Bearing Witness In A World Of Skeptics
John 1:19-28
Bearing Witness in a World of Skeptics: Are You a Faithful Witness?
Have you ever completely missed something important right in front of you? A few months ago, I pulled up to a gas station, filled my tank, ran inside to use the restroom, and then drove off—with the gas nozzle still in my car! As I heard that snap and looked in my rearview mirror, I thought gas would go everywhere. Fortunately, they design those pumps for people like me. But this embarrassing moment illustrates a profound spiritual truth: sometimes we completely miss what’s most important.
In John’s Gospel, we encounter three types of people who either recognized or missed what God was doing right in front of them. The question for us today is simple but challenging: Which one are you?
The Testimony of John the Baptist
In John 1:19-28, we read about John the Baptist being questioned by religious leaders. John the Apostle writes, “This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?'” (John 1:19).
John’s response is remarkable. He “confessed and did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ'” (John 1:20). When further pressed if he was Elijah or the Prophet, John simply answered, “No.” Instead, he identified himself as “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said” (John 1:23).
Remember, John’s Gospel has a clear purpose, which we find in John 20:31: “But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Everything in this book points to this truth.
Three Types of People in the Passage
1. The Faithful Witness
John the Baptist exemplifies what it means to be a faithful witness for Jesus. But what does a faithful witness look like?
First, a faithful witness speaks truthfully about Christ. When questioned about his identity, John immediately clarified who he wasn’t—not the Christ, not Elijah, not the Prophet. He knew exactly who Jesus was because he had baptized Him and heard God the Father declare, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
Second, a faithful witness submits humbly before Christ. John said of Jesus, “Even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie” (John 1:27). In those days, untying sandals was a task for the lowliest servant. John humbly recognized his position in relation to Jesus, declaring elsewhere, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
As R.C. Sproul wisely said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.”
Third, a faithful witness serves faithfully for Christ. John simply did what God called him to do—proclaim the coming Messiah and baptize with a baptism of repentance. He was “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord'” (John 1:23).
2. The Religious Observer
The priests and Levites represent religious observers who were sent to investigate John. They traveled seven to eight hours from Jerusalem to Bethany across the Jordan, but only because they were obligated to do so.
An obligated observer acts out of duty, not desire. They “came because they were sent, not because they were seeking.” They asked questions—at least five in this passage—but missed the truth because they didn’t really care about the answers.
These religious observers stood near the work of God but never experienced it. As 2 Timothy 3 describes, they were “always learning and never able to arrive at the knowledge of truth.”
3. The Distant Skeptic
The Pharisees who sent the priests and Levites represent distant skeptics who didn’t even bother to investigate for themselves. Their pride prevented them from seeing what God was doing through John.
John 12:43 says they “loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” Instead of going to where John was, they thought they were so important that John should come to them.
Life Application: Being a Faithful Witness Today
How can we be faithful witnesses like John the Baptist in our world today?
- Speak truthfully about Jesus: Don’t make yourself the star of the show. Like John, point people to Christ. Share who Jesus is without embellishment or apology.
- Practice humility: Remember, “God measures success by faithfulness, not fame.” Your role is to decrease so Christ can increase.
- Serve where God has placed you: Whether you’re a student, married, single, or a senior adult, honor God where you are. Proclaim the gospel and do whatever He has called you to do.
I’m reminded of James Cardell, who contacted me nearly 40 years after I shared the gospel with him and gave him a Bible. He kept that Bible for decades, and around the year 2000, he came to know Christ. I was simply a voice—not in the wilderness, but in the suburbs of Chicago—sharing Jesus with someone who needed to hear.
That’s all the Lord requires of us. We may never know in this life what seeds we’ve planted or how God has used our faithful witness. But we can trust that when we point people to Jesus rather than ourselves, God will work in ways beyond our imagination.
Where are you in this text? Are you a faithful witness, a religious observer, or a distant skeptic? Ask God today to help you be a faithful witness who speaks of Him and simply does His will.
Jesus Reveals God
Full of Grace And Truth
Point To Jesus
When Light Broke The Darkness
That You May Believe – The Gospel of John
We hope you enjoyed the sermon and would love to see you in person. Plan your visit to Community Baptist Church in Spring Hill, Tennessee today!