Sermon Study Guide

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An Introduction that Changed the World “Learning Jesus” (The Gospel of John) John 1:9-34

January 27, 2019 BIG IDEA John the Baptist had been testifying regarding the coming of Messiah. All of a sudden, Jesus arrived on the scene. Messiah had come and John boldly introduced Him. It was a moment that brought hope, life, and salvation. This was an introduction that changed the world!

THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE Context: John the Disciple recorded the testimony of John the Baptist regarding the coming of Messiah. This great King would change the world. Jesus is that King, and the Evangelist details all of the reasons why we can praise Him, worship Him, and trust Him. The key moment comes in verse 29. John’s introduction of Jesus would change the world forever. John 1:9-34 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 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.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. The Testimony of John the Baptist 19 And 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 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an Ridgewood Church www.myrwc.org

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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.” 24

(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 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.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. Behold, the Lamb of God 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

DISCUSSION & APPLICATION John the Baptist had already testified that he was not the Messiah. In verses 1:19-20, he makes this point clear: John 1:19-20 – And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” In 1:21-23, citing Isaiah 40:3, he forecast the coming of the true Messiah: John 1:21-23 – And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 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?” 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’s words in 1:24-28 made it clear that a greater one was to come: John 1:24-28 – (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 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.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

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John the Disciple recounts this testimony and lays out a case that Jesus is the Son of God. It is an argument as to how Jesus Christ changed the world. 1. The True Light of Jesus Changed the World John 1:9 – The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. John informed his readers that the Creator was coming into His creation. He was coming as the true light. The Greek word for true means “real” or “genuine.” Jesus is the real thing. a. The light of Jesus is truthful and life-giving. What other religious systems or patterns of thought compete with the truthfulness of Jesus? How do we tell what is true and false?

b. The light of Christ shines on saints and sinners alike, but in different ways. His light judges the wicked and shines salvation on believers. In regards to salvation, in what unique ways does Jesus call us to Himself? How were you called to be a Christian?

c. When is the last time you told a non-believer that there is hope to escape sin and run to the Light?

2. The Power of the Lord’s Spiritual Regeneration Changed the World John 1:10-13 – He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

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Sadly, the world (its system that is controlled by Satan) did not know Him. But Jesus didn’t give up. He pursued his mission, which was to make darkness into light by nature of His sacrificial death for sin and resurrection to new life. In verse 13, John simply says: Our new birth in Christ does not come by natural descent (not of blood), nor is the result of human decision (the will of the flesh), or the will of any man. It is the work of God in salvation. This salvation is only possible because Jesus can regenerate a dead soul! a. What evidences do you see of Satanic deceit within the world system? What lies is he telling? Why are people buying his lies?

b. What evidences do you see of Satanic deceit within the Church of today? What lies are church-goers believing? Why are they buying his lies?

c. How can we protect ourselves from deceit?

3. The Incarnation of Jesus Changed the World John 1:14-18 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 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.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. John tells us that God’s only Son has become flesh; totally human, but without sin. And even more, He is dwelling among us! A literal translation of this phrase is: “Jesus pitched His tabernacle” among us. Yahweh was now personally dwelling with His people. That’s amazing!

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Now, John draws a quick line to God’s glory. Jesus is the source of grace in verse 16: “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” This means that we receive the Lord’s grace continually, day by day. And finally, John says in verse 18, “No one has ever seen God but through Jesus Christ.” This revelation of God through Jesus is earth-shattering and world-changing. He is the very essence of God. a. Why did Jesus live among us? Does He still? How?

b. By what means do we receive grace from Jesus? Is there anything we can do to interrupt that flow of grace? Can you share a time when you experienced His grace in a new and exciting way?

4. The Presence of the Son of God Changed the World John 1:30-34 – This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” While the actual baptism of Jesus is not recorded in John’s Gospel, the material of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) is assumed. Though John doesn’t explicitly say that the Spirit came to Jesus during His baptism, the important thing is that the invisible Holy Spirit came from heaven and manifested Himself in a bodily (dove-like) form. The sight of the Spirit descending on Jesus bore transforming significance. It enabled John the Disciple to point to Jesus, with clarity and conviction, and declare that this is the Son of God.

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a. What role does the Holy Spirit play within the Trinity? (Use scripture in your response.) Jesus is the Son of God and fully God. How would you explain this concept to a non-believer?

b. Why do you think that it was important for Jesus to be identified by the Spirit in the form of a dove? What makes Jesus different than other religious leaders?

5. Jesus’ Messianic Mission Changed the World John 1:29 – The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! Now we are back to where we started; with the introduction that changed the world. John saw Jesus as the sacrificial victim that would give His life for the sins of the world. Now, all of those that place their faith in Him can be cleansed of sin and reconciled to God. That’s the mission of Messiah. You can be a part of the mission, too. You can apply this truth to your life and have a huge impact on the world. a. You can follow the Light. Are you settling for something less than Jesus or something that is false to guide your life?

b. You can allow Jesus to raise you from the dead. Jesus can raise dead souls to life. Let Him do that for you!

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Hey, Christian—these are the words of the Apostle Paul: Ephesians 5:14 – “…Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Come out of darkness. Confess your sins. Allow Jesus to cleanse you with His light of forgiveness. And, cynic—don’t wait another minute to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Repent of your sin and believe. Accept the gift of eternal life! c. Lean into the Lord’s mission and change the world. The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, certainly had a mission to do. Lean into it. Get busy. Don’t wait. People are dying. They need Jesus and you can tell them! We must tell them!

PRAY Lord, you are a great and wonderful God. Thank you for the gift of Jesus. Help me to get in the game. Help me to be your ambassador to a world that desperately needs you. Amen.

DIG DEEPER For further study this week:  

Jesus the Son of God: A Christological Title Often Overlooked, Sometimes Misunderstood, and Currently Disputed – a book from D.A. Carson John: Jesus—The Word, the Messiah, the Son of God – MacArthur Bible Studies

NEXT WEEK’S BIG IDEA Seven Signs Point to Jesus as Son of God; Sign #1 – Water into Wine (John 2:1-11)

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