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        "The Introduction to the Son of God"
        John 1:19-34
        Theme:         Jesus Christ is irrefutably the Son of God.

        I. The Ignorance of the Lost – 1:19-28

          A. The Dignity of the Religious – vv. 19-23

            1. The Apostle John continues to orient us to the identity of the Son of God by referring to the testimony of John the Baptist.
            2. The specific occasion for this testimony is the inquisition that "the Jews" (a phrase referring to the religious establishment of Israel who would prove to be hostile to Christ) instigated due to the ministry of John the Baptist.
            3. The religious establishment was being insulted by the ministry of John who was baptizing Jewish people – a "rite" that was used for the conversion of non-Jewish (or Gentile) people into Judaism from other religions.
            4. The sting behind John’s baptism was that he applied it to Jews, indicating that Israel herself was in need of reconciliation to God because of their spiritual decay – placing them in the same class as the pagan or Gentiles.
            5. In reply to their inquiry "Who are you?" John willingly addresses the issue that is on their minds – "I am not the Christ"
            6. There follows a sharp exchange as these religious leaders edge toward a pronouncement that John has no right to minister as he is – vv. 21-22
            7. Finally, John repeats the message that he has been delivering repeatedly – one that calls for people to make room in their hearts for the righteousness of God: "I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said."

                8. a) The context in Isaiah was that Jehovah had promised to visit with new tokens of his grace those who are pictured as having returned from the Babylonian captivity.

              b) They were to make straight this way so that the Lord could enter.

              c) In the same way, those who would return from their captivity in sin through repentance would receive the tokens of grace from the hand of the Messiah who was about to appear.
            1. Thus, instead of dignity, John was calling on the religious to repent of their sin and welcome the arrival of the Christ at whose hand grace would be dispensed.

          B. The Disorientation of Religion – vv. 24-28

            1. Some 40 days earlier, John the Baptist had baptized Jesus. At the time of this inquiry by the Pharisees, Jesus was finishing his time of temptation and was about to return.
            2. It had been revealed to John through that baptism who Jesus was – and yet, the Pharisees had no idea of his identity.
            3. When they suggested that John had no right to baptize, "he answered them saying, ‘I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.’"
            4. In their very midst was the solution to their sinfulness, yet they were completely disoriented and ignorant.
            5. John declares that this "One whom you do not know" is so glorious that John was did not even feel qualified to untie his shoe (a task from which even slaves were exempted) – v. 27.

        II. The Introduction to the Lamb – 1:29-30

          A. The Lamb’s Commission – v. 29

            1. On "the next day" after the inquiry by the Pharisees, John "saw Jesus coming to him" – returning from his victory over Satan whereby He demonstrated His perfection and sinlessness.
            2. The religious leadership had no awareness of the issue of their sin and guilt – and were only interested in limiting the popularity of this man who was insulting the religious pride of the the Jews.
            3. Having already referred to Jesus - "among you stands One whom you do not know" – he now introduces this unknown One: "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
            4. It is "striking to observe the progressive order followed by God in the teaching of Scripture concerning ‘the Lamb.’"

                5. a) The Lamb typified in the firstlings of the flock slain by Abel in sacrifice – Genesis 4

                b) The Lamb prophesied by Abraham – Genesis 22:8

                c) The Lamb slain and the blood applied – Exodus 12

                d) The Lamb personified – it would be a man – Isaiah 53:7

                e) The Lamb identified – Jesus Christ – John 1:29

                f) The Lamb magnified by hosts of heaven – Revelation 5

                g) The Lamb glorified on the throne of God – Revelation 22:1.

            5. The only way that sin can be "taken away" (or carried off) is by the death of the perfect, sinless sacrifice of the "Lamb of God" – Hebrews 9:26
            6. The emphasis in the phrase "takes away the sin of the world!" – is the fact that men from every tribe and people lost in sin would have the opportunity to receive the tokens of grace given by the Savior – not just the Jewish nation – John 11:51-52

          B. The Lamb’s Competency – v. 30

            1. John the Baptist confirms the identity of the "Lamb of God" by recalling for the people in attendance what He had said the previous day: "This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I’"
            2. John had said that he was not even worthy of stoop down and untie his shoes – once again a task so menial that even slaves were exempted from the responsibility
            3. Now John explains why his rank was so much lower than that of Jesus – He was God – ". . . for He existed before me." – a clear indication of the pre-existence of the Son of God.
            4. God had taken it upon Himself to rescue man by coming to offer Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of men.
            5. Certainly, He was competent to accomplish what He set out to do – cp. 1 Timothy 2:3-6.

        III. The Indication from the Lord – 1:31-34

          A. The Desire for Him to Be Known – vv. 31-33

            1. Prior to the baptism of Christ, John indicates that he "did not recognize Him" – perhaps indicating that John did not know who Jesus truly was.
            2. However, because God wished to introduce the Messiah to Israel, He had instructed John to call men to repentance and to baptize them as a symbolic act of preparation for His manifestation: ". . . but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing with water."
            3. Referring to when he baptized Jesus and the Spirit of God descended out of heaven in the form of a dove, John states "I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him"
            4. God had indicated that this would be the signal as to the identity of the Messiah – cp. v. 33.

              5. This one would be the One who would "baptize in the Holy Spirit" – a work that contrasts the baptism in water:

          B. The Declaration that He Is Known – v. 34

            1. John then gives the declaration that brings this all to conclusion: "I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God."
            2. This is a clarification of what he stated in v. 30 concerning that "He existed before me." – he is not just a man, but is deity incarnate.
            3. What mattered to everyone is this day was that Jesus was introduced as "the Son of God" – for only if He were so, could His work of redemption be effective:

                4. a) It is how God introduced Him – cp. Matthew 3:16-17

                b) It is how John the Baptist introduced Him – John 1:34

                c) It is what served as the foundation for redemption – cp. John 3:16-18

                d) It is what infuriated the religious enemies of God – cp. John 19:7

                e) It is why John wrote the book – John 20:31.

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