Sept 16 2020 - Wednesday PM Class
JOHN, THE GOSPEL OF BELIEF
John the Baptizer and Jesus
John 1:19-51
VERSES NINETEEN thru TWENTY-THREE
(The Delegation from Jerusalem)
- Jerusalem was the center of Jewish life even though more Jews lived in the Diaspora than in the Promise Land.
- The “Jews” in the Gospel of John commonly refers to elements of the religious establishment, often the Sanhedrin (2:18, 20; 5:10, 15-16, 18; 6:41, 52; 7:1, 11. 13, 15, 35; 8:22, 48, 52, 57; 9:18, 22; 10:24, 31, 33).
- Priests and Levites had come to occupy a semi-official governmental status in First Century Judaism, the Levites being somewhat like temple police.
- Associated with the Sadducees.
- Remnants of the Maccabees.
- John emphatically agrees with the prologue’s assessment of his ministry as not himself being the Messiah, but the one to introduce the Messiah.
- Many before John claimed to be Messiah.
- This would continue even after the Jesus’ Resurrection (Matt. 24:24; MK. 13:22; Acts 5:33-39; 21:37-39).
- Note the similarity of John 1:21 with Matthew 16:14.
- The Jews, due to prophecies in Daniel, were expectant regarding the Messiah (primarily chapters 2, 7, 9), and 12).
- Anything seeming to be Messianic would have immediately gotten their attention (cf. Matt. 2:1-12).
- Malachi 4:5 also had them on the lookout for a literal return of Elijah, which John was not.
- Ezekiel 10:4, 18; 11:22-23; Malachi 3:12; 4:5-6
- Isaiah 40:1-5
- Matthew 11:14; 17:10-13
- Also, “the prophet,” (Deut. 18:15, 18-19; Jn. 6:14; 7:37-40; Acts 3:19-23; 7:37).
- The delegation needed to report something.
- Isaiah was the place to look to identify John (Isa. 40:5).
- Metaphorically, John was preparing the road back from Captivity.
- One of the themes of the New Covenant that looks to true release from sin.
- Held Captive by sin, released by the blood of Jesus, reception of the Promise (Acts 2:39; Gal. 3:16)
- Note Exodus 3:6-9; 6:2-8
VERSES-TWENTY-FOUR thru THIRTY-FOUR
(Identity of the Messiah)
- The Pharisees had questions as well, centering on his ministry of baptism.
- They were the most influential sect of the Jews.
- John’s baptism would have been seen as his claim to a significant ministry.
- Curious in the fact that he was not baptizing Gentiles to become proselytes, but Jews!
- Again, John diverted attention away from himself and toward the Messiah (Jesus was already among them).
- Removing sandals and washing feet was for the lowliest of servants.
- John was a true servant!
- John’s Introduction of Jesus.
- John’s Gospel records neither Jesus’ baptism nor the Lord’s Supper, but both receive significant inferential attention,
- Here, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” points to the fulfillment of Passover.
- Additionally, Jesus as the Lamb would carry apocalyptic imagery (Jewish apocalyptic writings, Enoch and Testament of Joseph; Rev. 5:5-10; 17:14)
- Jesus’ baptism is here referenced as a past event.
- John was Jesus’ relative, so he almost certainly knew Him, but not as the Messiah.
- This changed at Jesus’ baptism as the Spirit rested upon Jesus and remained (Matt. 3:16; Mk.1:10; Lk.3:22).
- Isaiah 11:2; cf. 42:1; 61:1.
- In the Judaism of John’s day, the Messiah was to bring the Spirit.
- Philippians 2:6-8 shows that Jesus let go of the prerogatives of being God to become a man and die the death of the cross.
- The “power” Jesus used was not His own, but the Spirits.
- Later Jesus would send the Spirit back to allow His return into the hearts of believers (Jn. 7:37-39; 14:15-26; 16:5-15; Acts 1:4-5; 2:1-4).
- The Son of God!
- A phrase not unknown to the Jews and their Messianic expectations but brought to the forefront by John and the Synoptics (note esp. Jn. 20:31).
- A clear identification that Jesus was God, the biggest obstacle to the Jews accepting Jesus (Jn. 5:18).
VERSES-THIRTY-FIVE thru FIFTY-ONE
(Transition from John to Jesus)
- The Importance of “Come and See.”
- Jesus to Andrew and Philip
- Andrew (implied) to Simon.
- Jesus looks at what can be rather than just at what is.
- Imagine calling Simon “Rock!”
- Philip to Nathaniel.
- Prejudices are deadly.
- Jesus is interested in much more than an initial excitement; He is looking for disciples!
- The journey of true discipleship grows in wonderment as a disciple grows to be more like Jesus!
Edwin
Duration 41:01