where we started a new series just last week. If you missed it, you can follow along on the website.
All our talks are recorded there. And to help us in our studies on the table, there's lots to
collect this morning. If you didn't get one last week, the Gospel According to John is just a
little outline of what the Gospel is all about. It gives you the big, big picture and it'll help
you as you go along in the studies to return to week by week. We're going to read this morning
from verse 19 to verse 36. John chapter 1 verse 19.
Now this was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites
to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, I am not the Messiah.
They asked him, then who are you? Are you Elijah? No. Are you the prophet? No. Finally, they said,
who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness.
Make straight the way for the Lord. Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him.
Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, and nor the prophet?
Well, I baptize with water, John replied. But among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who
comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. This all happened at Bethany,
on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day, John saw Jesus coming towards him and said,
look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
This is the one I meant when I said, a man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.
I myself did not know him.
But the reason I came baptizing with water
was that he might be revealed
to Israel.
Then John gave this testimony.
I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove
and remain on him.
And I myself did not know him.
But the one who sent me to baptize with water
told me.
The man on whom you see the Spirit come down
and remain
is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
I have seen and I testify
that this is God's chosen one.
The next day,
John was there again with two of his disciples.
When he saw Jesus passing by,
he said,
look,
the Lamb of God.
Well, we'll leave the reading there
and we'll pray
and ask for God's help.
Father, may we see Jesus clearly
through your word today.
and may it cause us
to rejoice in you,
to humbly submit to you
and gladly follow you.
Please give us understanding
and application to our hearts
and change us for good.
Amen.
Well, finish this sentence for me.
Life is all about
what?
Life is all about
doing the best I can,
finding happiness,
being successful.
Well, think about what your answer is
because ultimately,
life, let's face it,
is all about
me.
We do have
a Ronaldo
inside of us.
You see,
we are naturally
self-centered people
who spend our days
thinking about
me,
what I want
and where I'd like to be
and what I want to do.
We are obsessed
with
self.
Every waking moment
and every thought
has a little bit of me
inside of it.
But there is another way
to think about life
and we're going to see that
in our study here now
from John.
You'll notice
if you just use
the big headings
or the big titles
that there are
three days.
So verses 19
to 28
is one day
and then we read
in verse 29
the next day
and then in verse 35
we read
the next day
which
are three days
which are going
to be the
three
things
we're going to
look about
look at
today
together.
So first,
the first day
we're going to learn
that it's not
about
me.
It's not about
me.
Social media
was abuzz.
Word had been
travelling fast
and it had reached
all the way
to the religious elite
back in Jerusalem.
Look at verse 19.
The Jewish leaders
in Jerusalem
sent priests
and Levites
to ask
who he
was.
You see,
John had been
attracting
quite a lot
of attention
and the rumour
that was going
around was
John
was the Messiah.
God's promised
king who had
come to restore
and renew
all things.
And all of this,
verse 28,
was happening
at a place
called Bethany
which was about
30 kilometres
east
of Jerusalem
on the other
side of the
Jordan River
where John
was baptising.
So the religious
leaders sent
out their
experts,
their lawyers,
their best
people to
check out
what was going
on in Bethany
down at the
river.
All the crowds
had been
gathering there.
So,
Mr.
Baptiser,
who are you?
Verse 20,
Well,
John did not
fail to
confess,
but confessed
freely,
I am not
the Messiah.
Rather than
say who he is,
he answers by
saying who he
is not.
In other
words,
it's not about
me.
Verse 21,
Then who are
you?
Would you
be Elijah?
There was
thought that
Elijah,
the prophet
of old,
would come
back to
life before
the coming
of Messiah.
No,
I'm not
Elijah.
Are you
the prophet?
Not just
any prophet,
but are you
the prophet?
The one
that God
had promised
that was
going to
come?
No,
I'm not
the prophet.
Seems a
little bit
like a game
of guess who,
doesn't it?
Finally,
they said,
who are
you?
Give us
an answer
to take
back to
those who
sent us.
We have
to tell
our supervisors
something,
so please
will you
say who
you are?
Just tell
us something
about yourself.
Well,
they've really
set it up
for John
now,
haven't they?
Now's his
chance to
get a few
more likes
on Facebook,
an opportunity
to increase
his following
on Instagram.
Let me
tell you
just a
moment
who I
am.
I'm
John
and I'm
a very
important
person.
Maybe we
could organise
an interview
sometime.
No,
John is
not interested
in fame
or prestige
or status.
He's not
looking for
thumbs up
or emoji
clapping hands.
It's not
about me.
Well,
how different
is that
to how
we operate?
We strive
to be
someone.
We desire
greatness.
We all
want a
little bit
of glory.
We want
that little
taste of
being a
celebrity.
But when
John says
who he
is,
he gives
attention
to someone
else.
Look at
verse 22,
the end
of verse
22.
Who do
you say
or what
do you
say about
yourself?
John replied
in the words
of Isaiah
the prophet,
I am
the voice
of one
calling in
the wilderness.
Make
straight
the way
for the
Lord.
Isaiah
the prophet
of the past
had written
that a
prophet
would come
who would
be an
announcer
making the
way for
Messiah.
And John
is saying
that's who
I am.
I am
preparing the
way not
for me
but for
Jesus.
That's why
he was
baptizing
people in
the Jordan.
Not a
baptism like
what we do
now but a
baptism of a
sign that
they were
ready to
meet the
Messiah,
God's
rescuing
king.
No,
says John,
I am not
looking for
people to
follow me.
I am not
trying to
build a
name for
myself.
It's not
about me.
I loved
watching the
Olympics this
summer and
the Paralympics
that are on
at the
minute,
especially
the big
races,
the hundred
metres.
One by
one the
athletes are
announced and
as their
name is
heard they
run out of
a tunnel and
into the
stadium and
take their
place at the
starting light.
There's flashing
lights,
bursts of
sparkling flames,
the roar of
the crowd.
Well,
John is not
like the guy
running into
the stadium
who everybody
cheers for.
No,
John is like
the voice of
the announcer.
You don't
need to
remember me.
You don't
need to
know my
name.
I don't
want you
to know
me.
I want
you to
know him.
Verse 27,
he is the
one who
comes after
me,
the straps
of whose
sandals I
am not
worthy to
untie.
He
deserves the
attention and
praise.
I'm not
worthy.
It's not
about me.
You see,
that's so
upside down
and back to
front compared
to how we
live and how
society operates.
We spend
our lives
trying to
make a name
for ourselves.
We wake up
in the morning
and what's
the first thing
we do?
Switch on
our phones
to see if
anybody liked
my Instagram
post.
We go to
the gym
and lift
our weights.
We spend
ages applying
to our
makeup,
plucking
our eyebrows,
doing all
sorts of
things in
the hope
that as
I go out
the door
somebody will
notice me
and somebody
will say
something nice
about me.
Why?
Because it's
all about
me.
We lie
awake at
night
worried.
What do
people think
about me?
We rehearse
yesterday's
conversations
so that I
come out
on top.
And none
of us are
immune from
this me
centred
thinking.
I'll let
you into
a little
secret.
When I
go home
every Sunday
and I
mean every
Sunday
I wonder
to myself
did anybody
like my
sermon?
You see
I crave
praise.
I need
people secretly
deep down.
I want people
to come up
and say
Johnny
you're a
great pastor.
Why?
Because it's
all about
me.
and it
can be
like that
for all
of us
in the
ministries
we're
involved
in.
Whether
it's
the music
the set
up
the tea
or coffee.
But guess
what folks?
It's
not about
me.
What
people say
or don't
say is
not the
issue.
It's
not about
how many
likes we
get.
It's
not about
me.
So if
life is
not about
me
then what's
it all
about?
Well we
go on to
our day
two.
Verse
29.
The next
day
John saw
Jesus coming
towards him
and he
said
look
it's
all about
Jesus.
John's
role is
not to
draw attention
to himself
but to
deflect
from
himself
and draw
attention
to
Jesus.
He's
a walking
talking
living
signpost.
Did you
see that
in verse
31?
He says
I myself
did not
know him
as in
he didn't
know all
that Jesus
would be
but the
reason I
came
baptizing
with water
was that
he might
be revealed
to
Israel.
He doesn't
want people
to know
about him
he wants
everybody
to know
about
Jesus.
Well what
does he
have us
know
about
Jesus?
Well there's
two big
things
that I
think
the text
points to.
First
Jesus
is our
sufficient
or perfect
saviour.
Look at
verse 29
again.
The next
day
John
saw
Jesus
coming
towards
him
and
said
look
the
lamb
of
God
who
takes
away
the
sin
of
the
world.
It's
a strange
phrase
isn't
it
for
somebody
to be
called
a
lamb.
If
we
hear
lamb
we
think
cute
and
cuddly
but
for
those
who
are
listening
lamb
meant
something
entirely
different.
You see
all the
crowds
that were
gathering
and coming
to
John
was
because
have a
look at
chapter 2
verse 13
chapter 2
verse 13
it was
almost
time
for the
Jewish
Passover
so they
were all
coming
into that
area
they were
all heading
to Jerusalem
because
Passover
was about
to take
place.
This
was the
big
annual
event
in the
year
the
big
pilgrimage
that all
families
and everybody
travelled up
to Jerusalem
to remember
Passover.
Passover
celebrated
the
exodus
of God's
people
from
slavery
to
Pharaoh
in
Egypt
and
central
to
these
celebrations
you guessed
right
was a
lamb
a lamb
that would
die
God
had said
to the
people
when they
were back
in Egypt
I will
pass
through
Egypt
and I
will bring
my
judgment
and to
ensure
that God's
people would
not be
judged
they were
commanded
to take
a lamb
then they
were to
kill it
and take
some of
the blood
of the
lamb
and paint
it on
the door
frames
of their
houses
up the
sides
and on
the top
and then
God
said
this
the
blood
will be
a sign
for you
on the
houses
where you
are
and when
I see
the blood
I will
pass
over you
and no
destructive
plague will
touch you
when I
strike
Egypt
well the
message was
clear wasn't
it to
everybody
that they
had to
take a
lamb
and if
the lamb
didn't
die
they would
die
of course
the big
Passover
celebration
was a
picture of
a much
greater
judgment
to come
on the
whole world
because all
sin must be
judged
including
mine and
yours
death
is the
penalty
because we
are enslaved
to sin
we are under
a harsher
and more
brutal
master
Satan
we are
slaves to
ourselves
always putting
me first
listening to
the voice
that says
you can
be like
God
so when
John sees
Jesus
he says
look
the lamb
who takes
away the
sin of
the world
well everybody
would know
what he's
talking about
Jesus
the Messiah
he's the
one who's
going to
take the
judgment
for our
sins
he's going
to die
in your
place
and that's
what happened
on the
cross
the judgment
of God
fell on
Jesus
so that the
people could
be set
free
that we
can be
set free
from our
selfish
selves
and he
would open
up a new
way
a new
exodus
giving us
a fresh
start
forgiveness
of all
of our
sin
freedom
from all
of our
guilt
and shame
look
look at
Jesus
it's not
about me
the other
big thing
that he
wants us
to notice
about
Jesus
is that
he is
God's
chosen
servant
John
tells us
what he
saw
when Jesus
had been
baptized
go to
verse 32
John
is referring
here to
the baptism
of Jesus
John
gave this
testimony
he said
I saw
the spirit
come down
from heaven
as a
dove
and remain
on him
what does
he mean
what's
this
dove
coming
down
on
Jesus
what did
it mean
well God
had revealed
it to him
look at the
middle of
verse 33
the man
on whom
you see
the spirit
come down
and remain
is the one
who will
baptize
with the
Holy Spirit
I have
seen
says
John
and I
testify
that this
is God's
chosen
one
you see
once again
these are
not
empty
words
God
had
promised
that his
chosen
servant
would come
and the
sign that
God's
servant
had come
would be
the spirit
of God
coming down
and resting
upon him
we're told
something about
what this
chosen one
would be
like
go back
with me
please
to Isaiah
chapter 42
Isaiah
42
here is
the promise
of God's
chosen
servant
and
Jesus
is the
one who
fulfills
this
promise
Isaiah
42
verse
1
God
says
here is
my
servant
whom
I
uphold
my
chosen
one
in
whom
I
delight
and
I
will
put
my
spirit
on
him
and
he
will
bring
justice
to
the
nations
you
see
Jesus
is
saying
I
am
God's
spirit
filled
chosen
servant
who's
come
to
renew
and
restore
our
broken
and
disordered
lives
he's
going to
put
everything
right
again
and look
how he's
going to
come
verse 2
he will
not
shout
or cry
out
or raise
his voice
in the
streets
he won't
be harsh
with you
he's not
going to
shout
you down
verse 3
a bruised
reed
he will
not
break
a smoldering
wick
he will
not
snuff
out
he's
not
going
to
crush
you
he's
gentle
and
kind
towards
you
he
sees
your
weakness
he sees
your
brokenness
and he
comes
with the
hope
that we
all
desperately
need
look at
the end
of verse
4
in his
teaching
all that
Jesus
has to
say
the
islands
that is
the
nations
will
put
their
hope
don't
look at
me
says
John
listen
to
God's
chosen
servant
it's
all
about
him
you
see
we
spend
so
much
time
don't
we
thinking
about
me
we
promote
ourselves
with
pictures
in the
hope
that we're
going to
gain
more
friends
we boast
of our
successes
we don't
seem to
put up
our
failures
on
Facebook
but
just
the
good
things
that
we
achieve
in the
hope
that
we'll
gain
more
followers
we
look
to
ourselves
to
be
fulfilled
we
listen
to
that
inner
voice
to
gain
happiness
but
no
it's
not
about
me
it's
all
about
Jesus
and
we
need
to
repent
and
stop
making
me
the
centre
of
our
lives
instead
we are
to
look
to
Jesus
the
lamb
who
takes
away
our
sin
we
are
to
listen
to
God's
chosen
servant
who
is
gentle
and
tender
so
if
life
is
all
about
Jesus
what
is
our
response
how
are
we
going
to
live
life
now
well
the
encouragement
day
three
let's
go back
to
John's
gospel
is
we need
to make
a choice
about
following
look at
verse 35
John
chapter 1
verse 35
the next
day
John
was there
again
with two
of his
disciples
when he
saw
Jesus
passing
by
he said
look
look at
him
it's
the
lamb
of
God
you
see
John
prepares
the way
for
Jesus
and
then
he
gets
out
of
the
way
he
doesn't
want
to be
a
stumbling
block
verse 37
when the
two
disciples
that is
the
disciples
of
John
the
Baptist
heard
him
say
this
well
they
stopped
being
disciples
of
John
the
Baptist
and
they
followed
Jesus
so
what
will it
mean
for us
to
follow
well
three
things
very
simply
by way
of
application
what
will
it
mean
to
follow
Jesus
first
it
will
mean
a
lifetime
of
learning
look
at
verse
38
turning
around
Jesus
saw
them
following
and
said
what
do
you
want
what
are
you
following
after
me
for
and
they
said
Rabbi
which
means
teacher
where
are
you
staying
come
he
said
and
you
will
see
you
see
this
is
not
an
invitation
to
come
to
Jesus
house
and
see
what
his
new
kitchen
is
like
or
what
his
new
patio
is
like
no
it's
a
call
verse
39
to
come
and
see
come
and
see
who
Jesus
is
they
go
to
where
he
stays
so
that
they
can
learn
about
him
and
from
him
verse
39
so
they
went
and
saw
where
he
was
staying
and
they
spent
that
day
with
him
it
was
about
four
in
the
afternoon
you
see
life
is
not
about
people
knowing
all
about
us
it's
about
us
and
a
commitment
to
learning
more
about
Jesus
and
that
requires
a
change
of
heart
on
our
part
a
change
of
heart
that
removes
self
from
the
centre
and
puts
Jesus
at
the
centre
where
we
humbly
sit
at
his
feet
and
listen
to
his
words
his
truth
and
through
him
we
find
life
in
all
its
fullness
so
following
Jesus
will
mean
a
life
of
learning
second
it
will
mean
a
life
filled
with
purpose
I'm
sure
you
may
be
asking
yourself
if
you're
younger
what
I'm
going
to
do
what's
my
career
going
to
be
well
whatever
we
do
this
is
what
we
do
verse
41
one
of
those
who
were
following
Jesus
was
Andrew
and
we're
told
verse
41
the
first
thing
Andrew
did
was
to
find
his
brother
Simon
and
tell
him
we
found
the
Messiah
that is
the
Christ
and
he
brought
his
brother
to
Jesus
that's
our
purpose
that's
simple
isn't it
for us
as
believers
that's
our
goal
as we
go to
school
or as
we go
to
work
or as
we're
at
home
we are
to
bring
people
to
Jesus
now
granted
we can't
take
Jesus
physically
or
take
people
to
see
Jesus
physically
but
we
do
bring
people
to
God's
word
where
we
do
meet
Jesus
our
job
is
not
to
change
or
convert
people
only
God
can
do
that
we
simply
show
the
greatness
and
glory
of
who
Jesus
is
and
cause
them
to
fix
their
gaze
on
him
and
to
listen
to
what
he
has
to
say
we
bring
people
to
Jesus
we
can
invite
them
to
church
we
can
invite
our
friends
to
rooted
or
to
a
hope
explored
that's
our
purpose
as we
go
about
life
we're
a
signpost
a
living
walking
talking
signpost
that
points
to
Jesus
that's
our
purpose
and
there's
one
more
what
will
it
mean
to
follow
it
will
mean
a
life
transformed
for
good
verse
42
and
Andrew
brought
Simon
to
Jesus
looked at
him
and
said
you
are
Simon
son
of
John
you
will
be
called
Cephas
which
when
translated
is
Peter
Jesus
gave
Simon
a new
name
his
name
was
going
to
be
called
Peter
which
means
if
you've
got
a
little
note
in
the
bottom
of
your
Bible
it
tells
us
that
Peter
means
rock
that
was
going
to
be
his
new
name
Peter
the
rock
it's
certainly
not
what
Peter
is
now
but
what
he
will
become
he
will
become
a
rock
his
new
name
tells
us
what
God
is
going
to
do
in
his
life
and
how
he's
going
to
be
changed
and
transformed
you
see
as
Peter
learns
from
Jesus
so
he's
going
to be
changed
by
Jesus
to
become
a
faithful
servant
of
God
and
that's
true
of
us
as
we
choose
to
follow
Jesus
as
we
look
to
him
as
we
listen
to
him
he
changes
us
from
the
inside
out
he
gives
us
a
new
perspective
of
life
a
life
of
one
following
him
that
change
will
be
hard
at
times
so
what's
life
all
about
well
it's
not
about
me
it's
all
about
Jesus
and
it's
choosing
to
follow
him
let's
pray
father
we
are
sorry
we
repent
we
confess
of
making
me
the
center
of
all
things
for
seeking
glory
for
ourselves
for
promoting
ourselves
father
help us
to see
afresh that
it's not
about me
but it's
all about
Jesus
the
one who
came to
give his
life for
us
so that
we can
be
forgiven
and set
free
the
one who
comes
gently
alongside
us
restoring
us
being
kind
to us
giving
life in
all its
fullness
us
help us
every
day
to
follow
you
to
look to
Jesus
afresh
to
listen
to
his
word
and
to
know
him
who
loves
us
it's
in
Jesus
name
we
pray
amen
well we're
going to
sing
together
it's
not
about
me