John 1:24-34

Here are my sermon notes for this morning....something that spoke to me personally....

We were first challenged with the thought of having to describe a good friend of mine to a group of people who don't know her.....THEN, asking that group of people to pick her out of a crowd of 1000! That would cause me to really think about which characteristics, features, or attributes I would use to describe this friend, right?
Well, we looked at someone who had the opportunity to describe Christ to a group who really didn't know Him...a once in a lifetime chance in some aspects.....John the Baptist....he selected 3 distinguishing features of Christ to describe Him to a group of onlookers who "knew him not" {the pharisees} (1:26):

1. The Sovereign Lord....vs 26-27.."John answered them, saying, I baptize with water; but there standeth one among you, whom you know not. He it is who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to loose."
Why is this important?
*so we can expose Him to a people who don't know Him
*so we can exalt Him...John the Baptist lived a life that showed Christ in the place of utmost honor (first place!!)
*so we can extol praise to Him....John 3:30 (one of my favorites), "He must increase, but i must decrease"
"Is Christ really clearly visible in my life, after almost 20 years of salvation?" (bold questions mine)

2. The Sacrificial Lamb....vs 29...."The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world"
*"BEHOLD"...(word means first look upon, then consider, then compare, then make a decision....that is a lot for one word!!)...but John is bringing attention to the person of Christ
"How many people 'behold' Christ because of me?"
*"LAMB OF GOD"....draws attention to the price He paid....ref: the Levitical system/passover Lamb (Ex 12)....I Peter 1:18-19)
*"WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD"....the pardon He provided

3. The Savior longed for....vs 30-34..."This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man who is preferred before me; for he was before me. And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bore witness saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And i knew him not; but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me. upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizeth with the Holy Spirit. And I saw, and bore witness that this is the Son of God."
what proof do we have that He is the Savior?
* the proclamation of JOHN himself; it's backed up by the inspired Word of God
*the identification of the HOLY SPIRIT (vs 32)
*the sanction of GOD THE FATHER (vs 33)...."he that sent me"...1:6 "man sent from God, whose name was John"

"What should I tell others about Jesus Christ?"

I think i get so comfortable sometimes, focusing on my own personal walk with the Lord and helping others with theirs, I am not always focused on those that don't even know Him.....which is not good for a missionary!!! But here, in my little Christian bubble, I am not often exposed (or so I tell myself) to those who don't know Him...but really, there are many, many opportunities each day to tell others about Him...so with that task before me, what will I tell them about Christ?