Inspirational Image: The Baptism of Jesus

Behold, the Lamb of God

“John bore witness:“ “I (John) saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him (Jesus). 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 (Jesus) who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” John 1:32-34 ESV

“Jesus alone can do the deep, inner transforming work we most desperately long for.“

WELCOME

Sunday, September 27, 2020

The Book Of John

Series: LOVED BY JESUS

Message: The Lamb

Scripture: John 1:19–34 ESV

Pastor Philip Miller

PASTOR TO PEOPLE

In 1803, Lewis and Clark began their famous expedition into the West. Their aim was to find a trans-continental riverway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and change the fortunes of the nation. Loaded with their paddles and canoes, they traveled to

the Continental Divide. They expected to find the headwaters of the Columbia. What they found instead was hundreds of miles

of Rocky Mountains. Their canoes and paddles were not only unhelpful, they were now a liability. The way forward would require putting aside all their plans and embracing the unknown. They’d come to the edge of their maps.

In many ways, this pandemic has similarly brought us to the edge of our maps. The paddles and canoes that got us here won’t be helpful going forward. The journey ahead requires adaptation and creativity, courage and boldness. If you’re at all like me, it is nervewracking.

We often feel grossly inadequate. After all, it is a frightful thing to venture out beyond the edge of our maps.

When Joshua was called to lead the people of Israel out beyond

the edge of their maps, he knew what it was to feel inadequate and afraid. And so God encouraged him, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

This is our strength and comfort in times like these: the same God who faithfully preserved us “on the map” will likewise be with

us “off the map.” These are uncharted territories for us, but He knows the way. And if He is with us, we will be ok. Be strong and courageous, dear friends. We’re off the map, but we’re in His hands.

You are loved, more than you know!

Pastor Philip

Scripture Reading John 1:19-34 ESV

John 1 ESV

Audio: John 1 ESV

The Testimony of John the Baptist

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 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 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Behold, the Lamb of God

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.”

^Videos by Inspirational>1...

“Crown Him with Many Crowns” Text: Matthew Bridges (1851) Godfrey Thring (1874)

“All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name” 1780 by Edward Perronet

George Frederic Handel - 'Behold the Lamb of God' from "The Messiah"

“Nothing But The Blood of Jesus” by Robert Lowry (1876)

^Videos by Inspirational>1...

LOVED BY JESUS

Message: The Lamb

Scripture: John 1:1–18 ESV

Pastor Philip Miller

The Lamb: Jesus and the New Covenant

“In this series, we’re asking what it means to find our identity in being loved by Jesus. But before we can know His love we must first know Him. Last week we focused on who Jesus is; this week we focus on why Jesus has come.

The passage (John 1:19-34) highlights the person and ministry of John the Baptist, who proclaims about Jesus, "This is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit!" The contrast between John and Jesus in this portion of scripture is clear: John’s baptism is just washing you on the outside, while Jesus will wash you on the inside; John is calling you to turn from self-righteous religion to God, while Jesus calls you from spiritual deadness into eternal life; John is urging you to keep the Old Covenant, while Jesus is ushering you into the New Covenant. In the story we see this dawning of the New Covenant beautifully portrayed with the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus during His baptism by John. What we were unable to do under the Old Covenant, the Spirit now makes possible under the New Covenant. But how will this deep, inner heart-transforming change take place? How do we get this Spirit? This New Covenant? The New Covenant is realized because Jesus is God’s own Passover Lamb. We are delivered from death because of the blood of a sacrificial Lamb. We are alive because of the blood of the Lamb, who died in our place and for our sake. How does Jesus take away the sin of the world? He doesn’t remove sinners, He removes the sin. In so doing He gives us a new heart and a new Spirit. He accomplishes our redemption by laying his life down for us on the cross, substituting himself for us, his life in exchange for ours. Jesus ultimately comes to purify our inner life through the substitution of his life for ours.”

Image: John with The Lamb by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, 1660-5

John declared: ‘Behold, the Lamb of God’ (John 1: 29).

These words are inscribed in Latin on a ribbon wound around a reed cross, one of John’s attributes.

SERMON NOTES

Sunday, September 27, 2020

The Book Of John

Series: LOVED BY JESUS

Message: The Lamb

Scripture: John 1:19–34 ESV

Pastor Philip Miller

John 1 ESV

Audio: John 1 ESV

The Baptizer (John 1:19–23)

• John is preparing hearts for the Lord’s work.

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 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 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

The Inquisitors (John 1:24–28)

• The religious leaders were affronted by John’s ministry.

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The Purifier (John 1:29–34)

• Jesus comes to purify our inner life through the substitution of his own life for us.

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.”

Takeaway: Jesus alone can do the deep, inner transforming work we most desperately long for.