1 Peter 1:1-5

John 2:23 - 3:16

The temple was to be a place of communion with God, not a ceremonial Wal-Mart. What’s amazing is that Jesus refers to himself as the temple after the religious leaders challenge his displacement of the merchants. The temple was a temporary place of mediation between God and man. It was a shadow of a reality fulfilled in Jesus.

Take a look at chapter 2 of John's gospel and Jesus’ first miracle, turning water into wine. There’s more to this miracle than just a supernatural event-- it’s a sign of the new covenant in Christ Jesus.

As we move to the next section of John’s gospel, we’re introduced to the disciples who followed Jesus. Once again, John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God, this time to his disciples. Immediately, two of his disciples followed Jesus, Andrew and probably the author, John. He presents these events because he wants you to follow Jesus. Twice in the narrative we have the invitation, “come and see,” once from Jesus and once from Philip. But the text is more nuanced than that. When Andrew and John begin following Jesus, he asks them and important question, “What are you seeking?” John presents that question to his readers so that they can evaluate what they are seeking as they come and see Jesus. Some might be seeking a “rabbi,” a teacher who will give them answers to life’s problems. Some who seek Jesus are looking for relief from political persecution (Jews vs. Romans). The gospel presents Jesus as the “Lamb of God,” the promised descendant of King David, the Son of God and the Son of Man. As we consider this text and you consider Jesus, what are you seeking?

In this passage, we consider the testimony of John, the one baptizing (not the first Baptist). The text is an interaction between him and the religious leaders who questioned his ministry. John defends his washing with water (baptism), a Jewish rite of ceremonial cleansing, as preparation for the presentation of the Lamb of God. John says, “but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” (v31) The rite of water is a shadow of a reality. John speaks of that reality saying that Jesus is the “Lamb of God” who will take away our sin. It’s a shadow of Jesus’ cleansing work. But more than the removal of our sins, baptism with water points to the washing of the Holy Spirit. John says, “this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” (v33) Jesus is the Lamb who atones for our sins, and the source of the Spirit’s work within us. John saw him. John wants you to see him. John’s testimony is that he is the Son of God. Let's consider John’s testimony of Jesus.

Our world has selectively accepted the teaching of Jesus, concluding that he was a good man with some good ideas, like “love others.” John insists he is the Son of God, bringing the light of revelation and granting life to all who believe. Before we come and see what God has revealed, we need to understand the person doing the revealing. Jesus is God!

John 3:16

Romans 15:13

Part 4 of a short series on anxiety