You're Not The Savior
Sermon Audio
Sermon Notes
Today we’re continuing our teaching series called Visible God, it’s about seeing God through the life of Jesus. We’re studying a book of the bible called the Gospel of John, which records the life and words of Jesus written by an original source, an original follower of Jesus. Our hope in doing this series is that you’ll get to see more clearly, our invisible God made visible through Jesus, and today we’re gonna talk about something we touched on last week which is that you’re not the savior...You and I aren’t the savior of our lives and world.
Now we’ve been taught to think differently than that. We’ve been taught by our culture to think we can do anything we put our minds to, but that’s not true. There’s certain things in life no matter how hard you try or how smart you are, you simply can’t accomplish. I mean as a kid I wanted to be an eagle, but it didn’t matter how hard I flapped my arms, every time I jumped off the couch I fell. I fell because I wasn’t designed to be an eagle...In a similar way you and I aren’t designed to be the savior of our lives and world. God’s given us certain abilities to help humanity by advancing in things like technology, the medical field, and counseling. Those things can certainty help give you some relief in life, but they’re not designed to eternally save your life, especially from things like sin and death. I mean it doesn’t matter how smart you are, how hard you flap your wings, there’s certain things you do, certain sins you can’t save yourself from...and there’s also gonna be a time in your life when doctors will say there’s nothing more they can do to save your life. Eventually we’ll all face the reality that we can’t save ourselves, our family, friends, people in our city and world from things like sin and death. But we can be a voice pointing people to the one who can, and that’s what we’re gonna talk about today. So let’s turn to John 1:19-34 and get into it. Open your bibles to the middle, turn right until you find Matthew, a few books to the right of that is John. We’ll be in John 1:19-34. The title of today’s message is You’re Not The Savior, and here’s the big idea. You’re not the Savior, but you can be a voice pointing people to the Savior...You’re not the Savior, but you can be a voice pointing people to the Savior.
Context:
Here’s your context. John’s the author of this book of the bible, and he’s very good friends with Jesus, he was a part of Jesus’ inner circle. He writes this book towards the end of his life, and historians tell us he was heavily persecuted by the Roman government for not denying Jesus, for not remaining silent about Jesus. Now in our study of vs. 1-18 he tells us that Jesus is our Visible God who came to give us grace upon grace. So his main point in vs. 1-18 is that Jesus is our visible God who came to give us grace upon grace, and in vs. 19-34 he’s gonna teach us about a guy who keeps pointing people to Jesus. This guy isn’t the Savior, but he’s continually using his voice to point people to the Savior, to point people to Jesus. So let’s check it out.
The Word:
John 1:19-34 states this, “And this is the testimony of John...” That’s a different John than the one who wrote this book of the bible. It’s talking about a guy named John the Baptist. It’s not John the Southern Baptist, it’s just John the Baptist...
Again vs. 19, “And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’” Okay so John’s obviously a public figure, he has the little blue checkmark on his Instagram. He’s developed enough of a following to where these Jewish religious leaders want to know more about who he is. In other parts of the bible we learn John’s a pretty rough guy, he wears clothes made of camel’s hair, and eats locusts and honey. A lot of us are sweet and salty people, he was a sweet and salty bug person. He’s like a present day Bear Grills, a mountain man kind of guy, who isn’t afraid of anyone, including these religious leaders who are questioning him. They’re asking him “Who are you,” and listen to what he says.
Vs. 20, “He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ.’” John confessed, he admits “I’m not the Christ.” In Hebrew Christ is translated as “Messiah,” and it means “the anointed one.” The Jews were waiting with great anticipation for the Messiah, for the anointed one who would come to lead them, teach them, and save them. But John says “I’m note Christ! I’m not the Savior!” It’s a good thing for John to admit, but it’s a hard thing for us to admit. It’s a hard thing for us to admit, to let go of control, to stop trying to control everything in our lives and admit that we’re not the Savior of our lives. It’s so enslaving and frustrating when we try to control everything in our lives, when we try to play a role we weren’t designed to play. Think about some of the areas in your life you’re trying to control right now but you can’t. I mean no matter how hard you try you can’t fix your financial issues, fix your marriage and family issues, fix your health and mental health issues, or even fix your sin issues. No matter how hard you try, you simply can’t fix it all, you can’t control it all and it’s frustrating you. It’s frustrating your because you’re trying to play a role you weren’t designed to play. You and I weren’t designed to be eagles, we weren’t designed to be the Savior of our lives. The more we try to be the Savior of our lives, the more frustrating it’ll be to us, and some of you need to hear me say, “You can’t fix it all. You can’t control it all.” Some of you need to hear me say, “You’re...not...the Savior...” You’re...not...the Savior...City Awakening who are you?...Who are you really?...It’ll serve you well if you humbly admit like John, that you’re not the Savior.
Again vs. 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 answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’” They keep pressing him, they keep asking him who he is. They ask if he’s Elijah or the Prophet, which are two people the Jews expected God to send after several hundred years of prophetic silence. But John says he’s none of those people, so they keep pressing him to tell them who he is, and he finally does in vs. 23.
Vs. 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.’” John says “I’m not the Christ! I’m not the Savior! I’m not Elijah or the Prophet either! I’m just a voice. I am just a voice pointing people to the Savior.” He quotes a prophet named Isaiah who once said a messenger’s job is to make straight the way of the Lord, and John’s saying he’s that messenger, he’s that voice making straight the way of the Lord, preparing the way for the arrival of King Jesus. See roads back then weren’t well maintained like they are today, so before a king arrived in a town they’d send out a herald to announce the king’s coming. As soon as people heard this they’d run to clear the debris off the roads and fill in the potholes. They did this so the people in town and surrounding cities could come see the king, have access to the king, and celebrate the king’s arrival. John’s saying “I’m the herald, I’m the messenger, I’m the voice announcing the King of kings is coming. So prepare your debris filled, potholed hearts, by repenting of your sins. Repent and prepare your hearts for the coming of the Lord!” John’s saying he’s not the Savior, he’s a voice pointing people to the Savior. You and I aren’t the Savior either, but we can be voices pointing people to the Savior.
Again vs. 23 says, “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.” Okay so John’s baptizing people to prepare their hearts for the coming of the King, and baptism at this point in biblical history was a symbol of purification that reflected repentance of sins. It was normally something the Jews did for non-Jews who converted to Judaism which is why these religious leaders get upset. Its because John’s baptizing Jews as well, meaning he’s treating Jews and non-Jews the same. But John’s not interested in prepping the hearts of Jews or non-Jews, he’s interested in calling all people to repent of their sins so their hearts can be prepped for the coming of the King, the Messiah, the Savior whose sandals he says he’s not worthy to untie.
Now that’s an important statement John makes, because back then teachers didn’t typically get paid. So their pupils, their disciples would often help care for their needs bringing them food, clothing, help run errands, and do certain tasks, but one thing they wouldn’t do was untie their rabbi’s sandals. It’s because their sandals were nasty! I mean we’re not talking about nice boots, sneakers, or close toed crocks. We’re talking open toed sandals that leave your feet nasty from walking in the dirty, dusty, desert streets. Your sandals were considered one of the nastiest parts of your body. Historians say that untying a person’s sandals back then, would be equivalent to us scrubbing a person’s toilet, and that’s where the Jews would draw the line. They wouldn’t untie a person’s sandals, they wouldn’t scrub a person’s toilet. But John’s saying he isn’t even worthy of that job, of scrubbing the Savior’s toilet, of untying the Savior’s sandals. He’s not saying all this in a depressing, pathetic kind of way, “I’m nothing, I’m worthless, I’m pathetic.” He’s simply humbling himself in comparison to the Savior. He’s saying “I’m not the Savior, I’m not even worthy to untie the Savior’s sandals. I’m just a voice pointing people to the Savior.”
Vs. 29, “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God...’” There he is again being a voice pointing to the Savior. He’s saying “Behold! Look! There’s the King, the Messiah, the Savior, the Lamb of God!” It’s actually a little comical when you think about what John’s saying from a historical perspective, because the Jews had certain messianic expectations. They expected their Savior to come as a strong warrior King who’d defeat the Roman Empire and their other enemies. They expected him to come as a ferocious lion, not a wimpy lamb. It’d be like us having to fight in a fierce war and being told to hang in there until reinforcements arrive, but all we get is a drummer boy. The Jews weren’t expecting this, they were expecting a wimpy lamb. But all throughout the bible we’re taught Jesus isn’t a ferocious lion OR a wimpy lamb. He’s both a tough lion and a tender lamb. I guess you can say he’s a “Liamb.” Not a Liger like Napoleon Dynamite, but a “Liamb.” He’s a tough lion and a tender lamb, who’s willing to sacrifice his life on the cross for our sins, which John points to next.
Again vs. 29 says, “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” That’s the role of the Messiah, the Savior, the tough lion, the tender lamb. It’s to sacrifice his life for the sins of the world. It’s to take away, the sins that are clearly destroying our relationships with God and each other. Now when John says the world, he’s not saying everybody will be forgiven of their sins. We learned this last week in vs. 11-12 where it says not everybody wanted to receive Jesus as their Savior. Some people want to be their own lords, their own gods, their own saviors, but John’s saying it’s only those who trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior who will receive the forgiveness of sins. So when John says Jesus died for the sins of the world, he’s not saying everybody will be forgiven of their sins. He’s saying anybody can come to Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. He’s saying Jesus died not just for the Jews, but also for the non-Jews. He died for people from every nation, tribe, and tongue. It’s why one of our codes, one of our core values at City Awakening is the gospel’s our common ground! The gospel, Jesus is our common ground, meaning the ground is level at the foot of the cross. Just like John we’re all unworthy to untie Jesus’ sandals because of our sin. The ground is level at the foot of the cross, we all need Jesus to die the death we deserve to die for our sins. We want to be a church that shares that message without discrimination, because Jesus died for people from every nation. Anybody can come to Jesus, because Jesus died to take away the sins of the world. He died for people from every nation, tribe, and tongue.
Again vs. 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.’” When John says he “didn’t know him,” he’s not saying he didn’t know who Jesus was. He knew who Jesus was, because he’s Jesus’ older cousin. That’s what’s so interesting about the things John’s saying. I mean even though John was born first, he says Jesus is ranked before him, meaning Jesus existed before him, before the creation of the world. John’s finally realizing who Jesus really is. He’s finally realizing that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, the God who existed before the creation of the world. Can you imagine the look on John’s face when he finally realizes this? He’s gotta be like “Uh oh! I hope Jesus doesn’t remember those swirlies I gave him growing up...I hope he doesn’t remember all the swirlies, wet willies, noogies, chibogies, and all the other illies I gave him”.... John the Baptist’s testimony is such a powerful testimony, because nobody looks at their cousin and thinks they’re God...A demon maybe, but not God...Nobody looks at their cousin and says, “I’m not worthy to untie my cousin’s sandals, because they’re ranked above me, they’re the Savior of the world, they’re God.” Nobody says that about their cousin, unless they know without a doubt, that it’s true. John didn’t realize it growing up, but he realizes it now. He believes without a doubt, that Jesus is our God and Savior, who came to die for the sins of the world.
Vs. 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.’” John says he saw a sign from God, he saw the Spirit of God descending on Jesus like a dove. From that point on he knew without a doubt, that his younger cousin Jesus is the Savior of the world, and he spent the rest of his life using his voice, to point people to trust in Jesus as their Savior...
The Big Idea:
Let’s get to the big idea of the message, here’s the big idea. You’re not the Savior, but you can be a voice that points people to the Savior...You’re not the Savior, but you can be a voice that points people to the Savior...City Awakening we need to recognize who the real savior is...We need to recognize who the real savior is, and it’s not you, it’s not me, it’s not us...There’s some things you can control and fix in your life, but you can’t control and fix everything. Sooner or later all of us will be faced with situations where we’ll need a Savior, especially when it comes to sin and death. The good news is we have a Savior, and his name is Jesus.
Look if Jesus isn’t our Savior, if he’s just some good moral teacher who came to give us good advice on how to live a good life, then he’s no good to us. He’s no good to us because we’ll fail to live out whatever good advice he gives us. We do this all the time, people give us good advice all the time, and we either ignore that advice or fail to live out. So we need something more than good advice, we need a good Savior who came to save us from our sins, who came to give us the power to live the life we’ve been powerless to live on our own strength. We need a Savior...We need a Savior, and both John the Baptist and John the author of this book are voices saying, Jesus is that Savior. Both Christians and non-Christians need to recognize who the real savior is, let go of control, and trust Jesus as their Savior. We need to trust him as our tough lion, as our tender lamb, as our Visible God and Savior who came to live, die, and rise again for the forgiveness of our sins. Then as Christians we’re to help prepare the way like John did, for the second coming of Jesus. We’re to help prepare the way by making and sending disciples in our city. We’re not the Saviors, but we’re to be voices in our city that point people to our Savior.
Communion
Let’s have those serving communion start passing the plates at this time...Communion’s a time for us to remember and celebrate Jesus as our Savior. Jesus told us to do this in remembrance of him, in remembrance of who he is and what he did for us on the cross. So as the plates are being passed, take a few minutes to prepare your hearts, to make way for the Lord in your heart like John said, by repenting of your sins and asking Jesus to forgive you of your sins. Then thank Jesus for dying for your sins, for being your Savior, for going to the cross for you. Let’s pray.......
On the night Jesus was betrayed he was having a meal with his friends. He took some bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it saying “This is my body which is to be broken for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. As often as you eat it, do so in remembrance of me, in remembrance of who I am and what I’ve done for you.” When supper ended he took the cup, blessed it, gave thanks for it, and said“This cup is a symbol of my blood which is to be shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. As often as you drink of it, do so in remembrance of me, in remembrance of who I am and what I’ve done.” City Awakening let’s eat, let’s drink, let’s worship Jesus as our Savior, and be humble voices in our city, that point people to our Savior.