Just a Voice
TITLE: Just a Voice
TEXT: John 1:19-34
TONE: Exhortation
TARGET: Believers
TASK: To encourage believers to be a voice for the Lord.
TEACH: This past week in SE Asia our team encountered a man who had been searching for Jesus for 23 years, all he needed was a voice to share the Gospel with him. God used our voices to save his soul.
TRUTH: Apart from Jesus Christ, John the Baptist is probably the most theologically significant figure in the Gospels. As was the case with Jesus, his birth was meticulously recorded (Luke 1:5-25). His entrance into the world was marked by angelic proclamation and divine intervention (Luke 1:57-80). John’s birth not only parallels that of Jesus, but echoes the momentous occasion of the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah (Gen. 17:15-22; 21:1-7). John is clearly a pivotal figure in redemptive history. Although his formative years were lived in obscurity in the desert (Lk. 1:80), his public ministry ended nearly four hundred years of prophetic silence.[1]
Think about this……
The sunlight began to break through the darkness of the early morning as the people of Judea made their way to the banks of the Jordan River. Among the crowd stood a man dressed in simple garments, his voice echoing across the waters as he proclaimed a message of repentance in preparation for the Messiah’s coming.
The man was John, son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, a prophet in the lineage of the great voices of the past. His very appearance spoke of his calling: dressed in rough garments of camel’s hair, a leather belt around his waist, his eyes burning with fierce intensity that seemed to pierce the souls of all who heard him.
John’s ministry had not begun in the grand halls of power or the bustling streets of the cities. Instead, it had started here, in the quiet and desolate wilderness, far from the distractions of everyday life. This was where God had called him, where he had received his commission to prepare the way for the One who was to come.
When the people asked John the Baptist if he was Elijah, a prophet, or the Christ, they were inquiring about his identity and the nature of his ministry. This question reflects the anticipation and expectation that the Jewish people held for the coming of various figures who played significant roles in their beliefs.
Voice: “The supposed utterance of a guided spirit.” From this statement, we can learn several important truths about John the Baptist.
I. He understood his Message.
a. We must first look at the OT prophet Elijah. The belief that Elijah would return before the coming of the Messiah was rooted in OT prophecy. Malachi 4:5 states, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” The Jews believed that Elijah’s return would herald the arrival of the Messiah and the establishment of God’s kingdom.
b. Likewise, the expectation of the Prophet was based on the prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:15, where Moses foretold the coming of a prophet like himself whom the people were to listen to. This figure was also linked to the Messianic hope and the coming reign of God. The people were trying to discern the significant of his message and his role in the fulfillment of these Messianic prophecies.
c. He saw the OT scriptures as the Word of God. Isaiah 40:3 says, “A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” This verse is a prophecy from the book of Isaiah, foretelling the coming of a messenger who will prepare the people for the arrival of the Lord. Making a straight path in the desert symbolizes the idea of removing obstacles and barriers that hinder the people from encountering God. It speaks to the importance of repentance, reconciliation, and readiness for the coming of the Lord.
d. He also understood his responsibility to that message.
i. Humility
ii. Boldness
iii. Courage
II. He understood his Mission.
a. “Cry out”- represents the urgency of the message. The fact that he “cried out” underscores the urgency and intensity of his message. The act of crying out signifies a sense of strong emotion, passion, and determination in delivering his proclamation. John’s cry was not a muted or passive message but rather a bold urgent call to action.
b. By using the term ‘crying out” means that the Gospel message is not to be taken lightly or ignored. It conveys a sense of immediacy and importance, urging people to pay attention. It truly reflects the critical nature of his mission.
c. “Wilderness”- In a time of spiritual complacency, societal unrest and mora; decay, John’s cry served as a wake-up call to the people of Israel. He urged them to acknowledge their sinfulness, turn from their ways, and prepare their hearts for the arrival of the long-awaited Savior.
III. He understood his Master.
a. When John the Baptist referred to Jesus as the “Lamb of God,” he was making a profound statement with deep theological implications. In Jewish tradition, lambs were often used in sacrificial offerings to stone for sins and reconcile sinful humanity unto God. By calling Jesus the “Lamb of God,” John was identifying Him as the ultimate sacrificial lamb whose death would bring about the forgiveness of sins for all people.
b. This title also alluded to the prophecy of the suffering servant in the book of Isaiah, where the servant is described as a lamb led to the slaughter, symbolizing innocence and obedience unto death. By equating Jesus with the sacrificial lamb, John was foreshadowing Jesus’ role as the Messiah who would lay down his life.
c. Furthermore, when he said, “After me comes one who ranks before me,” he was acknowledging that Jesus, though younger than him in earthly years, held a superior and preeminent position in terms of his divine nature and mission. John, as a prophet and forerunner, was announcing the arrival of Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah/
We are all called to be his witnesses. See Acts 1:8
What keeps you from being a voice for the Lord?
1. Fear
2. Laziness
3. Distractions
4. Messing it up
The bottom-line is sin. Think about what you use your voice for on an average day. How much is it used in public praise and proclamation of Christ?
1. You have been given a Ministry.
2. You have been entrusted with a Message.
3. You will answer to the Messiah.
• Matthew 12: 36-37, where Jesus says, "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
What did Paul say? “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices.” This means your voice.
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