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John 1:19-28
Between the last words of the Old Testament and the first words of the New Testament, there is a gap called the intertestamental period or what can simply be called in between testaments. When you read the last Chapter of the last book of the Old Testament, that is Malachi Chapter 4 and the first words of the first book of the New Testament, that is Matthew Chapter 1, there is a real life period of approximately 400 years separating the two periods. Malachi was the last prophet of the OT until Jesus was born.
This intertestamental period is considered as a period of 400 years of silence. Because, during that period, there was no prophetic activity. God had gone silent on the Jews so to speak. This period was marked by the Jews ruled by different powers of the then world. Persians, Greeks and Rome. At the time of the opening of the New Testament, the Jews were under Roman occupation.
Also, during this period there was great anticipation by the Jews for the fulfilment of prophecies of restoration and deliverance by the Messiah. A lot of literature was written in the process to fill the gap of the silence and provide the Jews something to draw inspiration from. That was when the apocrypha books were written. But the Apocrypha books were never considered as Scriptures by the Jews. It was within this anticipation for prophetic fulfilment at the end of the 400 years that Christ was born. And it was within this same period the ministry of John the Baptist began.
This New Year morning, I want us to explore the topic “The Identity of John The Baptist” and by way of application to our lives, I will hope also in the same topic to ask you the question they asked John the Baptist “Who Are You?” And I hope that as we go through the sermon, you will pick some lessons about your own identity. This is crucial. Paul calls for self-examination in 2 Corinthians 13:5. The Greek philosopher Socrates or Plato has said that an unexamined life is not worth living.
John’ Birth
The gospel of John doesn’t give us details about the birth of John the Baptist. But his birth, was a miraculous nature like the birth of Christ. Just that he wasn’t conceived of a virgin. But rather, his parents were aged. The gospel according to Luke opens with the narration of the birth of John, who was born within the same period Jesus was born. That is like 6 months before Jesus was conceived. John and Jesus are cousins we can assume, because Mary was a relative of Elizabeth, John’s mother. Luke gives us detailed information about the birth of John (Luke 1:5-24 (read only up to 17). Very clear instructions were given about his birth including what we will call his purpose.
John’s Purpose
The question to John the Baptist “Who Are You” (v.19,21,22) is a question of Purpose or Assignment. Simply, they wanted to know John’s Purpose and perhaps the authority by which he does what he is doing. The ministry of John the Baptist had features of a prophetic ministry in the Old Testament. He looks like a fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy (Malachi 4:5-6, Matthew 3:1-3). What we see in the text before us then is an interaction between the Jewish religious leaders and John the Baptist concerning his identity (John 1:19; 24). Note that, the Jews mentioned are actually religious authorities and not just ordinary Jews (compare v.19 & 24). So they had the right to enquire about the ministry of John.
John’s answers show he knew his purpose (v.23). He was a forerunner of Jesus. He was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. His ministry was in the spirit of Elijah to call people to repentance towards God. He came to call for repentance. He had an assignment and it is clear he knew his Purpose or Assignment. Apart from the Lord Jesus Christ, John’s life was one that was prophesied and again we see the full narrative in Luke’s gospel. John then we can safely say had no identity issues to deal with. His parents would have definitely told him the events around his birth and his purpose. Also we see in the text that John knew God sent him (1:31;33). And he was doing just what was told about him in Luke (Luke 1:16). One of the things that clearly points out he was living his purpose was that he baptised. Now, the baptism of John was more of a purification rite and do similar to Christian baptism, they are not the same. We will come to the subject of baptism one.
Also, from the other gospels, we note that John the Baptist was bold and confronted sin, even the sin of a political leader, which cost his death.
Now it will be safe to ask you “Who Are You?” As John answers that question, I ask it to you also, Who Are You?
One of the difficult moments in growing up for some is deciding what to do with their lives. What career to take, where to live, who to marry, etc. Not only in growing up, but even grown up, successful people with lots of achievements still struggle with some of these decisions. Now it is not all people who encounter this challenge. We have noted that John the Baptist clearly knew his Purpose. But for those who encounter this challenge, decisions about what to do with their lives comes with a great struggle and may lead to Identity Crisis. And if they are believers, the difficulty intensifies when they ask the questions: what is the will of God for my life? Which is often made worse by the common idea that God has something specific for us to do and until we find it, we have not started living. This may breed procrastination and delays in making life choices.
[O]ur search for the will of God has become an accomplice in the postponement of growing up, a convenient out for the young (or old) Christian floating through life without direction or purpose. Too many of us have passed off our instability, inconsistency, and endless self-exploration as “looking for God’s will,” as if not making up our minds and meandering through life were marks of spiritual sensitivity. As a result, we are full of passivity and empty on follow-through. We’re tinkering around with everyone and everything. Instead, when it comes to our future, we should take some responsibility, make a decision, and just do something [1]
So for those who will be seeking the will or purpose of God for their lives in 2023, the biblical charge is to do something, find something worthwhile to engage your life. There are certain clear teachings of Scripture that if we are following, we will indeed walk in the will or purpose of God.
Faith in Christ is God’s will for our lives (John 1:11-13 ),Our sanctification and holiness is God’s will (1Thes 4:3,1Peter 1:16), Work is God’s will (Colossians 3:17; 23 ), if you will marry, marrying a godly man or woman is God’s will ( 2 Corinthians 6:14 ).
The 1st question of the Westminster shorter catechism is helpful here:
What is the chief end of man?
Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.
Here is something then to settle the question of purpose. Is your life glorifying to God? Do you live your life with the focus of bringing glory to God? This is the purpose of our lives. That we will live for God in all our endeavours. Enjoy God. How do we do that? I believe the most important thing here is to have faith in God. And that can happen through faith in Jesus Christ. No one can make God their joy if they have not been reconciled to God first through saving faith in Christ. John’s purpose clearly glorified God and this must be our purpose too.
John’s Humility
In John’s answers to the religious leaders also, we learnt something about John’s humility (vv. 20-23). John answers his interrogators in two ways. He first spoke of What he is not, and what he is. In v. 20-21, he answers “I am not”. In verse 23 he answers “I am.” In these answers we see the humility of John displayed. He could have easily claimed to be who he was not so that perhaps, he may draw more crowds. But no. John stayed within his track if I may say. John we can say had a proper view of himself. He didn’t exalt himself beyond who he is. And this is required of everyone of us who has believed in Christ. The Bible has a number of things to say about having a proper view of ourselves
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned (Romans 12:3)
But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbour. For each will have to bear his own load (Galatians 6:4-5).
There are people with an over bloated sense of importance looking down on everyone else apart from themselves. But this should not be the attitude of the believer. The believer is called to a life of humility (James 4:6) and John the Baptist clearly displayed this. He didn’t claim to be who he was not. He didn’t exalt himself beyond what he has been called to do. He humbled himself and as believers, our lives must be marked by humility (John 3:30).
John’s Focus
In all of John’s interaction with the religious leaders, he didn’t call attention to himself. But in answering, all his attention was on Christ. And we can speak of this as John’s focus. His purpose and ministry was to point to Christ and he will do just that. He came as a witness to Christ and he lived to fulfil just that: vv.25-27.
All of his ministry was Christ Centred. His Focus was on Christ and he will not be distracted. And for us also, we need to come to that point in our lives that we are Christ focused and Christ centered. Jesus must be all we have. He must be all satisfying to us. Fast forward to John 6, after Jesus has fed the multitude and began saying some things about himself, people began walking away, then Jesus turned to his own disciples and asked them a question (John 6:66-67).
As we walk through this New Year, I hope these things will guide you through the new year. Make Christ your focus. Live your life to the glory of God.
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