And so, there in verse 15, “John (the Baptist) bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.”  And of His fullness we have all received and grace for grace.  For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

 

Historically, Jesus was born six months after John the Baptist and so when John says “He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me...” is a clear witness to Jesus' deity.  For who can be after and before at the same time but God? 

 

Later Jesus will tell of how Abraham saw His day and He will make the statement “I AM.”  Remember when Moses asked God, who should I say has sent me?  And God replied, “Tell him I AM has sent you.”  And so in John 8:58, Jesus says before Abraham was I AM...signifying His Oneness with the Father, and also signifying his existence even outside of time. 

 

And so understand John is clearly speaking of Jesus' absolute deity...and of His fullness in verse 16...which is the same word found in Colossians 1:19 when Paul says “It pleased the Father that in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily...” and so out of His absolute deity, we have received grace for grace, or grace upon grace (v16).  God's grace just heaped upon us sufficient for every need.

 

 

For the law, God's commandments for righteousness that no man, because of our sin, because of our dark hearts, can keep was given through Moses but grace and truth...The truth about God's love, the revelation of His plan of salvation came through Jesus Christ.

 

The law was given to Moses but grace and truth were not given to Jesus.  This is an important point which again validates the deity of Jesus Christ.  You see grace and truth were Jesus' own perfections and so the essential point here is that God's righteousness was shown through the law but God Himself was made known by the Only Begotten Son.

 

The law revealed God's justice, but it did not make known His mercy; it testified to His righteousness, but it did not exhibit His grace.  The law is God's truth but not the full revelation of God Himself.  The bible says, “by the law is the knowledge of sin;” we never read, “by the law is the knowledge of God.” 

 

The Law revealed God's holiness and man's sinfulness but by Jesus we see God Himself...by Jesus we hear the voice of God shouting I am holy, perfect and righteous and also, I am love...I long for you...I'll do anything to make you well...You are Mine and without Me, you are lost.  You have been stolen from Me but I will make a way.  I will remove your filth and clothe you with righteousness.  I will do what you cannot because I love you to death. 

 

Grace upon grace.   And then we read scriptures such as Romans Chapter 8, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”  In Christ, we are free...and if the Son has set you free, you are free indeed! (John 8:36)

 

And so grace and truth, the truth about His love for you and grace upon grace, just heaped all up on ya, by Jesus Christ!

 

Verse 18, No one has seen God at any time.  (Moses saw his after glow – a picture of the law)  The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father (one with the Father), He has declared (displayed) Him.

 

Verses 19 – 20, 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.”

 

So John says the Jews...those Jews more specifically were the Sanhedrin....the priests and the Levites as we read in the NLT...the religious and political leaders of the Jewish people.  John was out there causing a stir...folks were beginning to go to him and so they sent priests and Levites to identify him.  They first asked him, are you the Christ...he said no...

 

 

 

Verse 21, And they asked him, “Why then?  Are you Elijah?”  He said, “I am not.”

 

Why would they say Elijah?  Because 400 years before this Malachi had given a prophecy which we find in Malachi 4:5.  Malachi prophesied, “Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”

 

Are you the Prophet?  And he answered, “No.”

 

Why would they say that?  Moses gave a prophesy that is found in Deut. Chapter 18.  Moses said to the people, “The Lord God will raise up a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren....there in chapter 18 the Lord said to Moses, “I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth...”

 

Verse 22, 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? 

 

Verse 23, He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness.  Make straight the way of the Lord,” as the prophet Isaiah said.”  Some strong words from John the Baptist.  He's saying that he is indeed fulfilled prophecy...the prophecy that was given by Isaiah 700 years before this...which we read in Isaiah 40:3.  Almost verbatim. 

 

How did John the Baptist know that it was him that Isaiah was speaking about...well John's gospel doesn't tell us but Isaiah gives us a clue regarding an interaction between John and God prior to this scene.  We find a continuance of the prophecy regarding John the Baptist in Isaiah 40:6 in which Isaiah tells of the discussion that will take place 700 years in the future between God and John the Baptist...There it says, “The voice said, “Cry out!” and he said, “What shall I cry?”

 

Then the prophet goes on to describe God's reply as he basically bashes Judaism and the unrighteousness of His people and cries out several times...can't you see?  Don't you know?  Can't you hear Me?

 

His people, His chosen people had conjured up useless religion from the law (Torah, first five books of the Bible, the Law of Moses, or more commonly, the Law...613 dos and do nots).  They had sought their own righteousness, rather than God Himself...and that is why John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness...far away from the temple, and outside the walls of the city...because Jehovah was not in the temple, He was not in the city barren of righteousness...

 

Verses 24-28, “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?”  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.

 

It doesn't take John long to get to the point.  To talk about Jesus.  I wonder, in your times of conversation, in your times of advice...how long it takes you to get to the point.

 

Now baptizing for the remission of sins is not found in the OT.  Ceremonial cleansing and even dunking is, submerging a priest in water prior to having him serve in the temple, these things we find throughout history and in the bible.  And so John, not only the first John meaning “God has delivered” but also the first to baptize everyone, not just those that were considered righteousness.  John the Baptist was much more than a voice, he was a symbol...God, the infinite has come to the finite to cleanse not just those who seemingly followed all the rules and traditions of man, but all of humanity from the power and penalty of sin...

 

And so the priests would ceremonially wash prior to entering into the presence or service of God...now John the Baptist, outside of man's society and religion, washing anyone who would come and preparing anyone who would come for relationship and service unto God. 

 

So much more than a voice...he was the symbol, the forerunner of Jesus Christ.  And so we encounter Jesus. 

 

Verses 29 - 34

 

And so John, out there just walking in what God had called him to do, pressing forward, even cast out, even coming under fire from the societal leaders, still moving forward in his calling...and bam, he sees Jesus.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

 

You want to live to your full potential, walk in His will.  You want to see God at work, you want to know Him in an intimate way?  You want to read passages likes Romans 8:28 and really believe it?  Purify your heart.

 

But how is it you might say, how can we purify our hearts.  Isn't wanting God, isn't desiring Him, isn't crying out to Him enough...?  Well the issue is answered in the book of James.  James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

 

John was not playing hokie pokie with the Lord.  You put your left foot in, you take your left foot out...that's a divided heart.  The bible says that you cannot serve two masters because you will end up loving one and hating the other, you can not serve both God and man (yourself).  Mark chapter 3 says that a divided house cannot stand...you see you're sinking, those of you who are playing games with God. 

 

 

John was all in and because of that, Jesus was there, AND John saw Him.  And God even showed him more because he testifies that it was not only Jesus he saw, but he also saw the Holy Spirit. 

 

To see the Holy Spirit at work is a blessing.  Yes we try to help folks and we try to lead folks to the Lord but ultimately, if it is me that is helping, the improvement is temporary at best.  And if it is me that is helping, the pressure is immense.  But the truth is that the bible says the battle is not mine, its the Lord's and also that it is God that wills and does in the hearts of men...and so no pressure...I simply draw near to God in that I give Him the position of priority in my life and I am willing to be used by Him, I desire to see Him and so He says, show up...the rest is up to me, I'll show you!

 

And so John saw and testified of Jesus Christ, that He is the Word made flesh, that He is the Light of Life and the Light of Men, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God...

 

Verse 35 – 36.  John can't take his eyes off of Him. 

 

Verse 37.  How do you think John said that?  Passion, enthusiasm and encouragement....full of wonder.

 

 

 

 

 

Verse 38.  Jesus asks “what do you seek?”  And that is the question to us also today...what are you after?  Ease, comfort, riches, prosperity?  Then your relationship with Jesus will be surface level and powerless...but listen to their answer...

 

”Where are you staying?”....Jesus, Son of God, Word of God, Light of Life...we just want to be where you are....

 

And Jesus replies...”come and see.” 

 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see.  Jesus' invitation to us this morning is come and see.  Search your hearts...why is it that you seek Jesus?  The fact that He asks that question means that He desires intelligent worship.  He says, if you're going to worship Me, know why...and if the answer to why is some fleshly desire, then know the truth, you are not worshiping at all...Its not that I don't accept you, its that you don't come so that you may be accepted...

 

Turn over to Matthew Chapter 7...(read verses 15 – 27)

Finish back in John (finish verse 39)