I. SERMON NOTES​

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Introduction

• The preacher begins with a personal story of being questioned in ministry: “Who are you? What authority do you have?”

• These words led to a painful realisation of feeling like a “nobody”: no fame, no major achievements, having given life to church yet feeling insignificant.

• This experience mirrors John the Baptist, another “nobody” in the world’s eyes.

• John lived an unconventional life in the wilderness, yet Jesus said of him:
  “Among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

• God knew John, even if the world did not.

 

Scripture Reading (John 1:19–34)

• Priests and Levites from Jerusalem question John the Baptist: “Who are you?”

• John denies being the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet.

• He identifies himself as “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness.”

• He testifies about Jesus as:

  • The Lamb of God

  • The One who takes away the sin of the world

  • The One who baptises with the Holy Spirit

  • The Son of God

 

Context

• Israel had waited 400 years in silence for the Messiah.

• Baptism was usually for Gentile converts; John baptising Jews raised serious concern.

• The repeated question “Who are you?” shifts from curiosity to authority: “Who authorised you to baptise Jews?”

• The sermon is structured around three questions:

  1. Who is John the Baptist?

  2. Who is Jesus?

  3. Who are you?

 

1. Who Is John the Baptist?

John defines himself by what he is not.
 

a. Not the Messiah

• “Christ” / “Messiah” means Anointed One.

• The Jews expected a political deliverer.

• John clearly rejects this role.
   

b. Not Elijah

• Based on Malachi 4:5.

• Elijah did not die (2 Kings), so John clarifies he is not Elijah.
   

c. Not the Prophet

• Refers to Deuteronomy 18, a prophet like Moses.

• John replies with a simple “No.”
   

Observations

• These questions reveal expectations placed on people.

• Many today carry a “messianic mentality”: feeling responsible to fix families, work, or church.

• Such expectations lead to pressure and burnout.

• When we say, “I am not the Messiah,” faith shifts from ourselves to God.

• John’s answers grow shorter, showing he is not focused on himself.

• He understands he is a signpost, not the Saviour, deliberately minimising himself so Jesus takes centre stage.

 

2. Who Is Jesus?

John declares:

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
 

The biblical story of the Lamb

• Genesis 22: “Where is the lamb?” — question postponed.

• Exodus 12: Passover lamb — repeated sacrifices.

• Leviticus & Numbers: continual offerings that never fully remove sin.

• Hebrews: these were shadows of a greater reality.

• Now, John points to a person as the final answer.
   

Three truths about Jesus

1. Takes away sin — not covering, but removing it completely.

2. Sin of the world — not just Israel, but all humanity.

3. Baptises with the Holy Spirit — the Spirit remains permanently on Him.

• From “Where is the lamb?” → “Here is the lamb” → “Worthy is the Lamb.”

• This is the trajectory of the gospel.

 

3. Who Are You?

• Confident faith comes from clarity about our role.

• John says: “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness.”

• A voice exists only to point beyond itself.

• Like people preparing the road for a king, believers prepare the way for Jesus.
   

Our calling

• To be witnesses because we have seen.

• To testify and point others to Jesus.
   

Three ways to be a voice

1. Digital voice – social media, online testimonies, church platforms.

2. Written voice – books and personal stories written by lay people.

3. Spoken voice – everyday conversations, festive gatherings, sharing testimony.

 

Conclusion and Call

• The call is to speak Jesus.

• Feeling like a nobody does not define us.

• Scripture declares:
  “To all who did receive him… he gave the right to become children of God.”

• We are signposts, not saviours.

• We prepare the way; Jesus does the saving.

• Confident faith rests not in programmes or people, but in Jesus alone.

• Final answer to “Who are you?”:
  A nobody, made a child of God, telling everybody about Somebody who can save anybody.