The Who and the Why
December 19, 2011
Dec 11, 2011 John 1:19-28
The Who and the Why
Set your identity and your purpose in Jesus Christ.
(Click to Listen to the Sermon Audio or Right Click for “Save As” Download)
John the Baptist had a persona that drew attention. It gave him credibility.
Live in the desert, wear camel hair clothing, and eat locusts for breakfast and honey for dessert and you too will gain listeners, at least for a time.
If I could think of a modern example it would be the evangelistic Arthur Blessit, who has carried a cross in over a hundred nations. He was on Cape Cod ten years ago or so, walking from Provincetown to the canal. He was a striking sight to say the least – a man dressed in white, with a cross over his shoulder, walking by the side of the road. A newspaper reporter saw him and interviewed him. One man stopped his car, rolled down his window and said: I’m going to be driving for several hours. Can you give me something to think about?
I stopped what I was doing to talk with him. And carried that cross for a hundred yards to see what it felt like. Blessit attracted attention. John the Baptist all the more so, including the attention of the authorities.
They asked him two questions – two very important questions for John to answer. And they are important questions for us today as well.
John 1:19-28
I) Who are you?
That question was asked of John the Baptist
That question came from priests and Levites sent from the Jews. Jews is the word John uses to identify the leaders of Jerusalem.
The priests and Levites were sent to investigate this man and his movement in the desert. It was a religious movement that was influencing a lot of people, and they were very suspicious about it. Here is this man with the strange clothing, the strange diet, the strange living conditions, with multitudes flocking to be baptized by him.
So who are you?
John immediately denied what they thought he might want to be – the Messiah. “I am not the Christ” (the Greek word for Messiah).
So they pressed on, again suspicious he may be puffing up himself with claims to be someone historic. Are you Elijah? I am not. Are you the Prophet? The one foretold by Moses. No.
Well then – who are you? We need to give an answer back in Jerusalem.
And his answer is vs 23 –
“I am,” and he quoted from Isaiah.
‘ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“ Make straight the way of the LORD,”’
This is a reference to the one who will prepare the way for the King of glory to make his entrance. The one who will prepare the way of the Messiah. That is who I am.
When John answered the question of “Who are you?” he answered it by defining himself in relationship to Jesus Christ. “I am the voice that prepares the way for Jesus Christ.
It allowed him to stand in the face of his detractors.
Knowing who you are helps you to stand in the face of attacks and opposition, whether it be from within or without
We can struggle with identity, especially with any change in life. When we graduate from high school, and we used to be somebody looked up to, the Big Man on Campus thing, that ‘s gone. Who am I?
Or when a person goes through a divorce, or the death of a spouse? Who am I? I used to be a wife, a husband.
Or losing a job. Or losing an ability. Who am I?
You need an identity that will stand. And you find that when you identify yourself in relationship to Jesus Christ. Understanding our identity in Christ is critical to a fruitful walk with the Lord.
Here’s who you are in Jesus Christ – a Christian is one who is united with Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection.
The central events of Christianity, Christ’s death and resurrection, are the foundation of the Christian life. Dying with Christ means old things in us die – things that used to be our motivating force or fear. It may have been accumulation of material wealth, or it may have been self- preservation, or self-magnification. It certainly involved convincing ourselves that I am a good person who does right. And all that is crucified with Christ on the cross.
Rising with Christ means rising to a new way of living under His Lordship. Now we are alive to him. We count on His victory over death. We depend upon Him.
Baptism is a sign of our identity.
Romans 6:3-4
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection
Your baptism was about who you are
So you are not the big man on campus. You are not the “it” girl. You are not this, and you are not that. That is God’s gift to you. The one thing upon which you can stand, the one anchor that holds, is to know that you are Christ’s.
Another statement of identity is in Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Your identity guides your behavior.
A Youth for Christ director I knew was having trouble with a student acting up in the Jr. High club. He would instigate talking and disrespect during a meeting, and generally cause chaos. So the Director took him aside and said: “Hey, you’re a leader here. You have great influence. You can help me out if you help set an example and keep order.”
And the kid changed into a positive leader – he had a new identity – a leader and a helper.
So you, like John are the voice. You’ve been placed where you are by God.
Isaiah 43:10-11
“ You are My witnesses,” says the LORD,
“ And My servant whom I have chosen,
That you may know and believe Me,
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
Nor shall there be after Me.
I, even I, am the LORD,
And besides Me there is no savior“
You are a witness by your life. There is a lot of darkness in our world, but you have been set apart, you are different, and that is a witness.
You are a witness by your words as well. Watch for your opportunities to communicate the glory of Jesus Christ.
II) Why do you do what you do?
There was a second question for John. If he does not have the authority of the Christ, or one of the prophets, why does he baptize?
Another way of putting it – “Why do you do what you do?”
The Pharisees were looking for his authority to do what he did.
In their eyes he needed some kind of tie to tradition, some authorization for what he was doing. That is true. We do need something other than just our own idea.
So, John, by what authority to you do what you do?
In America, we like to cite our own intuition and our self-authority.
When I was starting a church in Rockland County, NY, I told a co-worker at a retail store what I was doing.
She said: “That’s neat. I started my own religion, too.”
I was floored – I wasn’t expecting to make that impression. I wasn’t at all hoping to start my own religion.
But that would be affirmed in our day – you pick and you choose, you go to the cafeteria of religions, and pick a main course, side dishes, and dessert.
And why do you do what you do? Because you want to, that’s why!
That’s not a good reason, though is it? The autonomy of the individual can too easily be the autonomy of the fool.
So how did John answer, “Why do you do this?” – His answer was: I do it for the sake of Jesus Christ, that Christ would be exalted.
V 26-27
“I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”
That is why John did what he did.
V 27 His point here is not so much “I’m nothing,” his point is, “Jesus Christ is so much greater than I am.”
John defined who he was in relationship to Christ, and he defined why he acted by his relationship with Christ. Jesus Christ is great enough to define and enliven every part of your life.
Why do you do what you do?
That is, why do you do what you do with your life? What is your reason for choices you make every day?
It can be about self preservation, or self magnification. It can be about pleasure, or acceptance? Whatever it is, it won’t be enough unless it is this: the glory of God in Jesus Christ.
That served John well as he faced trials. King Herod had him arrested, because John had criticized Herod for stealing his brother’s wife. When you are in prison, you want to know who you are, and what your purpose is.
Jesus knew who he was – the Son of god. And He knew His purpose – to seek and to save that which was lost. In that knowledge He could stand in the face of the cross.
And so the question today for you on this third Sunday of advent is: do you follow and cling to and trust in Jesus Christ as the highest being in this world, in this universe?
Does your thinking and do your choices and your affections reflect that?
A woman writes: For the first time in my life, I live where it’s cold in December. Temperatures hover around freezing and dip into the teens at night. After watching me scrape my windows a few times, someone gave me a great piece of advice: “Park facing the sun.”
They meant that the rising sun would do the hard work for me if I parked my car facing east. It doesn’t remove the ice, but the sun warms the surface, softening the ice and making it easier to scrape. Even when it’s only 9 degrees outside, it doesn’t take long to clear the windows.
When I position myself that way it’s easier too. If I keep oriented to Jesus the Son, gaining warmth from him in a cold world But if I face away from Him, I’m not ready to move with Him. Which way are you facing? Adapted from Angela Walker, Christiancinema,com
So, then, who are you?
Why do you do what you do with your life?
Find your identity and purpose in Jesus Christ.
The Who and the Why
Set your identity and your purpose in Jesus Christ.
(Click to Listen to the Sermon Audio or Right Click for “Save As” Download)
John the Baptist had a persona that drew attention. It gave him credibility.
Live in the desert, wear camel hair clothing, and eat locusts for breakfast and honey for dessert and you too will gain listeners, at least for a time.
If I could think of a modern example it would be the evangelistic Arthur Blessit, who has carried a cross in over a hundred nations. He was on Cape Cod ten years ago or so, walking from Provincetown to the canal. He was a striking sight to say the least – a man dressed in white, with a cross over his shoulder, walking by the side of the road. A newspaper reporter saw him and interviewed him. One man stopped his car, rolled down his window and said: I’m going to be driving for several hours. Can you give me something to think about?
I stopped what I was doing to talk with him. And carried that cross for a hundred yards to see what it felt like. Blessit attracted attention. John the Baptist all the more so, including the attention of the authorities.
They asked him two questions – two very important questions for John to answer. And they are important questions for us today as well.
John 1:19-28
I) Who are you?
That question was asked of John the Baptist
That question came from priests and Levites sent from the Jews. Jews is the word John uses to identify the leaders of Jerusalem.
The priests and Levites were sent to investigate this man and his movement in the desert. It was a religious movement that was influencing a lot of people, and they were very suspicious about it. Here is this man with the strange clothing, the strange diet, the strange living conditions, with multitudes flocking to be baptized by him.
So who are you?
John immediately denied what they thought he might want to be – the Messiah. “I am not the Christ” (the Greek word for Messiah).
So they pressed on, again suspicious he may be puffing up himself with claims to be someone historic. Are you Elijah? I am not. Are you the Prophet? The one foretold by Moses. No.
Well then – who are you? We need to give an answer back in Jerusalem.
And his answer is vs 23 –
“I am,” and he quoted from Isaiah.
‘ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“ Make straight the way of the LORD,”’
This is a reference to the one who will prepare the way for the King of glory to make his entrance. The one who will prepare the way of the Messiah. That is who I am.
When John answered the question of “Who are you?” he answered it by defining himself in relationship to Jesus Christ. “I am the voice that prepares the way for Jesus Christ.
It allowed him to stand in the face of his detractors.
Knowing who you are helps you to stand in the face of attacks and opposition, whether it be from within or without
We can struggle with identity, especially with any change in life. When we graduate from high school, and we used to be somebody looked up to, the Big Man on Campus thing, that ‘s gone. Who am I?
Or when a person goes through a divorce, or the death of a spouse? Who am I? I used to be a wife, a husband.
Or losing a job. Or losing an ability. Who am I?
You need an identity that will stand. And you find that when you identify yourself in relationship to Jesus Christ. Understanding our identity in Christ is critical to a fruitful walk with the Lord.
Here’s who you are in Jesus Christ – a Christian is one who is united with Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection.
The central events of Christianity, Christ’s death and resurrection, are the foundation of the Christian life. Dying with Christ means old things in us die – things that used to be our motivating force or fear. It may have been accumulation of material wealth, or it may have been self- preservation, or self-magnification. It certainly involved convincing ourselves that I am a good person who does right. And all that is crucified with Christ on the cross.
Rising with Christ means rising to a new way of living under His Lordship. Now we are alive to him. We count on His victory over death. We depend upon Him.
Baptism is a sign of our identity.
Romans 6:3-4
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection
Your baptism was about who you are
So you are not the big man on campus. You are not the “it” girl. You are not this, and you are not that. That is God’s gift to you. The one thing upon which you can stand, the one anchor that holds, is to know that you are Christ’s.
Another statement of identity is in Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Your identity guides your behavior.
A Youth for Christ director I knew was having trouble with a student acting up in the Jr. High club. He would instigate talking and disrespect during a meeting, and generally cause chaos. So the Director took him aside and said: “Hey, you’re a leader here. You have great influence. You can help me out if you help set an example and keep order.”
And the kid changed into a positive leader – he had a new identity – a leader and a helper.
So you, like John are the voice. You’ve been placed where you are by God.
Isaiah 43:10-11
“ You are My witnesses,” says the LORD,
“ And My servant whom I have chosen,
That you may know and believe Me,
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
Nor shall there be after Me.
I, even I, am the LORD,
And besides Me there is no savior“
You are a witness by your life. There is a lot of darkness in our world, but you have been set apart, you are different, and that is a witness.
You are a witness by your words as well. Watch for your opportunities to communicate the glory of Jesus Christ.
II) Why do you do what you do?
There was a second question for John. If he does not have the authority of the Christ, or one of the prophets, why does he baptize?
Another way of putting it – “Why do you do what you do?”
The Pharisees were looking for his authority to do what he did.
In their eyes he needed some kind of tie to tradition, some authorization for what he was doing. That is true. We do need something other than just our own idea.
So, John, by what authority to you do what you do?
In America, we like to cite our own intuition and our self-authority.
When I was starting a church in Rockland County, NY, I told a co-worker at a retail store what I was doing.
She said: “That’s neat. I started my own religion, too.”
I was floored – I wasn’t expecting to make that impression. I wasn’t at all hoping to start my own religion.
But that would be affirmed in our day – you pick and you choose, you go to the cafeteria of religions, and pick a main course, side dishes, and dessert.
And why do you do what you do? Because you want to, that’s why!
That’s not a good reason, though is it? The autonomy of the individual can too easily be the autonomy of the fool.
So how did John answer, “Why do you do this?” – His answer was: I do it for the sake of Jesus Christ, that Christ would be exalted.
V 26-27
“I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”
That is why John did what he did.
V 27 His point here is not so much “I’m nothing,” his point is, “Jesus Christ is so much greater than I am.”
John defined who he was in relationship to Christ, and he defined why he acted by his relationship with Christ. Jesus Christ is great enough to define and enliven every part of your life.
Why do you do what you do?
That is, why do you do what you do with your life? What is your reason for choices you make every day?
It can be about self preservation, or self magnification. It can be about pleasure, or acceptance? Whatever it is, it won’t be enough unless it is this: the glory of God in Jesus Christ.
That served John well as he faced trials. King Herod had him arrested, because John had criticized Herod for stealing his brother’s wife. When you are in prison, you want to know who you are, and what your purpose is.
Jesus knew who he was – the Son of god. And He knew His purpose – to seek and to save that which was lost. In that knowledge He could stand in the face of the cross.
And so the question today for you on this third Sunday of advent is: do you follow and cling to and trust in Jesus Christ as the highest being in this world, in this universe?
Does your thinking and do your choices and your affections reflect that?
A woman writes: For the first time in my life, I live where it’s cold in December. Temperatures hover around freezing and dip into the teens at night. After watching me scrape my windows a few times, someone gave me a great piece of advice: “Park facing the sun.”
They meant that the rising sun would do the hard work for me if I parked my car facing east. It doesn’t remove the ice, but the sun warms the surface, softening the ice and making it easier to scrape. Even when it’s only 9 degrees outside, it doesn’t take long to clear the windows.
When I position myself that way it’s easier too. If I keep oriented to Jesus the Son, gaining warmth from him in a cold world But if I face away from Him, I’m not ready to move with Him. Which way are you facing? Adapted from Angela Walker, Christiancinema,com
So, then, who are you?
Why do you do what you do with your life?
Find your identity and purpose in Jesus Christ.
posted by Jerry | 9:50 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home