"Listen To John"
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Someone accuses you of a crime. Standing in the courtroom, you're asked to call a series of witnesses to back up your claims. Who do you call to the stand and what will they say?
"If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true" (John 5:31–32).
Like someone on trial in any modern courtroom, Jesus defends himself against the accusations of the Jews and calls to the stand four of the most credible witnesses. His first witness is John the Baptist (Matt. 3:1; 11:11-12), a man charged with preparing the way for the Messiah.
Who Was John
John the Baptist grew up living in the desert (Luke 1:80), fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy that said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God" (Isa. 40:3). He was an outdoor type, wearing camel's hair and leather and eating wild honey and locusts (Matt. 3:4). John's demeanor stood in stark contrast to the polished appearance of the Jewish leaders of the day, yet he drew multitudes from all social classes to come hear his message.
What Was His Testimony?
John baptized lots of people in the region around the Jordan river (Luke 3:3), preaching about the transformation required of one who has genuinely repented (Luke 3:7-14). His message was simple and focussed on changing the hearts of all who heard him, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 3:2). In all his years of teaching in the wilderness, John's testimony was never as compelling as the day he met Jesus and exclaimed, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).
Why Should I Believe Him?
What makes John such a reliable witness to Jesus' true identity? God Himself sent John (John 1:6). He was a righteous man (Mark 6:20), willing to die for what was right (Matt. 14:1-12). Plus, many of the Jews had already believed him, as Jesus pointed out (John 5:35). And, most powerfully, John was an eyewitness when God the Father said to Jesus, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased" (Luke 3:22). Jesus clearly viewed John with great respect and even called him the greatest man who had ever been born (Matt. 11:11)!
So here’s the question, is John's testimony enough to convince you that Jesus is the Son of God?
