Sermon Listening Guide
Speaker: Dr. Condy Richardson
Scripture: John 1:19-34
Sermon Title: “Messenger and Message ”
John 1:19-34 (NIV)
19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”
21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John Testifies About Jesus
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John Testifies About Jesus
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
First Thoughts
John the Baptist excelled at understanding his place in the Kingdom of God.
His humility made him a man to be admired.
Messenger
John came from strange and miraculous beginnings.
When Jewish leaders asked him who he was, he told them who he was not.
John believed he existed solely to prepare people for Jesus and point people to Jesus.
As you go through life, who are you pointing to Jesus?
The Message
John 1:29 is the essence of the Christian message.
The Lamb of God is also the Good Shepherd.
We do not get to pick and choose exactly who we think Jesus is.
The Lamb of God has the power to change everybody.
The Message Continued
In verses 32-34, John described the baptism of Jesus.
John foretold Jesus as one who would baptize mankind with the Holy Spirit.
Baptism shows that God lives within us, and we are immersed in God.
This great symbol of new life and the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit is worth sharing.
Final Thoughts
While our examples are important, we must use our lives and words to point people to Jesus.
John the Baptist excelled at understanding his place in the Kingdom of God.
His humility made him a man to be admired.
Messenger
John came from strange and miraculous beginnings.
When Jewish leaders asked him who he was, he told them who he was not.
John believed he existed solely to prepare people for Jesus and point people to Jesus.
As you go through life, who are you pointing to Jesus?
The Message
John 1:29 is the essence of the Christian message.
The Lamb of God is also the Good Shepherd.
We do not get to pick and choose exactly who we think Jesus is.
The Lamb of God has the power to change everybody.
The Message Continued
In verses 32-34, John described the baptism of Jesus.
John foretold Jesus as one who would baptize mankind with the Holy Spirit.
Baptism shows that God lives within us, and we are immersed in God.
This great symbol of new life and the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit is worth sharing.
Final Thoughts
While our examples are important, we must use our lives and words to point people to Jesus.