Preparing the Way for
Christmas
John 1:29-34
29 The
next day John 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 is preferred
before me, for He was before me.’
31 I did not know Him; but that He
should be revealed to Israel,
therefore I came baptizing with
water.”
32 And
John bore witness, saying, “I
saw the Spirit descending from
heaven like a dove, and He
remained upon Him.
33 I
did not know Him, but He who
sent me to baptize with water said
to me, ‘Upon whom you see the
Spirit descending, and remaining on
Him, this is He who baptizes with
the Holy Spirit.’
34 And
I have seen and testified that
this is the Son of God.”
John 1:23
He said: “I am
‘The voice of one crying in the
wilderness:
“Make straight the way of the
LORD,”’
as the prophet Isaiah said.”
I. He realized who He was and who
He was not
John 1:19-23
19 Now this is the testimony of John,
when the Jews sent priests and
Levites from Jerusalem to ask him,
20
“Who are you?” 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 Then
they said to him, “Who are
you, that we may give an answer to
those who sent us? What do you
say about yourself?”
23 He
said: “I am
‘The voice of one crying in the
wilderness:
“Make straight the way of the
LORD,”’
as the prophet Isaiah said.”
Deut. 18:1
“The priests, the Levites—all the
tribe of Levi—shall have no part nor
inheritance with Israel; they shall
eat the offerings of the LORD made
by fire, and His portion.
A. As Christians we are referred to
as SHEEP
Psalm 23:1-4
1The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green
pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He
restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of
righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Yea,
though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they
comfort me.
B. As Christians we are refeered to
as SALT
Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth; but if
the salt loses its flavor, how shall it
be seasoned? It is then good for
nothing but to be thrown out and
trampled underfoot by men.
C. As Christians we are referred to
as LIGHT
Matthew 5:14
“You are the light of the world. A
city that is set on a hill cannot be
hidden.
D. As Christians we are referred to
as Children of God
Galatians 4:6
And because you are sons, God has
sent forth the Spirit of His Son into
your hearts, crying out, “Abba,
Father!”
II. He realized what His role was –
to prepare a way of the Lord
John 1:23
He said: “I am
‘The voice of one crying in the
wilderness:
“Make straight the way of the
LORD,”’
as the prophet Isaiah said.”
John 3:30
He must increase, but I must
decrease.
2 Corinthians 5:20
Now then, we are ambassadors for
Christ, as though God were
pleading through us: we implore
you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled
to God.
III. He knew the true purpose of
the Son of God – to take away the
sin of the world
John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming
toward him, and said, “Behold! The
Lamb of God who takes away the
sin of the world!
John 1:34
And I have seen and testified that
this is the Son of God.”