THE RECORD OF JOHN
a sermon by Gene Breed
"And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?" John 1:19
In the word, "record" we have the same word translated, "witness" in verse seven of this chapter. And I trust we shall be enabled to see that there are three aspects of John in the manifestation of his witness which bring about different aspects of that witness.
I. ELIJAH THE PROPHET
First of all we have John the Baptist presented in the relation of the character of Elijah the prophet. For when the priests and Levites are sent by "the Jews" from Jerusalem they ask him the question, "Art thou Elias?" (Jn.1:21). One might think, "What would ever cause them to ask such a question? Did they actually believe that Elijah had returned to earth as John the Baptist? But, dear soul, there are religionists today who still believe that, not only Elijah, but also Enoch will return to the earth, as themselves, to be witnesses for God!
And just where did the Jews get such an idea? It was from a false understanding of the last two verses in the Old Testament scriptures. "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." (Mal 4:5,6). But at least these Jews in John's day had the proper understanding that the "coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord" was to take place at the coming of Christ into the world by Incarnation. The "Baptist-Jews" of our day erroneously place it down at the end of the age!
And we must also note that these verses relate that "Elijah the Prophet", and not "Elijah the Person", shall come! For it is in regards to the office of Elijah, and not the person of Elijah to which the reference is made! We know that this is true, for "an angel of the Lord", in speaking to Zacharias, John the Baptist's father, concerning his birth states, "and he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah" (Lk 1:17). Also we have the testimony of the Lord himself! For in Matthew 11:13-15 we read, "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." So with an angel of the Lord, and the Lord himself stating that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of Malachi's prophecy, how do you think John shall answer the Jew's messengers? Will it surprise you to hear him answer the question, "Art thou Elias", with these words, "I am not"? At face value this just does not seem to make sense! But let us see if we may look deeper into this situation.
What Sayest Thou of Thyself?
One of the questions that we have gives us an opening for additional light. In verse twenty two we have the question asked of John, "What sayest thou of thyself?". For here, the "man sent from God" to "bear witness of that Light" (Jn 1:6,8), was asked to do that which God had not sent him to do! For he was sent forth "that he (Christ) should be manifest to Israel" (Jn 1:31); not that John should be made known. The words of the Lord sound forth loudly here in chapter five and verse thirty one of this book. He stated, "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true." Therefore John would not have been acting according to his commission to have born witness to himself! And in chapter eight and verse seventeen, the Lord brings forth a statement that reveals that it would not have been lawful for John to have answered such a question. There, he states, "It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true." And as they were requiring John to witness of himself alone, to do so would have been unlawful!
We are taught by the scriptures that if we wish to know of any minister (listed as "spiritual gift") to the church, we must ask concerning him of God, and not ask the man himself! (Read 1John 4:1-3). We also read in chapter twelve of the first Corinthian letter that it is the work of God to identify the members of Christ's body, for he has divided "to every man severally as he will".
There was a difference made in the way we identify those who are the members of Christ's body since the death of Christ, as well. This is set forth in verses fifteen through seventeen of the fifth chapter of the second Corinthian letter. "And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." For here we are clearly told that since the cross, we cannot continue to identify any christian man in the former way. The reason being that he, as a borned again believer, now lives, "unto him which died for them, and rose again"! They shall, therefore, from that point on, never again be identified in Adam's family, but only as in the family of "the last Adam", that is, Jesus Christ! For the transition which took place was no less of a powerful creation than was the creation of the sun to shine out of darkness in the Genesis account (2Cor 4:6)! Therefore, "old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new".
The Commendation of The Preacher to The Hearer
Dear reader, if only these priests and Levites had given a good hearing to the message of John, they would have known who he was! We know that they had taken notice of his ministry, for Jesus testified to them of that. For of John's ministry he stated, "He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light". (Jn 5:35). Did you notice the words, "for a season"? As is too often the case, more listeners seem to get caught up in the atmosphere, than there are those who actually give the preacher a good listen! And of course, as our Lord said, it is only those who have an ear that can hear.
The Apostle Paul further instructs us in chapter four, verses one through six, in the second Corinthian letter that the proper handling of the word of God while preaching, will not only convey Christ to those enabled to hear, but will also comment the preacher "to every man's conscience in the sight of God" (2Cor 4:2). In verse five he sets forth that the priority in preaching is to "preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord". Then he finishes this verse with the result of doing so, which is, "and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake"! In other words, we preach Christ the Lord without any intention of using the word of God to deceitfully point to the speaker! But as the tail of the dog comes to you when you call the dog, so the manifestation of the preacher is received when you have Christ preached.
II. The Porter
The second look at John is in his role as "the porter". Jesus said, "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John" (Mt 11:13). This places him in the unique time and position of ministering when Christ, the Lamb of God was present among Israel. But the sacrificial lambs were still being lawfully slain there in the temple. God had not, as yet, torn the veil of the temple, thus signifying the end of that covenant. It was in this transitional age that John ministered.
We have two passages which show very clearly that John was given the place of responsibility over God's sheep in this period. The first is seen in Mark, chapter one. "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins." (Mark 1:4,5). The other is found in Acts 13:24. "When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel." Therefore seeing "all" consigned to him, we may conclude that John the Baptist was "the porter" of whom our Lord referred in chapter ten of the Book of John.
But before we look at those verses let us notice the historical portion in the preceding chapter. For chapter ten is the teaching portion which comes forth to instruct us for it's events. The issue in chapter nine of John is, who is the authorized shepherd of God's people in Israel? And this issue centers around just one blind man and two religious influences. Those two are the Pharisees, who saw themselves as head of the religious organization, and the other is Jesus, who is Head of the spiritual organism - the true church! And for the sake of brevity, let us just point to the result of the entire account. In verse thirty four, the final dealings with him by the Pharisees was, "and they cast him out"! That is, they excommunicated him from all the privileges of the temple worship. But as with us, the best thing that ever happened to him at that time was being cast out of the harlot's denominational system! For we read that Jesus "found him" (v.35), and revealed himself to him as the Son of God! And that is salvation! For John 17:3 states. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Listen to the former blind man's conversion. "Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him." (Jn 9:35-38). He is able to come to God by following the true shepherd!
Now listen to that same true shepherd as he deals with false religionists. "And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth." (Jn 9:39-41). Just as the cloud that separated Israel from the Egyptians was light to Israel, while beaming darkness upon the Egyptians, so the Lord here acts in his own discriminating mercy and saves one, and pronounces judgment upon others!
The Shepherd's Recognition
Now that this little sheep has been used to reveal just who was the authorized shepherd in Israel, our Lord begins to teach concerning this issue. In the first three verses of John chapter ten we read, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out."
Let us see the actual event of the shepherd coming to the porter to be recognized as Israel's authorized shepherd, sent from God. "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (Jn 1:29). Here we are told that John saw Jesus, "coming unto him". This was, without doubt, the shepherd coming to gain entrance of the sheepfold by presenting himself to the porter. For the town porter would lay before the only opening of the sheepfold and keep the sheep safely during the night in order that the shepherds, who had brought their flocks down out of the hills, might find lodgings. And to only the person he recognized as the shepherd would he open the door of the sheepfold, granting entrance.
John's ability to acknowledge Jesus of Nazareth as God's true shepherd was given to him by divine revelation. We read of the account of this in verses thirty one through thirty four of John chapter one. Twice he proclaims, "I knew him not". But was not his and Jesus' mother related? Yes, they were. Then what can he mean by this statement, twice repeated? He means that it was not flesh and blood that revealed it unto him, but the heavenly Father (Mt. 16:17). For "no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost" (1Cor 12:3b). Too many still try to approach Christ through human familiarity! But Jesus warned Mary not to "touch" him in the way of past feelings. He would allow her only to approach him in terms of his resurrected Lordship. (Jn 20:16,17). And at that time, in her heart, she evidently had not yet seen him as ascended to the identification of eternal sovereignty! Hebrews 1:3 relates, "..when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."
This condescension of the Son of God in presenting himself to John, as the porter of the sheep, to be vindicated in his claim of being the authorized shepherd of God, is part of that precious humility we see described in Philippians chapter two, verses five through eleven. For although he thought it not robbery to be equal with God, yet he veiled his glory, and emptied himself of all his eternal reputation. John had found condescension of that one whose shoe's latchet he was not worthy to unloose, very discomforting to himself as a man. For at the scene of his baptism he had requested that Jesus baptize him! But our Lord reminded him that no matter how he felt personally, he must act out the duty of his office and proceed faithfully in the fulfillment of righteousness (Mt. 3:13-17). And in the accomplishment of this act, we clearly see the basic principle of the kingdom, which sets it apart from all the world's attitudes. For both Jesus' submission to John, as the porter, and John's submission to God's command to baptize his Son, reflect that principle which is, "whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant" (Mt. 20:27).
Let us notice that on two separate days John proclaims, "Behold the Lamb of God". And yet, we see two entirely separate scenes worthy of notice! Here in John 1:29 there are not any sheep referred to as being present. There is just the shepherd's approach to the porter. And afterward, there is the testimony of the porter of the shepherd's task, that is, to take "away the sin of the world". This is followed by an explanation of how he was instructed by God to come to this conclusion! That day's events ends with this tremendous proclamation; "And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God".
The Sheep's Release
The second day in which John states, "Behold the Lamb of God", we find no words to indicate that Jesus only comes to John. For this time we are told that John makes the announcement, "looking upon Jesus as he walked ", and not as he was "coming unto him"! Also we note that upon this occasion there were sheep present! For verse 35 records that, "John stood, and two of his disciples".
One of the biblical evidences we are given of the true shepherd is that he leads the sheep out (Jn 10:3). And is not that exactly what happened here? For we read, "And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus" (v.37). This has been expected by John, who, when his disciples state that "all men come to him", replies, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (Jn. 3:30). John is satisfied that the sheep leaving his ministry and following Jesus is as it should be! In fact he proclaims, when speaking of Jesus as "the bridegroom", having received the church, as the "bride", that, "this my joy therefore is fulfilled." (Jn 3:29). He was so joyful at this being the case, he contradicts the jealous hearted disciples statement that, "all men come to him" (3:26), by declaring, "no man receiveth his testimony" (3:32). John was actually saying that since, to receive Jesus was receive God, not nearly enough people had come to worship him! Those who know and love Jesus as God, wish all men to do so! They are jealous for the recognition of his glory as God, and not of his popularity among men!
III. ONE OF THE ELDERS
Our third and final view of, not the person of John the Baptist, but of the character of John's ministry, is by one of the symbolic characters in the Book of the Revelation. We shall view him in both the fifth and seventh chapters. In both passages he is simply referred to as, "one of the elders" (Rev 5:5, 7:13). Let us see just how this symbolic character reflects the ministry of John the Baptist. But in order to identify him, we must remember that John's ministry took place in the transitional period of the finishing out of the Old Testament, and the beginning of the New!
First, let us point out from Revelation 4:4 that this elder is just one of twenty four elders. And this is one key that links him to the type ministry John had. This one elder is unique in his spokesmanship for both the Old and New Testament branches of the church. For both of these Testaments (or, "Covenants") are stamped with the number twelve. And it is these two twelves banded together which reveal the purpose of the number twenty four! For there were twelve tribes in the old, and there were twelve apostles in the new, set up by God for the government of his church. Thus as one of the twenty four elders, he stands amidst these two branches of the church, just as John did. (Previewing glimpses of the union of these "twain" made into "one new man" {Eph 2:15}, may be seen both upon an occasion of a Gentile's faith in Matthew 8:10,11, and on the occasion of the Jews rebuke in Luke 13:28,29.)
There can be no doubt, dear soul, upon the reading of Ephesians chapter two, verses eleven through eighteen, that the torn body of the Lord in his death, provided the unity of the body of the church! For verses fourteen and fifteen of this passage relates, "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;". This is also seen in Hebrews 10:19 which states, "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh."
But just who are those related to us by the word, "both" in the above Ephesian passage? And to whom is referred by the word, "us"? This is easily seen in verse eleven. The two being spoken of are those referred to in the words, "Uncircumcision", and "Circumcision"! Which of course denotes respectively, the Gentiles and the Jews! "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." (Eph 2:18).
Now let us also see just how the Holy Spirit, as author of the scriptures, has stamped upon both the two branches the number twelve here in this Book of the Revelation where our elder appears. In chapter seven we have the church identified from an earthly view point as seen by the words in verse one, "the four corners of the earth". This view reveals all believers from an identification of the church as seen from the structure of Israel. In each of verses five through eight we have three "twelves" each! Therefore when viewing the church from this earthly view, (The three stages of the church's progression are, the physical in the Old Testament; the spiritual in the New Testament; and then, the glorious in eternity! And as dear Pastor Hubert Davis of Farmville, Va. so truly states, "We must not reverse this order!"), it is stamped with this number twelve!
In verse nine of this chapter we are taken unto "the throne" to view this same gathering. But here we find them described as "a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations". For in this second realm of the spiritual, who could number an organism? (Not that there was no spiritual qualities within the elect of the Old Testament, but we are speaking from that view as presented to us here in this symbolic passage!) And it is right here, after the coming together of both the physical and the spiritual to be seen together that our elder appears! For he, like John the Baptist, stands in representation of the Lamb's work, concerning itself with both branches of the church. In fact, they both stand in the transitional era as the two are in the midst of their change.
But thus far we have only one instance of a "twelve" being assigned to the new, or spiritual economy; which is that of the number of apostles. Let us remedy that by listing a few references. In Revelation 12:1, we see the number of "stars" ("messengers", or gospel ministers - Rev 1:20; Dan 12:3; John 5:35) to be "twelve", which crowns the church! In Revelation 21 we find it has "twelve gates" (21:12,21); "angels" (21:12); "tribes" (21:12); "foundations" (21:14); "apostles" (21:14); "pearls" (21:21); and in chapter twenty two and verse two, there are "twelve manners of fruit".
But the number twelve, however, is not the only connection with this one elder of the twenty four and John the Baptist. We can also readily see other similarities between them. They both have the same delivery styles in the proclaimation of their messages. John says, "Behold the Lamb"! The elder says, "behold the Lion" (Rev. 5:5) Notice that when John the Apostle looks in obedience to this command, he sees "a Lamb" (5:6).
They are also both concerned with directing the church's attention to the Lamb's purpose regarding the atonement. For John states that he is the "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (Jn 1:29). Then the elder states the same thing in a different way! For his words are concerning those, "made white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev 7:14). In John chapter one John reveals to the church The Lamb's Purpose. In Revelation chapter five, the elder reveals The Lamb's Providence. That is, they should weep no more for the Lamb is on the throne directing the affairs of everything (Eph 1:11). Then in Revelation chapter seven the elder reveals The Lamb's Provision. He fulfills his promise in Matthew 5:6 where he pledged to fill all they that hunger after righteousness. For in Revelation 7:16 he states, "They shall hunger no more". And he finishes out his instructions by revealing that the Sovereign Lamb shall both "feed" and "lead" the entire flock of God, taking them to lie down by the "living fountains of waters", there to "wipe away" (same word "blotting" in Acts 3:19, and Col 2:14 having to do with the removal of sin.), "all tears from their eyes."
They also both recognize the Lamb's sovereignty! John relates that he "is above all" (Jn 3:31). While the elder speaks of the "Lamb which is in the midst of the throne" (Rev. 7:17). There is also found in the elders passage a listing out of all over whom the Lamb reigns. "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever." (Rev 5:13,14). "..Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him." (1 Pet 3:21,22). Jesus of Nazareth is very God! He alone is Almighty God and Ruler over all that exists! Bless His holy name!
Let us finish by also bringing to your attention another phrase that is found in the passages concerning both John the Baptist and the elder. That phrase is, "Come and see." It is spoken by our Lord himself in John 1:39 as an effectual call to the former disciples of John as he brings the sheep from the porter's care into his own. And these are the words of Philip to doubtful Nathanael in verse forty six of this same chapter. This is the begining of evangelism, and it reveals to us that when a person is scoffing at our doctrine, we need only say what our Lord said, and leave them to the Holy Spirit's control! Our job is to make the gospel available, not acceptable! Then we find these words again in the Revelation 6:1 as we have the Sovereign Lamb opening up the providence he has eternally designed for the church's history. "And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see." And as this word, "beast" means "living", we see that here again God is acting through one of his new creatures who has spiritual life in Christ Jesus, to bring forth the "white horse" of evangelism upon the earth!
This message was delivered by Pastor Gene Breed from the pulpit of Grace Baptist Church, Jonesboro, Ga. It is available to those who request it on both video and audio cassette tape. For your free copy write TRUTH TAPE LIBRARY, P.O. BOX 795, DOUGLASVILLE, GA. 30133.
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