April 14, 2024
Morning Service

Hebrews. 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

Eph. 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast.

 

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

            It is by grace and through our faith that we are saved.  We all desire to have greater faith, believing fully that God does exist, He cares for us, and then acting upon that belief.  Our faith is established and built up through “hearing the word of God.”  That is why three times a week we meet together and open our Bibles and read the Words of God.  Through this reading (studying) we are given insights into two essential areas of our faith: who God is and also who we are.  In the first five verses of the Gospel of John we were given a very good description of just how big our God is and what part Jesus plays in that big picture.  Jesus is the Creator of all things that we see and the things that we do not and He is the one holding everything together.  In Him is life and He brings with Him a light (understanding) for us to see who He really is.  John’s purpose for writing this letter is this:

 

John 20:30-31 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; (31) but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

          As we proceed through this study know that each chapter and verse are pointing us to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God both creating our faith in that fact and building upon it.  Today we meet John the Baptist who came out of the wilderness eating locusts and wearing camel hair preaching a message of repentance and preparation for the Messiah was coming.  As we will see today John is part of God’s plan in preparing the way for Jesus to begin His ministry fulfilling prophecy of hundreds of years earlier (Mal. 3:1).  It had been 400 years since Israel had heard from God through a prophet and when John came on the scene they were hungering for a word from God and many came to John seeking what God was up to.

 

Joh 1:6-8 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  (7)  This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.  (8)  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

            John played a part in the story God was writing about His Son.  He was sent, not to be the Light, but to point people to the Light (Jesus).  We too, in a way, play this same role in the kingdom of God.  We through everyday life (our mission field) encounter many people and through our actions and words can point people to Jesus.  We may be the only Bible they have ever read or true Christian that they have ever known.  We may only play a small part in that person’s conversion, but we are doing our job of pointing others to Light by following Jesus and living our lives in a way that shines His goodness through us.  We have died to ourselves and allow God to live in us and use us to love those around us.  John now continues with the subject of Jesus being the Light.

 

Joh 1:9-13 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.  (10)  He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  (11)  He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.  (12)  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: (13) who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

            Jesus as the true Light came into this world that He created and got two responses.  Some believe in Him and are granted a relationship with Him by being given “the right to become the children of God” by the will of God.  We believe the fact that He came to save us from ourselves and to restore the broken relationship between us and our Creator.  Others choose to ignore the truth and not to believe rejecting the One Who Created them and the gift of salvation which He brings.  John continues:

 

 

Joh 1:14-18 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  (15)  John 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.' "  (16)  And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.  (17)  For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  (18)  No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

            In verse 14, John again reaffirms that Jesus became flesh and dwelled among us and He was an eye witness to that fact.  God no longer was above us looking down upon us, but now He is among us and living in us through the Holy Spirit.  God came down and “pitched His tent” with us.  John reveals to us that things changed with the arrival of Jesus.  The law of Moses had been the guideline to walk by up to this point, but Jesus fulfilled the law (Matt. 5:17) and brings us a new age of grace and truth.  He is now the focal point of our relationship with God as He says later in this Gospel:

 

Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

          Jesus here makes it crystal clear that everything now runs through Him.  He is the Way to salvation.  He is the source of all Truth.  He brings to us Life; and there is no other way to get to God except through Him.  He came down to us to build a bridge up to God.  This is all done through grace; unmerited favor form God.  We don’t deserve it, but God offers it to us out of His love for us.

 John the Baptist humbly did his part to prepare the way for “He who comes after me is preferred before me.”  A humble attitude that comes from knowing the vastness of God and knowing we are part of His story not the other way around.  Jesus has come to declare to us the Father and the plan He has for our salvation.

 

Joh 1:19-28 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"  (20)  He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."  (21)  And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."  (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?"  (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."  (24)  Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees.  (25)  And they asked him, saying, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"  (26)  John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know.  (27)  It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose."  (28)  These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

            When questioned by the religious leaders, John again was quick to point out he was not the Messiah, but as he quotes directly from Isaiah’s prophetic writings showing he knows exactly the part he is playing in all of this.   “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord.”  John showed his humility, despite playing such a big role in the story of the Messiah, as he says the One who is coming is so great “His sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”  I believe we have lost this awe of God that John had today.  We look at Jesus as a great Man, but we too easily lose the fact that He is the One who placed millions of galaxies in place and controls all things like the eclipse we witnessed on Monday.  We are invited to know God as we know our earthly father, but don’t lose the awe of His vastness and majesty.

            Apostle John again shows us through the ministry of John the Baptist, that Jesus is Christ the Son of the Living God.  John’s ministry should build our faith stronger as he was a fulfillment of scripture and a set a great example of humility for us to follow.  I challenge you this morning to focus in on your area of ministry and be pointing others to Jesus who is able to change their lives.  We all are God’s messengers.  We don’t have to stand in front of others and preach (unless God calls you to), but are each called to live a life that proves to others you believe.  Invite them to church, offer to pray for them, and share your story when the opportunities arise pointing them to Jesus our Savior.  Let your faith be seen in the life you live.

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Word.  Please use it to build our faith stronger and deeper so in times of trials we run to You first trusting that You are leading and we are following.  Grant us the ability to display our faith in our everyday life reflecting Your Light to them fulfilling our calling to be Your messengers.