Pointing...

Pointing...

Pointing…
We all do it, but it is where we point that makes the difference

Continuing a study of the New Testament Book of John: John 1:6-8,
and related passages.

By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© September 11, 2011
www.pastorkennedy.com
(On the website above, click the link to “recent message notes” to view this message online.)

We All “Point”

Each of us is like a magnet. Some of us have weaker attractions to us and some have stronger attractions…but we all attract attention from those around us to what we do, think and say – verbally and non-verbally; with what we emphasize, buy, talk about and invest in – who we admire and how we show our love; our choices of sacrifice; what makes us mad; what makes us glad; who and what we make our priorities; what we read and our favorite shows on TV, movies or internet sites; what we study; what we believe, and what we make a priority to learn about; how we react to difficult, disastrous and confusing situations; and who we really reveal ourselves to be.

We all point. We are like magnets. Where we point, there are always others who watch us. Some want to point in the opposite direction, while others watch us and want to point in the same direction.

John the Baptist “Pointed”

John Pointed to “repentance from sin” before Christ was revealed, and he pointed to Christ, once Christ was revealed.

Jesus’ Disciples had been impacted by John the Baptist and Who he pointed to.

It is interesting that, following Christ’s resurrection, when Peter spoke to the disciples about choosing a replacement for Judas, who hanged himself after betraying Christ, the only ones considered were those who had experienced the time of the ministry of John the Baptist through Christ’s death and resurrection.

This insight from Peter tells us that many of the disciples were impacted – and most likely were baptized by John, in repentance from sin, prior to their following Christ.

Acts 1:15–23
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
“ ‘May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and
“ ‘Let another take his office.’
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.

John the Baptist was one who pointed Jesus’ Disciples to Jesus

• Matthew pointed at money to begin with. Had he been attracted to the hated occupation of tax collecting for the Roman Empire because of the promise of wealth? Were his folks poor – so he resolved not to be poor, even though it cost him his family and friends? I believe he was one of the tax collectors (Luke 3:12) who repented from his unjust gathering of taxes and was baptized by John – and he was ready to walk away, on a moment’s notice, from the wealth of his occupation, when Christ called him to be one of His disciples.

• Peter, James and John pointed at what their father pointed at – the business of fishing. They followed John into the waters of the baptism of repentance from sin. Some time later they saw that John was pointing to Jesus. Repentance prepared them to walk away from the fishing industry, their ships and their father’s business, when Jesus personally called them to follow Him. I believe their decision to repent from their sin, under John’s preaching, led to the fulfillment of their calling as being part of Christ’s 12 disciples.

• All along Judas pointed at himself, while saying he was pointing at Jesus. John most likely had baptized Judas, just like the other disciples. Judas surely responded piously when Jesus called him to be one of the twelve…but “he was a thief” as the Scripture clearly reveals (John 12:6). What do you think Judas’ philosophy would have been? “Look good – but help yourself to the goodies when you want to, and don’t get caught.” Did he “get caught?”

To Whom or to What do you and I point to as we live our lives in this world?

Do we point:
To ourselves?
To a successful style of living?
To a system of religion?
To another person or persons?
To Christ?

God had appointed John the Baptist to Point to Christ, preparing His Way.

Malachi 3:1
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.

John 1:6–8
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

John the Baptist Prepared the Way, by Preaching Repentance and Pointing to Christ as the Messiah

Luke 3:1–22
3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall become straight,
and the rough places shall become level ways,
6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”
7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors (Matthew most likely came – and may have asked this question) also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, (John began to “point” to Christ) saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Pointing to the Lamb of God

John 1:29–34
29 The next day he 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 ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

In John 3:30, John said of Jesus…
30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
• John the Baptist Prepared the Way preaching Repentance and Pointing to Christ
• Jesus was pointed out as The Messiah, by John
• Jesus was Baptized by John (and was confirmed to be the Son of God by the Voice of God the Father, and the Spirit lighting on Him in the form of a dove)
• Jesus was tempted in the Wilderness by Satan
• Jesus Began His Ministry and Appointed His Disciples

God had appointed John the Baptist to Point to Christ, through imprisonment.
• Once Jesus began His Ministry, John the Baptist was taken out of ministry and imprisoned by Herod.
• After Jesus had finished teaching His Twelve disciples on how to minister, and His ministry was growing exponentially, John heard about the deeds of Christ and sent his disciples to determine the reality of Christ’s ministry.
o John’s words, “He must increase and I must decrease,” were being put to the test in a very real way, as he endured prison.

• God had appointed John the Baptist to Point to Christ, through suffering.
John began questioning Jesus’ Person and ministry the longer he was kept in prison, so he sent two of his disciples to question Christ.

Matthew 11:1–6
Messengers from John the Baptist
11 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

God had appointed John the Baptist to Point to Christ, through a disreputable death.

Mark 6:14–32
The Death of John the Baptist
14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.
21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
30 , The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.

~~~

Has God appointed His Children, in this World, in this age, to Point to Christ, preparing for His Kingdom?

• Through being “Salt and Light in a dark world”
• Through faithfully sharing the Word of God
• Through seeking to fulfill the purpose to which God has called us
• Through times of trial and suffering
• Through the potential of death…even the potential of disreputable death
(the Scripture speaks of the principle of the harvest – a seed does not reproduce a harvest unless it dies…)

Matthew 5:13–16
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Walk as Children of Light
Ephesians 5:5-16
5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Philippians 2:14–15
14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world...

Conclusion
To Whom or To What do you and I point?

Some of us have weaker attractions to us and some have stronger attractions…but we all attract attention from those around us to what we do, think and say – verbally and non-verbally.

With what we emphasize,
What we buy, talk about and invest in –
Who we admire and how we show our love;
Our choices of sacrifice;
What makes us mad;
What makes us glad;
Who and what we make our priorities;
What we read,
Our favorite shows on TV, movies or internet sites;
What we study;
What we believe,
What we make a priority to learn about;
How we react to difficult, disastrous, or confusing situations;
Through our “pointing” we reveal who we really are …not just who we say we are.

John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ through his ministry, his suffering and his death…this is a tribute to his life of “pointing” to Christ. Throughout all eternity he is not disappointed!

How has God appointed you, if you are one of His Children – in this World, in this age, to Point to Christ, preparing for His Kingdom?