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Who Are You? John 1:19-51
Last Week I gave you a bit of homework; does
anyone remember what it was?
Imagine a place where people had the same name and the same job.
Everyone looked, dressed, and behaved alike. Their homes were identical
inside and out. Their cars had no distinguishing features. Indeed,
nothing about them set them apart from each other. Sounds horrible,
doesn't it? None of us would want to live in such an awful place.
Every parent who has an adolescent knows how strong the urge to be your
own person is. While we want to fit in and belong, we don't want to
become absorbed by others. We want to stand out from the crowd, even
lead the crowd. We want to carve out and retain our own identities.
God designed us this way. “I want to be me” is not the refrain of
egotism but of individuals created in God's image who long to discover
who they are and fulfill their life's purpose.
In our text today, you'll learn about a man who was sure about who he
was and his calling.
John 1:19–28 deals with John the Baptist and some people who are
intensely interested in his identity and purpose.
1. Where was John, and what was he doing? (vv. 25, 28)
2. Who went out to see John, and where were they from? (vv. 19, 24)
The priests were the theological authorities. Descendants of Aaron,
their primary job was to minister at the altar in the temple. The
Levites were descendants of Levi, and they had been appointed to assist
the priests with the temple ritual and service.
Unlike the priests and Levites, whose beginnings were instituted by God
in the Old Testament Law, the Pharisees came on the scene at the end of
the second century B. C. The Pharisees believed that the written and
oral traditions of the rabbis were as authoritative as the written Law
of Moses. The rabbis' traditions were basically theological and
practical commentaries on the Mosaic Law, and they were developed to
ensure that the Law's principles would remain applicable to the changes
of Jewish society. By preserving and following these traditions, the
Pharisees were trying to safeguard the Law from being dismissed as
irrelevant or obsolete.
The name Pharisees means “separated ones,” and that's how the members of
this group were best known. In their religious devotion, they separated
themselves from everything that might convey or lead to ethical or
ceremonial impurity.
3. Who did John the Baptist say he was not? (John 1:20, 21)
4. Who did John the Baptist say he was, and how was his identity
connected with his mission? (vv. 23, 26, 27; cf. Is. 40:3–5)
The idea that John could have been Elijah was based on the promise that
Elijah the prophet would come before the Messiah (cf. Mal. 4:5, 6). Even
though John looked and sounded like the expected Elijah and had a
ministry similar to his, John still denied the identification. He came
in Elijah's power and office, but he was not the resurrected prophet.
Many Jews also expected a prophet like Moses to arise before the
Messiah's arrival (Deut. 18:15–19). They hoped this prophet would
deliver them from their enemies in a new Exodus, and they expected him
to be a separate individual from the Messiah. They were wrong on both
counts. Jesus was the fulfillment of this Old Testament expectation, as
John (and Philip) apparently knew (John 1:45), and He was not the Jews'
political deliverer.
John knew who he was: the voice in the wilderness, the herald of the
Lord, the way-preparer for the
Messiah, the witness-bearer of the true Light. Because his self-identity
and calling were sure in his mind, he could make them clear to others
and be effective in his mission.
The religious leaders didn't know who John was, and John told them that
they didn't know whom he represented even though that Person was moving
among them (1:26). How does all this relate to verses 10, 11?
5. Have you ever known people who are very religious, yet really don't
know the Messiah, Jesus Christ?
They may attend worship services, pray, and strictly observe a code of
conduct, but they still don't know who Jesus is. Recall how John the
Baptist dealt with such folks and, from his example, articulate some
principles that can guide you in your dealings with religious agnostics.
6. Who does John the Baptist say Jesus is, and what does he say Jesus
came to do?
The Lamb of God (1:29): In the Old Testament, lambs are connected to a
number of sacrifices: the Passover (Ex. 12:3–14); the daily temple
sacrifice (Ex. 29:38–41); the burnt offering (Lev. 1:10); the peace
offering (3:7); the sin offering (4:32); purifying a leper (14:13); the
Feast of Trumpets, Tabernacles, and Day of Atonement (Num. 29:1–40).
All of these sacrifices are likely implied by the title “the Lamb of
God.” Jews hearing John speak would likely link his remark to the
Passover lamb,” concluding that John was claiming that Jesus was God's
sacrificial lamb, who by shedding His blood would remove the world's
sins.
7. Are you sure about who Jesus is and what He did for you? Why or why
not?
8. If someone asked you, “How do you know that Jesus is the Messiah, the
Son of God?” what evidence could you provide as a witness?
9. John admits that although he sought to prepare the way of the Lord,
he didn't know how he would recognize the Lord. How was that problem
solved? (vv. 31, 33)
When Jesus arrived on the scene, John the Baptist knew that his ministry
would have to decrease and Jesus' would have to increase. Soon after
John baptized Jesus, he began telling his disciples to follow “the Lamb
of God” (1:36).
10. Who were the first disciples to do this? (1:37, 40)
11. What question did Jesus ask them? (v. 38)
12. Why do you think Jesus focused on what rather than who? What does
His choice of words tell you about what He was really asking them?
13. What was Jesus' answer to the disciples' question? (v. 38)
14. Jesus' answer to seekers is as relevant today as it was then. How
might you apply that answer to evangelistic situations? Put the essence
of Jesus' answer into your own words as if you were speaking to
unbelieving seekers.
15. Andrew found his brother Simon and brought him to Jesus. What did
Andrew say to Simon to get him to come along, and why would it have been
important to Simon? (v. 41)
16. When Simon met Jesus, Jesus changed Simon's name (John 1:42). What
was the significance of the name change? For additional help, see
Matthew 16:18; Luke 22:31, 32; John 21:15–19; Acts 2–5; 10–12.
17. Who was the first disciple Jesus called personally, and what did He
tell him to do? (John 1:43)
18. What was this person's connection to Andrew and Peter? (v. 44)
19. Do you suppose Andrew and Peter told Jesus about him? Why or why
not?
20. What followed on the heels of Philip's commitment to follow Jesus?
(vv. 45, 46)
21. Nathanael's initial response to Philip didn't show a very high
regard for Jesus' hometown (v. 46). Why do you think he held this
opinion?
22. What was so unusual about what Jesus did that led Nathanael to
conclude that Jesus was “the Son of God” and “the King of Israel”? (v.
49; cf. vv. 47, 48, 50)
This week’s homework: Imagine an ideal situation for you to tell someone
about what God has done in your life.
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