Confess Jesus, God's Son!

John 1:19-34
Related Sunday School Lesson Family Bible Series, December 5

From the opening words, John's inspired biography of Jesus is different from the others. Countless books and commentaries have contrasted the differences between this book and the other three gospel accounts. Matthew's gospel reveals Jesus as the Messiah, the fulfillment of ancient prophecies. Mark pictures Jesus as the humble servant. Luke, the physician, writes to show Jesus as the Son of Man. But the apostle John is moved by the Holy Spirit to emphasize that Jesus is the Son of God.

In John's account we have no Bethlehem, no baptism, no boyhood, and no bloodline. He gets right to the point, "In the beginning was the Word..." Only the eternal Son of God merits such an introduction.

Chapter one can be divided evenly into 3 sections, verses 1-18, 19-34, and 35-51. This lesson is drawn from the middle portion of the chapter. The first part of this passage is an interrogation of John (19-28). The second part is an identification of Jesus (29-34). The first half is John's denial. The second half is John's declaration. Focusing on verses 29-34 we can see at least four reasons to join John the Baptist in confessing Jesus as God's Son.

The Saving Purpose of Jesus, vs. 29

The setting for this powerful declaration is "Bethany beyond the Jordan" or "Bethabara" (KJV). Make note that this is not the same Bethany where Lazarus and his sisters lived. Every Jew, priest, and Levite in the crowd at Bethabara knew exactly what the baptizer meant. While John the Apostle introduces Jesus as the Word of God, John the Baptist introduces Him as the Passover Lamb.

The waters of John's baptism brought no more salvation in that day than in ours. Neither the clear waters of a modern-day baptistery nor the murky waters of Jordan could wash away the dark stain of sin. That would require the shed blood of a perfect, innocent Lamb (see 1 Peter 1:18-12).

Abraham foretold that God would provide Himself a lamb (Gen. 22:8). Isaiah prophesied that the sins of us all would be placed on the Lamb of God (53:4-6). Jesus healed the paralytic to demonstrate His authority to forgive sin (Mark 2:10-11).

Paul said to Timothy that Christ came into the world to save sinners (I Timothy 1:15). He told the Corinthians that Jesus died for our sins (I Cor. 15:3). Peter says that Christ bore our sins in His body on the tree (I Peter 2:24). He also states that Christ suffered once for our sins (I Peter 3:18.) The writer of Hebrews says Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice for sins (10:12). In the midst of this inspired chorus, John the Baptist adds his voice to the refrain.

The Sovereign Person of Jesus, vs. 30

He is the Preeminent One! John had spent his entire prophetic ministry declaring that a greater one was coming (see John 1:15). And now He was finally here. John had already declared that he was not worthy to even remove Jesus' sandals, one of the lowest expressions of servitude for that day. Let's be sure that we do not become so enamored with the Babe of Bethlehem that we forget that one day every knee will be bowing and every tongue confessing His preeminent Lordship.

He is the Preexistent One! Although John was actually 6 months older he declares that Jesus was before him. Jesus was indeed before John. He was also before Elizabeth. In fact Jesus was before Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (See John 8:56-59).

Numerous pseudo-Christian cults are "pedaling" and "peddling" a false gospel about a false Jesus who was a created being. They may call it "another testament of Jesus Christ" but in reality they are selling a "testament of another Jesus." The Jesus of the Bible has always existed. He did not begin in the stable any more than He ended in the sepulcher.

The Spirit's Proof of Jesus, vs. 31-33

John had unimpeachable proof that Jesus was the Son of God. The Father had already revealed to the prophet that the Spirit would rest on the Messiah as a proof of His identity. Be reminded that it has always been the function of the Holy Spirit to do the convincing. No one will ever be saved without the Holy Spirit drawing them to the Father. That's not the theology of John Calvin. That's the teaching of Jesus Christ.

Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your evangelistic prospects to the truth of who Jesus is. Without His work and wooing, the best-taught lesson is a powerless academic exercise. In John the Baptist's day and in ours, we need the Holy Spirit to descend and rest, convincing the unconvinced and converting the unconverted. When someone truly receives Christ, it is irrefutable evidence that you have been in the presence of the Spirit of the Most High God.

The Simple Proclamation of Jesus, vs. 34

John simply says, "I myself have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." That is a truth so profound that scholars will never fathom its depths. Yet it is so simple that the most innocent possessor of child-like faith can activate its power. And therein is the critical issue for this lesson. Will your heart be open to see who Jesus is? Will you testify and confess His Lordship?

Father, use this study to open the eyes of the lost to confess the Christ of Christmas as the Son of God. May we all see through this study "the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world." In Jesus' name, amen.