The Witness and the Word - John 1:19-34

 The Witness, and the Word

John 1:19-34

Introduction: John the Evangelist, is presenting in his Gospel the Case for Christ. He’ll state his purpose plainly in 20:30-31,

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;  31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John the Gospel writer was an eyewitness, one of the original twelve disciples called by Jesus. Under the inspiration of God, he intentionally selected his material, conscious of the written and oral testimonies already circulating, he wrote to make the case that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. His goal was that those who read his Gospel would respond with faith, convinced by the evidence, their understanding illumined by the Holy Spirit they would believe, and so, they would find the Way to Life! 

       We’ve noted already John’s interest in “witness” and “testimony.” This is indeed legal language in Greek as it is in English. The prologue twice referred to the testimony of John the Baptist. We saw first in 1:6-8,

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.  8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

So, the Evangelist affirms that John the Baptist was specifically sent by God as a witness to the Light. Then we have that parenthetical statement in v. 15, the context of the incarnation of the Word (14) and references to “grace and truth” (14c; 16-18)…

15 ( John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")  

Now, after concluding the Prologue with the statement about the revelation of God in Christ (18) we turn to the narrative section of the Gospel, and another reference to John the Baptist. 1:19 begin with the phrase, “Now this is the testimony of John…” We’ll see that John announces that the Messiah, the Lamb of God, has come!  He makes it clear that his ministry, his purpose, is to point people to the promised One, the One who has come in fulfillment of the promises, the Messiah, Jesus. Side note: The scene that is described here is referred to also in the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, with some differences. Most notably, the baptism of Jesus is not actually mentioned here! I believe this shows us that the writer John knew that his readers were already familiar with the Gospel story; he is not going to retell all the details they already know.  

The Big Idea: Our great purpose and privilege in life is to be a witness that Jesus is both Sovereign and Sacrifice, the only way to forgiveness and life. We’ll consider that in three steps as we see John being asked, 1) Who in the world are you? (19-23); 2) How do your actions fit into God’s plan? (24-28); and then we’ll see, 3) The Testimony of John: It’s all about Jesus, the Eternal Son is the Lamb of God! (29-34). 

I. Who in the world are you (1:19-23)? John was an unusual character. Word of his ministry reached the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem, and they were unsettled enough by it to investigate. Who in the world are you, John?  Who do you claim to be?

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"  20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."  21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."  22 So they said to him, "Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"  23 He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight1 the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."

       “This is the testimony of John…” Just over 50x the verb “to witness” or the noun “testimony, witness” appears in this Gospel. Here, John the Baptist is testifying to the identity of the Messiah, Jesus. John was called by God and was compelled to proclaim: Get ready, the Messiah is here! By the way, there are two John’s that figure into this Gospel, right? John the Baptist, this prophet in the wilderness who is announcing the Messiah’s arrival, and John the “Beloved” disciple, the author of the Gospel, who humbly goes unnamed in this Gospel.  

I am NOT the Christ! – John’s ministry drew some attention from the religious establishment!

     - There was a messianic expectation: “Christ” = “Messiah”. The hope of a future deliverer was present throughout the OT: The Seed of the Woman, Abraham’s “Seed”, The Son of David, the Servant of Isaiah.  There was some disagreement over how this person would be manifest, how he would be recognized.

       The phrase he uses, in the context of John, carries over-tones: I am NOT the Christ! In the context of John the phrase “I AM” takes on a deep significance, Jesus uses it for the first time in John 4:26, in response to the statement of the Samaritan woman about the coming Messiah. The word order draws attention to the phrase, “I AM”.  The phrase is echoed throughout the Gospel and in 8:58 there is no doubt, “Before Abraham was, I AM.”  Jesus is pointing back to Yahweh, the “I AM” of the OT, and identifying himself with Him.  John’s Gospel states unambiguously the deity of Christ, and repeatedly reinforces that truth from perspectives.  The Messiah is no mere man; He is the great “I Am.”  The Baptist is just a human announcing that the age of the messiah is at hand.

       “I am a voice crying in the wilderness, ‘make straight the way of the Lord…” v.23, John refers back to Isa 40:3 as a prophetic summary of his ministry, preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah, the Lord. NB. that in Isaiah, the word “LORD” is written with all capital letters, indicating that it translates the divine name “Yahweh.”  Don’t miss the significance of that: Isaiah was talking about the Lord God, Yahweh, and his reign. John is applying that text to the coming of Jesus. John knew who Jesus was, and he knew who he was in God’s plan. Who in the world are you? You are a child of the King, a witness of His grace, called to point others toward him! The Big Idea is that *Our greatest purpose and privilege in life is to be a witness that Jesus is Lord, both Sovereign and Sacrifice, the only way to forgiveness and life.

II. How do your actions fit into God’s plan? (1:24-28).  I referred to hearing the comment at Christmas time that you likely have heard as well, “Why are you people always trying to ruin Christmas by making it religious?!” If Jesus is who he claimed to be, he must be at the center of our life.

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)  25 They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"  26 John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,  27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."  28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

       John was calling on people to be immersed in water as a symbol of repentance and preparation for the coming of the Messiah. The leaders are asking: where do you get the authority to do something so radical?

       “…but among you stands One who you do not know…”  There is someone out there far greater than me, he’s among you, and yet you haven’t even recognized him!  John was announcing that the Messiah is present, he had already been born and was among them, but he had not yet revealed himself.  There is some irony in this as John is writing to show that the Messiah, the Son of God, is Jesus, yet despite the evidence, the signs, the testimony, the witnesses, for the most part his own people still don’t come to know him. He came unto his own, and his own did not receive him… but some did… and some will! We are called to be witnesses, that is God’s plan. What a privilege to be a part of what He is doing in the world!

Consider the humility of John: “…the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie…”  One task of a servant in the first century would have been to take off his master’s shoes at the end of the day.  John says his master is so great, that he is unworthy even for this humble service.  This Jesus of whom he speaks later stoops down before his disciples, and He, their Lord and Master, washes their dusty feet.  Not only this, but he carries his cross, and at the 6th hour, the hour of the sacrifice, the Lamb is nailed to the cross for us. What love! 

       By the way, I know some of you are interested in geography, where was John baptizing people? There is a traditional site that tour guides will take you to, that seems reasonably close to where it likely was, on the east side of the Jordan, just north of the dead sea. (Scholars are less sure than tour guides about the exact location!). What we do know, is that this was not the Bethany where Lazarus, Mary, and Martha lived, which was just a couple of miles from Jerusalem. Compare these later references in John,

1:28, 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

10:39-40,   39 Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.  40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained.

It seems Jesus and the disciples were still in this area when they got word Lazarus was sick.

11:18-19   18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off,  19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.

It isn’t so strange for the different places to have the same name, right? Where is Newark, anyway? If you are from Philadelphia, you might say its in Delaware. If you grew up in Central New Jersey, you say up toward New York!  In Maine we have, Paris, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, China, Rome, Mexico, Peru, Belfast, Madrid, Lisbon, and Athens! And you don’t need a passport to visit! Don't be distracted about where Bethany is, close to Jerusalem or across the Jordan! The point is, that John knew his purpose. And, *Our greatest purpose and privilege in life is to be a witness that Jesus is both Sovereign and Sacrifice, the only way to forgiveness and life.

III. The Testimony of John: It’s all about JESUS, the Lamb, the SON (1:29-34).

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  30 This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.'  31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel."  32 And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.  33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'  34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."  

       He is the Lamb (v.29; cf. v.36). “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” It is a most unexpected announcement at this point in the story. He is the eternal Word, God incarnate, the Chosen One, the Son… and the Lamb? A Lamb who takes away sin?  For a first century Jew that certainly implies sacrifice, a Lamb that would be slaughtered, its blood poured out for the remission of sins. It is hard to see at this point in the story – how could he be the Messiah, the King, the Son of God, and also a Lamb? We’ll see in this Gospel the importance of Passover, when the Lamb would be slain (Ex 12:5-7; John  13:1; 19:14). Also, as Isaiah wrote, “He was oppressed an afflicted, Yet he did not open his mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not his mouth…” (Isa 53:7).

       In John we see this tension maintained, before every mention of Jesus as “king” there is a reminder that Passover is near.  Finally, in 19:14-16, at the hour of the Passover sacrifice, Jesus is delivered up to be crucified as the King of the Jews. 

       He is the eternal, preexistent one. v. 30.  The testimony of John in 1:15 is repeated here: “One who comes after me… was before me…”  Clearly John is stating the preexistence of Jesus. It is such an unusual statement it is repeated so the reader cannot miss about what John is saying: Jesus’ birth was after John, but it was not his beginning.  “In the beginning was the Word…”  Already present, distinct from creation and before creation, the eternal Son of God.

       John the Baptist was to announce and prepare the way for his coming v. 31. John’s ministry was to reveal Him to Israel. John was a cousin of Jesus, but he may not have known him by sight. He is probably saying here that until he had a direct special revelation from God he did not “recognize him” in the sense of discerning his true identity and mission. He did know that the Messiah’s coming was imminent, and he preached repentance and preparation for his arrival. JB was not about winning a following for himself. He would later say, “He must increase, I must decrease!”  It’s all about Jesus! John knew that.

       John was able to give personal eyewitness testimony - v. 32,33a. John bears witness that according to the Father’s word, the Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove. (N.B. we see three distinct personalities, Father, Son, and Spirit, the Triune God). He received revelation, and he testified about what he saw and heard. 

       He pointed to a unique ministry of the Messiah in the New Age that was dawning: v.33b “…this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit…”  John doesn’t say anything more about the “baptism in the Spirit” which is developed more by Luke in the book of Acts and in Paul’s letters.  This is a new work that will be done by the Messiah.  It is exactly what happens on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:16f; 2:33.  John also anticipates that the work of the Messiah would lead to this new age of the Spirit. 7:39; 14:16,17,26; 16:5-11). The glorification of Jesus, connected with his departure, is the cross (and resurrection).

       He applies a popular messianic title to Jesus, with a new, deeper meaning - v.34 “Son of God.”. For the Jews “Son of God” was a title that went back to the OT, the covenant with David God said of David’s Son, “he will be a son to me…” God declared of the anointed one in Psalm 2, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you…”  That truth is reaffirmed in the Synoptic Gospels by the Father at the baptism of Jesus, and again on the Mount of Transfiguration. The scene in Luke 9 is awesome–Moses and Elijah appear – discussing with Jesus his “departure” – his “Exodus” that would soom be accomplished in Jerusalem. “THIS ONE [not Moses, not Elijah] is my Son, hear Him!” John is saying that we need to understand the full significance of that title.  He is the Messiah, the Son, in the truest ontological sense.  He is the Son of God, He is GOD the Son.

What is God saying to me? Our greatest purpose and privilege in life is to be a witness that Jesus is both Sovereign and Sacrifice, the only way to forgiveness and life.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage? 

1) Remember how John the Evangelist began in the Prologue, emphasizing who Jesus is, and reminding us why he came… In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… He came unto His own, but His own people did not receive Him… but as many as did receive Him, those who believed on His name, He gave the right to become children of God… Have you received Him, have you believed on His Name… that means recognizing who He is, trusting in what He did for you?

2) Is there someone in your sphere of influence that is still in darkness? They need to know that God is real, that we know Him through the Son, who though He existed eternally in the Godhead, in unity with the Father and the Spirit, He willing took on a human nature, and tabernacled for a while among us. He lived as a man in the fallen world, and died for us. He is the Lamb whose blood was shed so that we could have life! 

3) Christmas is past, the decorations may have already started coming down… but the truth is unchanged… God is real. All things were made by Him and for Him, without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men… Jesus says later in John, “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world…” Will you hold forth the Word of Life? In the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5:16, Jesus said,  “…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  AMEN.