SERMON NOTES
The Witness of John the Baptist
John 1:19-28
Stand and Read
v19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
v21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
v23 He said: “I am The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
v26 John answered them, saying, “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.” These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John 20:31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
John and His Ministry.
Luke 1:13-16 ...Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and
you shall call his name John....he will be great in the sight of the Lord...He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
Luke 1:42-44 ...“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
Matthew 11:11 Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist...
The Jews and Their Questions vv19-20
Luke 3:15 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not.
Are You Elijah Or A Prophet? v21-22
Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
Matthew 17:10-11 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus answered and said to them,
“Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him...
Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren.
I Am Just A Voice v23
Isaiah 40:3-5 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert a
highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the
rough places smooth; The glory of the LORD shall be revealed...
Matthew 3:1-3 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’ ”
Who Gave You the Right To Baptize? vv24-25
Matthew 28:18 ...All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
John Points Them To Christ vv26-27
John 3:20 He must increase, but I must decrease.
Whatever your gifts and calling, you can do as John did and point people to Jesus.
John 1:19-28
Stand and Read
v19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
v21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
v23 He said: “I am The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
v26 John answered them, saying, “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.” These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John 20:31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
John and His Ministry.
Luke 1:13-16 ...Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and
you shall call his name John....he will be great in the sight of the Lord...He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
Luke 1:42-44 ...“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
Matthew 11:11 Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist...
The Jews and Their Questions vv19-20
Luke 3:15 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not.
Are You Elijah Or A Prophet? v21-22
Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
Matthew 17:10-11 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus answered and said to them,
“Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him...
Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren.
I Am Just A Voice v23
Isaiah 40:3-5 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert a
highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the
rough places smooth; The glory of the LORD shall be revealed...
Matthew 3:1-3 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’ ”
Who Gave You the Right To Baptize? vv24-25
Matthew 28:18 ...All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
John Points Them To Christ vv26-27
John 3:20 He must increase, but I must decrease.
Whatever your gifts and calling, you can do as John did and point people to Jesus.