Big Idea: As John serves as the forerunner to Christ, his mission is to call a people to repentance in order to receive divine Grace.
John’s ____________________________
Luke 1:13 (ESV) — 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
Jo-Hanna =
John 1:14–17 (ESV) — 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth… 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Following Jesus requires that we sacrifice earthly pleasures in order that we might receive the life that He offers. Not necessarily because the sacrifice warrants the reward, but because the reward is found in the sacrifice.
Luke 18:29–30 (ESV) — 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
John’s _____________________________
16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
The preaching of the gospel requires that we turn our backs on one thing and turn ourselves toward another.
The call for repentance on the part of man is a call for him to return (šûḇ) to his creaturely (and covenant) dependence on God…
Malachi 1:6; 2:10; 4:5-6
Unless a vessel is empty, it cannot be filled.
John’s ________________________________
Luke 1:17 (ESV) and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
Luke 5:31–32 (ESV) — 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
“I have a great need for Christ, and I have a great Christ for my need.”
–Charles Spurgeon
The reality of the Good News is not to say we shouldn’t live righteously, the reality of the Good News is to say, we can’t live righteously without Jesus.
Questions to Consider
What are some things that God is calling on you to sacrifice in order to experience more of God’s presence? Why is this impossible without Jesus?
How might you trust in what Jesus has accomplished, in His death and resurrection to set aside those earthly pleasures and pursuits?
