John 1:22-34
The Humble Servant
Beginning at \\#John 1:19\\, John the Apostle’s gospel takes a slight
turn. He had been speaking of Jesus but not by that name. He had
called him the Word, God, the Creator, Life, and Light. At this
verse, John the Apostle begins to talk about John the Baptist. Why?
Because it was John the Baptist who revealed who the Word, God, the
Creator, Life, and Light are. It is Jesus.
(Boldness, separation, courage)
If there is a characteristic that describes John the Baptist, I
believe it would be humility. In spite of the fact that John was a
very successful preacher, attracting thousands from all walks of life
and from all the surrounding countries over a period of several years,
John continued to exalt Jesus and to abase himself.
To some that heard John preach, especially those who were condemned
by it, humility might not be the word that they would use to describe
John, but being a bold preacher—even a harsh preacher—does not mean
that one is lacking in humility.
Humility is not being reserved, restrained, bashful, of shy. I think
some might confuse humility with meekness. Humility is exalting
another before self. For the Christian, our goal should be to exalt
Christ before ourselves.
One writer attempted to emphasize the danger in selfishness and the
true nature of humility with a spelling lesson.
First spell "sin” with me: s-I-n.
Now spell “pride” with me: pr-I-de.
Now how about “anxiety”: anx-I-ety.
Here is the best one, spell Satan’s original name
with me, it was “Lucifer,” spell that with me:
Luc-I-fer.
So that I is in the middle of all my sins, all my
pride, all my anxieties, and all the time doing the
will of the Devil!
http://www.dtbm.org/sermon/lessons-in-humility-from-john-the-baptist/
In the midst of today’s confusion over humility, God gave us a real,
down-to-earth example of a humble man. John the Baptist was bold,
courageous, determined, godly, and blunt; but more than anything
else, he was determined to exalt Christ while dethroning himself as
epitomized in one of his statements.
Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
How was it that John was able to maintain such an attitude? Let’s
notice some things about him.
I. We see John’s humility in his separation.
Mt 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of
camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his
loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
A. John understood that the world is nothing more than a
place we live for a limited number of days.
1. These verses do not simply describe John’s lifestyle.
a. They define John’s view on his place before God.
b. As the view of every person’s lifestyle does.
2. God never compares it to our home but rather to a
place we are passing through.
Heb 13:14 For here have we no continuing city,
but we seek one to come.
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having
received the promises, but having seen them afar
off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced
them, and confessed that they were strangers and
pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly
that they seek a country.
3. We have a place that is our home.
a. It is called a city, a country, heaven, and the
Father’s house, and God’s rest (just to name a
few).
b. That place is the only place that we as Christians
should be longing for or in love with.
4. When we get attached to the world, it is because
we are looking for a place where OUR pleasure, OUR
comfort, OUR gratifications can served.
a. All of these are contrary to humility.
b. So the Bible teaches us that we are not to love
the world or any of its things.
1Jo 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things
that are in the world. If any man love the world,
the love of the Father is not in him.
c. God is not just down on this planet because it is
a carnal, evil, lustful place.
d. He is down on the fact that we would want to love
a place where we are exalted instead of Him.
e. I was reading an article where a writer was
pointing out the gradual change in the Christian
philosophy of living for God’s glory.
James Bjornstad writes:
At one time, most Christians believed that to
have a close relationship with God, a person
should magnify God, deny himself and the
pleasures of this world, repent and confess his
sins, and live a holy and separated life. Their
heroes were missionaries who gave up everything
to serve God and martyrs who suffered because of
their faith.
Today, it’s becoming a different story. Many
Christians believe that to have a close
relationship with God, a person should realize
the importance of himself as God intended, pursue
his dreams and aspirations, and become affluent
and successful. Their heroes are those
celebrities and self-made individuals who
happened to be Christians.
http://www.dtbm.org/sermon/lessons-in-humility-from-john-the-baptist/
B. John also understood the danger of living in this world.
1. Although God is not just down on this world because it
is a carnal, evil, lustful place; God is still down
on it because it is a carnal, evil, lustful place.
2. This world will never direct people to God. Even
Christians must fight to swim against the currents.
3. John was on guard and deliberately kept himself out of
this world so that he would not be tempted to see
this world at the expense of God’s glory.
4. John was of the opinion that it is easier to stay out
of temptation than to overcome the bondages of sin.
a. It is always easier to stay out of the spider’s
web than to get it off after you are in it.
b. So it is easier never to drink than to overcome
an addiction to alcohol.
c. It is easier never to smoke than to overcome an
addiction to cigarettes.
d. It is easier to stay away from drugs, pornography,
gangs, greed, lusts, excess comfort and luxury
than to get under its boot and have to get out.
II. We see John’s humility in his service.
A. John had a clear view of service.
1. Just as being given to the world describes one’s heart
toward God, so our opinions of service describe our
heart toward God.
2. This is not rocket science.
a. If we spend all of our time and energy on
ourselves and give none to God, what does that
say about who we are exalting?
b. If a man spends all of his time praising his
female co-worker, buying her gifts, taking her
out to eat, going to do things with her after
work, what can his wife deduce?
3. So John served God—and he served God not only his
whole life but WITH his whole life.
B. John had a clear view of HIS service.
John 1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying
in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the
Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
1. John had one main objective in his service for God.
a. He pointed out the Messiah, hitherto identified
as the Word, God, the Creator, Life, and Light.
John 1:15 John bare witness of him, and cried,
saying, This was he of whom I spake….
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming
unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God,
which taketh away the sin of the world.
John 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked,
he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
b. This was no small task.
(1) John was the first to believe on Jesus
Christ.
(2) John was the first to proclaim Jesus Christ,
preaching about Him even before Jesus
revealed Himself.
(3) And although Jesus would call His own
disciples, John the Baptist would continue
to be the loudest in proclaiming Jesus’
identity.
2. John was single-minded in his task.
a. John did not perform miracles, start churches,
preach crusades to the areas around. He just
pointed out Jesus to everyone he could.
III. We see John’s humility in his attitudes.
A. When asked (and John was often asked), John always told
the truth concerning who he was and who he was not.
1. \\#John 1:19-22\\ Who are you? Christ? Elijah? that
Prophet? NO. I am no one. Nothing but a voice.
2. I am not worthy to tie Messiah’s shoes.
John 1:27 He it is, who coming after me is
preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I
am not worthy to unloose.
3. I was not smart enough to figure out who He was.
John 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he
should be made manifest to Israel, therefore
am I come baptizing with water.
4. He must be glorified. I must not.
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
B. John’s joy was in seeing Christ exalted.
John 3:29 He that hath the bride is the
bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom,
which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly
because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy
therefore is fulfilled.
C. John’s attitude came out over and over again. It was an
attitude to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ.
<OutlineIndex> <Close Window>
