 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
What does it mean "this is the record of John the Baptist"? The word translated "record" is the same word as the word "martyr." It is used to remind us that John the Baptist spoke truth that made some people so angry that he was beheaded.
The people who came to question John the Baptist are from Jerusalem and they represent the same people who are going to strongly oppose the ministry and person of Jesus Christ. The Jews who sent the priests and scribes were members of the ruling council of 70 elders known as the Sanhedrin.
They asked John the Baptist who he was and he plainly told them that he was not the Messiah.
Malachi 4:4-6 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Then they asked him if he was the prophet Elijah and again, John the Baptist said "no." Then, John the Baptist quoted from Isaiah 40:1-5 to demonstrate that he was calling people to repent and prepare for the coming of the LORD.
Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
They asked him a third question about if he was "that prophet" which Moses spoke of and again, John the Baptist said "no." Moses spoke prophetically to his generation that there would come a day when Jehovah Elohim would raise up a prophet that they most assuredly would hear and heed.
Finally, they asked John the Baptist why he was baptizing since he was not Elijah, not Messiah and not that Prophet Moses spoke of. He simply replied that he baptized with water but One was coming after him who would baptize with fire and that he was not worthy to untie His sandals.
John the Baptist has a singular mission to call people to repent of their sins because the Holy One of God was coming. We see his faithfulness to his mission and his desire to see people repent for the glory of God. His ministry fulfilled several key prophecies about the coming of Messiah.
In our next post we will hear more from the record of John the Baptist and see his powerful introduction of Christ to those around him.
Thoughts to Ponder...
The message of John the Baptist was one of repentance for the remission of sins. It was a clarion call to a people mired in sin to confess, forsake and turn from sin to the Living God who can save them.
Repentance is sorrow, regret or affliction we feel when confronted with our sins because we understand we are exposed to divine wrath and condemnation. It is also a change of mind that results in a turning away from sin and turning to God to trust and obey Him.
Moses was the great law giver and sins were covered by the death of an innocent animal as it's blood was shed. The law could not save anyone because it points out where we sin. Thus, it always condemns us because we are sinful creatures. (See Hebrews 10:1-4).
This is why the apostle John wants us to see the importance of Jesus Christ coming into the world. Jesus brings grace and truth. He brings the new covenant that is anchored in the perfect life of Jesus Christ who did fulfill all the law and then died in our place. (See Hebrews 10:5-10).
Have you ever repented of your sins because you realized that you have offended a Holy God who will judge you for your sins? If not, I strongly urge you to think and pray about these truths and to acknowledge your sin to the All Knowing God. He has provided a way of salvation for all who will turn from sin and turn to embrace Jesus Christ by faith.
Bob
Our Lord has granted us another day where we can make choices and decisions that bring honor to our Father in heaven. May our Lord make this become the desire of each one of us so that we edify one another and seek to evangelize the lost.
John the Baptist points to Christ.
John 1:15-18 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
The apostle John recorded part of the message proclaimed by John the Baptist during his brief ministry as the forerunner preparing the way of the LORD. At this point the text tells us that John the Baptist had been preaching and telling the people gathered to hear him that Christ Jesus is the one of whom he has been speaking about.
The apostle John goes on to tell us those who are born again receive abundant grace and fullness. Grace is freely granted and the fullness of Christ means that we receive blessing upon blessing as believers.
Grace flows into us like endless ocean waves that break on the seashore. The picture is that God is perfectly pleased and satisfied in the work and person of His Son, Jesus Christ such that He opened the doors of heaven to allow grace to come upon all who believe.
John the Baptist told the crowd that not only is Christ preferred over him, but that He was before John the Baptist. The word translated "preferred" is the same word where it says that all things were "made" by the Word.
John is telling the people that Christ is the uniquely born Son of God and that He preexisted. Thus, John the Baptist is also giving witness to the true Divine Nature of Jesus Christ.
The apostle John brings out the contrast of the law given by Moses and grace and truth that Jesus Christ brought through His perfect obedience as God's only Son. Elsewhere in the New Testament we learn that the law is a perfect moral standard that we cannot measure up to. (See Romans 3-6; Galatians 3-4 for examples).
God giving His Law to Moses was considered to be the pinnacle of Jewish religion. God did not give His law to any other people but Israel. They had the great privilege of having God's Word, being able to worship the One, True God of Heaven and to live a separated life dedicated to serving Jehovah. They were to tell the nations about God.
The apostle John wants us to see that God is bringing us something far greater than the law by giving us grace and truth through Jesus Christ. Christ would satisfy every element of the holy law and His obedience even to the death of the cross is what opened the floodgates of grace.
John concludes this paragraph by pointing out that no man has ever seen the Father because God is a Spirit. However, not only is the Son of God one with the Father and beloved of the Father, He declares the Father. When Jesus speaks, He speaks the Father's words and when He works, He does the Father's works. (See John 14:8-14).
The Apostle John gives details of John the Baptist's preaching.
John 1:19-28 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
What does it mean "this is the record of John the Baptist"? The word translated "record" is the same word as the word "martyr." It is used to remind us that John the Baptist spoke truth that made some people so angry that he was beheaded.
The people who came to question John the Baptist are from Jerusalem and they represent the same people who are going to strongly oppose the ministry and person of Jesus Christ. The Jews who sent the priests and scribes were members of the ruling council of 70 elders known as the Sanhedrin.
They asked John the Baptist who he was and he plainly told them that he was not the Messiah.
Malachi 4:4-6 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Then they asked him if he was the prophet Elijah and again, John the Baptist said "no." Then, John the Baptist quoted from Isaiah 40:1-5 to demonstrate that he was calling people to repent and prepare for the coming of the LORD.
Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
They asked him a third question about if he was "that prophet" which Moses spoke of and again, John the Baptist said "no." Moses spoke prophetically to his generation that there would come a day when Jehovah Elohim would raise up a prophet that they most assuredly would hear and heed.
Finally, they asked John the Baptist why he was baptizing since he was not Elijah, not Messiah and not that Prophet Moses spoke of. He simply replied that he baptized with water but One was coming after him who would baptize with fire and that he was not worthy to untie His sandals.
John the Baptist has a singular mission to call people to repent of their sins because the Holy One of God was coming. We see his faithfulness to his mission and his desire to see people repent for the glory of God. His ministry fulfilled several key prophecies about the coming of Messiah.
In our next post we will hear more from the record of John the Baptist and see his powerful introduction of Christ to those around him.
Thoughts to Ponder...
The message of John the Baptist was one of repentance for the remission of sins. It was a clarion call to a people mired in sin to confess, forsake and turn from sin to the Living God who can save them.
Repentance is sorrow, regret or affliction we feel when confronted with our sins because we understand we are exposed to divine wrath and condemnation. It is also a change of mind that results in a turning away from sin and turning to God to trust and obey Him.
Moses was the great law giver and sins were covered by the death of an innocent animal as it's blood was shed. The law could not save anyone because it points out where we sin. Thus, it always condemns us because we are sinful creatures. (See Hebrews 10:1-4).
This is why the apostle John wants us to see the importance of Jesus Christ coming into the world. Jesus brings grace and truth. He brings the new covenant that is anchored in the perfect life of Jesus Christ who did fulfill all the law and then died in our place. (See Hebrews 10:5-10).
Have you ever repented of your sins because you realized that you have offended a Holy God who will judge you for your sins? If not, I strongly urge you to think and pray about these truths and to acknowledge your sin to the All Knowing God. He has provided a way of salvation for all who will turn from sin and turn to embrace Jesus Christ by faith.
Bob
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