Introduction

Why did Jesus need John? Because people need to see that someone is worth following

John is a figure in all of our gospel accounts. All four of them tell the same story of John baptizing people in the wilderness, in the Jordan River, and pointing to Christ – hence the name John the Baptist.

But in the Gospel of John (remember there’s the John who wrote this book and then there’s the John being written about) it might be better to call him John the Witness. We saw a little bit of what his job was last week when we read in John 1:6-8

John 1:6–8 ESV

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

And in John 1:15

John 1:15 ESV

¹⁵ (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”)

So today we’re going to look at John’s part in this gospel:

Not as a fiery preacher
Not as someone calling Israel to repentance
Not even really as a baptizer

John 1:31 ESV

³¹ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”

John is the supreme witness of Jesus – working as a stepping stone so people will ultimately put their trust in him.

And from John’s example we’ll see how our support and witness is crucial for the flourishing of God’s church.

Who John Is Not

John 1:19 ESV

¹⁹ And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

The Jews are sending priests and Levites to check out John. When we read ‘The Jews’ keep in mind that just about everyone in this gospel is a Jew. It’s typically shorthand for the Jewish leaders.

And they’re not coming to see John out conviction or curiosity – but most likely anxiety. Usually when any religious leader starts to get popular in that time it’s because they’ve managed convince themselves and their followers that they are God’s chosen servant to overthrow the bad guys – Rome at the time.

The Jewish leaders are pretty comfortable with how things are, and Rome has always won those fights in the past.

So Who is John? Is he going to be another zealot that needs to be put down? All that’s mentioned about him here is that he’s baptizing at the Jordan River

John 1:28 ESV

²⁸ These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

That would be worrying to see. Israel waged a long and bloody war against the original inhabitants of the land a long time ago, and their first step was to cross over the Jordan river, which was described as a sort of baptism. Is John reenacting this in preparation of another call to war?

He’s Not the Christ

The first thing John does is shoot that rumor down.

John 1:20 ESV

²⁰ He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

Notice how emphatic his denial is

Confessed
Did not deny
Confessed
“I am not the Christ.”

One of the reasons I believe these priests and Levites don’t ask these questions out of genuine belief that they might be true is because John “did not deny.”

He did deny that he was the Christ
He did not deny any accusations that he wasn’t the Christ.

John tells them up front that if they’re looking for someone to be Israel’s new king then they need to look elsewhere. John is not the Christ.

He’s Not Elijah

John 1:21 ESV

²¹ And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

So they ask him about two other people he might be.

Elijah was a prophet and miracle worker way back in 1 Kings 17. He was considered the prophet par excellence – viciously condemning Israel’s idolatry at the time and even putting false prophets to death:

1 Kings 18:40 ESV

⁴⁰ And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.

There were 400 of those false prophets by the way

And Elijah never died! In 2 Kings 2 he’s taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot.

Much later in Israel’s history, God spoke to another prophet, Malachi, saying that Elijah would be coming back:

Malachi 4:5–6 ESV

⁵ “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. ⁶ And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

So the popular conception of Elijah in that day was that before God came and made everything right. Elijah would come back first to do what he did back then. Kill all the sinners and preach fire and brimstone! This would whip Israel into shape so that they would be worthy enough for God to send the Christ to beat up the bad guys!

But John says he’s not Elijah either.

But I Thought He Was?

Which is confusing because in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus does say that John is Elijah. But it seems that either John thought so humbly of himself that he didn’t realize who he was, or that he was specifically rejecting their violent conception of Elijah.

He’s Not the Prophet

John 1:21 ESV

²¹ And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

The Prophet was another figure that Israel was looking forward to. God had promised his people that after Moses died, he would eventually send a prophet like Moses to speak to them on God’s behalf.

And once again John says that’s not me either.

A Voice

John 1:22–23 ESV

²² So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” ²³ He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

John isn’t the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet. He’s just a nameless voice shouting for people to look at God.

He’s a herald. Those loud people you see in medieval movies who shout the names and titles of people when they show up at the party.

Good servants are to be always near without ever being known. Except the herald. When someone important walks in it’s all attention on the herald as he cries out who’s arrived.

And then he vanishes. Despite all the attention he had for that brief and shining moment, and no matter how important think his job is – he’s just a loud voice.

That’s how John views his own ministry. “I’m nobody important, I’m just announcing the important people. I’m the voice letting everybody know that God is coming here to do some really cool things.”

He’s revealing God’s glory – not his own.

The Jews continue to press him:

John 1:25–27 ESV

²⁵ They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” ²⁶ John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, ²⁷ even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”

If you’re not the Christ, or Elijah, or the Prophet then why are you baptizing people?

And John doesn’t explain that. Don’t you get it? I’m the voice that announces the glory of God. Move past the baptism because there’s someone so important here that I can’t even untie his shoes!

Connect

During this whole conversation, do you think these were temptations for John?

If everybody thinks that you’re the king – then you’re the king. The only reason King Charles is on his throne is because the whole of England has collectively decided to put up with it.

Maybe not everybody, but a lot of people think John could be the Christ – the king of Israel. And if not the Christ then maybe someone like Moses – someone who speaks God’s word directly.

We know of about 15 other men who claimed to be the Christ or the Prophet in roughly the same time period. Many of them styled themselves as kings, attracted followers, and sent them to battle against Rome. It would have been just as easy for John to do the same.

I’m not the Christ – but you could be
I’m not Elijah – but that’s not what other people say
I’m not the Prophet – but everyone would believe you if you said you were

Instead, John is stuck taking all the greatness that people want to put on him, and throwing it to somebody else.

Nobodies unhappier at the Olympics than the silver medalist
One Vice-President said the job wasn’t “worth a bucket of warm spit”
If first violin breaks a string, second violin gives up their instrument

So understandably, we like to be number 1.

And when that’s all that we’re gunning for we overlook the importance of being the second man.

Illustration: The Hype Man

I think that’s what John does for Jesus. Jesus could have come down and done all of this stuff without John. Could have just started doing miracles on his own without needing to be baptized by John, and saved himself the trouble of John’s disciples not following him even all the way into the book of Acts.

But God understands the value of the hype-man.

Apply: Be the Second Man

We need to be that hype man.

Elders
Other Christians
God

Elders

It’s not a fun job being an elder. Never been one, but I’ve worked closely with them. When you don’t have elders the preacher is the punching bag for any problems. Then when you get elders, people stop bringing me all of their problems- and it’s not because all of the problems have disappeared!

Being an elder is an emotionally exhausting job. Suddenly all of the people who were your friends can suddenly be your biggest critics and get vicious when you don’t follow their every whim. They face all of the problems that most of the congregation is often unaware of.

How easy was it to be an elder:

During COVID?
During a member’s divorce proceedings?
While leading the church where it needs to go while members complain every step of the way?

You can make their life a whole lot easier by being the second man. When the elders make a decision – let them know you’re on board. Don’t just not complain – be active in your support. And on top of that – tell other people you’re on board. Help them to see that the course set by the elders is one worth following.

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

¹⁷ Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Our elders are responsible for your soul – you want them to do a good job. Hype them up.

Each Other

And let’s not stop there. Let’s be everybody’s hype man.

When we come to the church building our typical attitude is “I’ve come to offer worship to God” and often to the neglect of Hebrews 10:24

Hebrews 10:24 ESV

²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

The best way to stir up another person to good works is encouragement and participation.

Want to help me preach better? Let me know when a lesson has helped you, or that you’re excited for a new series.
Want to have better song leaders? Let them know they do an awesome job – a job most of us wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot-pole.
Let people know you see their good works and be there to join in with them

For God

And most importantly, just like John, we need to make sure God is the one getting the glory.

John knew his role was only as a stepping stone. Any attention he enjoyed would quickly be redirected to Jesus.

Jesus himself says

Matthew 5:16 ESV

¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

All of our efforts, all of our good works, all of encouragement for other people, are ways we demonstrate to the world that God is worth following. We can’t just rely on intellectual arguments and expect that the right scripture will suddenly convict the world.

We show them by rejecting the things that John did

Life isn’t about being in charge
It’s not about being the most important person

It’s all for the glory of God in service to others.