John 1:19-34, A Heart for the Gospel

Goals are reached and objectives accomplished when we put our hearts to the task.  Strong desire, ambition and singlemindedness are qualities of people who accomplish things.  We are currently involved in a presidential election (aren’t we always).  Campaigns are lackluster with the only “passion” being staged.  It reminds me of a campaign in England.  The politician said, “I was born an Englishman, I have lived an Englishman, and I’ll die an Englishman.”  From the back of the room came a voice with an unmistakable Scottish accent: “Hoot mon! Hae ye no ambeetion?” 

On the other hand, how often have we seen athletes who were a little short on skill, but overcome that by strong desire and heart so as to beat better performers.  Louise Ritter, who cleared 6’ 8” in the women’s high jump in the 1988 Olympics to defeat Stefka Kostadinova, the reigning world champion and world record-holder.  Ritter had overcome childhood injuries and illness to complete one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history.

In todays passage, we learn a lot about the heart of John the Baptist.  The “ministry” of John was to talk about someone else, to prepare people for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  To do this, John had to overcome the natural human tendency to pride and selfishness.  Many a “spiritual giant” has fallen because of that tendency.  But not John.  What do we see in this passage?

·       He did not fail to testify (v19-20a).  The religious leaders were intimidating (Jn. 7:13; 9:22).  But John was not intimidated.  He “confessed,” meaning his message was in full agreement with the message given to him by God.

·       He did not testify about himself (v20b-28).  He made it clear that he was not the Messiah, even though the crowds who came to hear him were growing.  He even made it clear that he was not Elijah, even though his ministry was like Elijah’s (Mt. 11:14; Lk. 1:16-17).  He said he was not “the” Prophet, a name for Messiah (Deut. 18:15; Ac. 3:19-23).  On the positive side, he said he was “the” voice of whom Isaiah had spoken (Isa. 40:3), and that he was unworthy!  That is the essence of our “gospel ministry.”  We are just a voice, and we are unworthy.

·       He publicly testified of Christ (v29-34).  He used his voice to make two true statements about the person of Christ.  First, John pointed to Jesus saying, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (v29-31)!”  Jesus was sent by God to be the atoning sacrifice for mankind.  Then John said, “this is the Son of God” (v32-34).  Jesus was God come in the flesh (John 1:14).

Do I, do we, have a heart for the gospel?  This new heart comes by accepting the Lamb as our own personal sacrifice for sin.  We must come to God as unworthy, and to know of His great love for us, providing forgiveness through the blood of the Lamb, His Son!  Having come to Christ in that way should give us that heart, a heart to see other unworthy sinners experience the saving power of the gospel.