The Gospel of John - Outline Part 2 - The Humility of John the Baptist

TITLE

John 1:19-34 – The Humility of John the Baptist

EXPLANATION

The Apostle John now shifts from a description and identification of Jesus as the Word, the Light, and the Son of God, to the character of John the Baptist.  We are given a glimpse of John’s ministry and we see his character through his actions.  What is striking about this passage is how doggedly John refuses the limelight.  He was peppered with questions about who he was, what he was doing, and why he was doing it.  John repeatedly avoided the questions with simple negative responses.  Rather than giving a straight answer, he seemed to dodge and avoid the inquiries of the Jews.  Then, when he finally did provide a solid answer, it was clothed in mysterious and vague references to the Old Testament prophets.  He quoted Isaiah 40:3 in verse 23 and identified himself as the straightener of the way of the Lord.  I imagine this must have frustrated his questioners.  Not content with John’s answer, they continued to press him for information.  So, he revealed that he was merely the forerunner of One who was coming, who would be greater than himself. 

Then, when John at last saw Jesus, in verse 29, and it was revealed to him who this man was, he proclaimed Him as the Christ immediately.  John took no chances on anyone missing the point.  He called Jesus the Lamb of God and One who takes away the sin of the world.  The words John chose were pregnant with theological implication for the Jews.  John imaged both Abraham and the Exodus in the picture of the sacrificial lamb whose purpose was to provide protection and serve as a surrogate for one who was facing death.  He even took it further and deeper than that by saying that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit.  For a man who had spent his ministry baptizing by immersion into water, the picture he painted of how Jesus would immerse people into the very Spirit of God Himself was striking.

APPLICATION

I think the reason John danced around the questions he was asked, answered cryptically from the Old Testament, and then turned the attention of everyone toward Jesus as soon as he got a chance, was because he was blessed with exceeding humility.  John recognized that he was as nothing beside the glory of Jesus.  John understood that the point of his ministry was never about him.  It was always about God and His plan of redemption, fully realized in Christ.  Therefore, John was completely content to direct attention away from himself and onto Jesus.

I think there is a charge implicit in John’s testimony for all those who are in Christ.  We are called to be selfless.  We have been given an example of ultimate humility, not just in John, but in Jesus Himself.  And we are told to emulate this example.  Pride is a pattern of sinful behavior that must daily be put to death, at least for me.  A passage such as this one ought to be read every day of life followed by penitent pleading with God to make the humility of John and Jesus a reality in us.