JOHN 1:19-37INTRODUCTION
John the Baptist is the first soul-winner of whom we read in the New Testament, and we call him “The Pioneer Soul-winner” because he was a pioneer in every sense of the word. He not only prepared the way for the Lord (Luke 3:4) , but as we study him this should prepare us to do this work to which he was called and in which he engaged so effectively.
As we study John 1:19-37, let us remember that God’s plan and purpose is that every Christian should be a soul-winner. Notice, therefore, the following points about this pioneer soul-winner:-
1. HE OBEYED A DIVINE COMMISSION- Vs. 33
John’s work was undertaken under a strong sense of divine commission. In verse 33 five words emphasize this: “the one who sent me” . He had been sent to do the work of soul-winning. Who had sent him? – see John 1:6. It is important to notice, however, that if we are Christians we too have been sent – John 20:21. Jesus was sent by God - John 6:44; 7:16; 9:4, and 1 John 4:14, and just as God sent Jesus, so He has sent us – Matthew 28:19. So John obeyed a divine commission.
2. HE DESCRIBED A SPECIFIC TASK – Vs. 19-22
Why was John sent? What did he come to do? In verses 19-22, we read of a deputation sent by the Jews to ask John who he was, and in his reply he describes the work to which the Lord had called him. He was “the voice of one calling in the desert.”
3. HE INTRODUCED A WONDERFUL PERSON – Vs. 24-27, 30, 34
In all the records of John’s public ministry and in particular John 1:19-37, we see that he always pointed people away from himself to the Lord Jesus – 24-27. Who was this Christ whom John introduced to people? In verses 30 and 34 we read that Christ was (and is) the eternal, pre-existent Son of God.
4. HE PROCLAIMED A GLORIOUS MESSAGE – Vs. 29, 36, 32, 33.
John proclaimed two special things about Christ. First, that He is the sin-bearer - verses 29 and 36; and second, that He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit - verses 32 and 33. Thus the message that John proclaimed to his hearers was that through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ they could have deliverance from their sins (Acts 13:38-39) , and the gift of a new life (1 Corinthians 12:13) . There is only one who can bestow these great blessings, and that is Jesus, the Lamb who was slain for us and through His sacrificial and substitutionary death upon the cross bore our sins away and provided pardon and cleansing - Exodus 12:13; Acts 8:32; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:19; 2:24; Revelation 1:5-6.
5. HE SECURED A RICH HARVEST – Vs. 35-37
At first sight the harvest recorded in John 1:35-37 did not seem very spectacular, but think a moment. Who were these first trophies of grace who were brought to the Saviour directly through the ministry of John? They were Andrew and John; but not only Andrew and John, for verses 40-42 tell us that Andrew found his brother Peter and led him to the Lord.
Conclusion:
How faithful are we pursuing this task of winning the lost to Christ?