The Incarnation of Christ
July 11, 2020
Commentary
The Christian life is the constant reception of one evidence of God’s grace replacing another (v. 16). John the Baptist had the task of preparing the Jewish nation to receive their Messiah. He was bold in calling them to repent of their sins and to live a changed life. The law was truth but it was truth without grace (v.17). We are saved by grace (Eph. 2:8-9), and we also live by grace (I Cor. 15:10). Jesus Christ reveals God to us (v. 18). Jesus’s claim to be the Son of God is what aroused the Jews to persecute Him (10:30-36).
The Sanhedrin was alarmed at the ministry of John the Baptist, so they sent a delegation of theologians to question him. Their first question was, “Who art thou?” (v. 19). His answer was short and simple; “I am not the Christ” (v.20). Then they asked him; “Art thou Elias (Elijah)?” (v. 21). The prophet Elijah was expected because of Deuteronomy 18:15. John stated that he was not any of the expected prophetic figures. He explained, however that his ministry was described in the Old Testament. (Isaiah 40:3) and that he was a fulfillment of that prophecy. The Pharisees then asked, “Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself” (v. 22)? John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, Clear the way for the Lord’s coming” (v. 23)!
Application
John the Baptist was bold in his witness for Christ as he asked the people to repent of their sin and prove they had by living a changed life. I need to be bold in my preaching and witnessing for Christ. This will never happen unless I ask the Lord to give me His boldness.
John 1:15– 23 (NET)
15 John testified about him and shouted out, “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’” 16 For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.
19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed—he did not deny but confessed—“I am not the Christ!” 21 So they asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not!” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No!” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us so that we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 John said, “I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
Illustration: The Boldness of Hugh Lattimer
Hugh Lattimer once preached before King Henry VIII. Henry was greatly displeased by the boldness in the sermon and ordered Lattimer to preach again on the following Sunday and apologize for the offensive way he had given his message. The next Sunday, after reading his text, he thus began his sermon: “Hugh Lattimer, do you know before whom you are this day to speak? To the high and mighty monarch, the king’s most excellent majesty, who can take away your life, if you offend him. Therefore, take heed that you speak not a word that may displease. But then consider well, Hugh, don’t you know from where you have come and with whose message you are sent? Even by the great and mighty God, who is all-present and who-knows all things and who is able to cast thy soul into hell! Therefore, take care that you deliver this message faithfully. “He then preached the same sermon he had preached the preceding Sunday—and with considerably more energy. (Evangelism, A Biblical Approach, M. Cocoris, Moody, 1984, p. 126)