In this new series, we’re spending time in the first chapter of John’s gospel. From John 1:29 we looked at the fact that John the Baptist calls Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Clearly, according to John, Jesus came to address the issue of sinful mankind. Therefore, though it’s not always a popular topic of discussion, it’s impossible to talk about the fullness of Jesus’ ministry without talking about judgment for sin. In light of the Bible’s teaching on eternal punishment for those who fail to turn to Jesus Christ for salvation, I want to reference eighteenth century theologian and pastor, Jonathan Edwards. If his well-known sermon entitled, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”—a sermon that’s been called the “most famous sermon ever written,”—was all that you knew of this pastor you would think him to be a very stern and serious man. And yet, Edwards was a man who was generally very joyful in temperament and joyful in life. I want to reference that famous sermon as we begin our look at John’s gospel today. To put this in context, the sermon was preached initially, not to Edward’s own congregation in North Hampton, Mass., but it was preached at Enfield, Connecticut, on July 8, 1741, while Edwards was on a missionary tour. The sermon text was Deut. 32:35:
“Vengeance is mine, and I will repay, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.” Edwards’ focus for the sermon was on the phrase, “their foot shall slip (or slide)” in due time. Throughout the sermon he made it very clear that the position of the unbeliever is as precarious as someone who’s walking on slippery places. Except for the grace of God, they’re exposed to sudden destruction, at any moment. Edwards spoke of the fact that for sinners without Christ, “the lake of burning brimstone, is extended abroad under you. There is a dreadful pit of the glowing flames of the wrath of God; there is Hell’s wide gaping mouth open; and you have nothing to stand upon, nor anything to take hold of; there is nothing between you and Hell but the air; it is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up.”
Edwards also focused on the fact that, “the foolish children of men” as he called them, delude themselves in the confidence of their own strength and wisdom, and they believe that they will do what they need to do to be right with God just prior to their death. Just as in Edwards’ day, in our own day there are also those who delude themselves into thinking that there’s no such place as Hell or even if there is, they’ll be prepared to avoid it before they die. Listen now to Edwards’ words in the sermon as he speaks of a hypothetical situation of a conversation with those who waited too late. “If we could speak with them, and inquire of them, one by one, whether they expected, when alive, and when they used to hear about Hell, ever to be the subjects of misery: we doubtless, should hear one and another reply, ‘No. I never intended to come here: I had laid out matters otherwise in my mind; I thought I should contrive well for myself. I thought my scheme good. I intended to take effectual care; but it came upon me unexpected; I didn’t look for it at that time, and in that manner; it came as a thief. Death outwitted me: God’s wrath was too quick for me. Oh, my cursed foolishness! I was flattering myself and pleasing myself with vain dreams of what I would do hereafter; and when I was saying, ‘peace and safety’ then sudden destruction came upon me.’” This could be the situation of someone we know, and this will certainly be the sad truth for many.
Let’s move on further in the passage in John 1. Verse 30 reminds us of verse 15 and John the Baptist’s desire to state that Jesus, “ranks” ahead of him. In verse 31 John picks up the topic of baptism. “I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water that he might be revealed to Israel.” It’s probably best to see the phrase “I myself did not know him” as speaking of not knowing—at least at first—the fullness of understanding of Jesus and his ministry but he knew that Jesus was something special. And yet, John did know that his ministry to prepare the way for Jesus was ordained by God because his father, Zechariah, was told this before John was born (Lk. 1:76-77). He even notes here that his water baptism was for the purpose that Jesus would be “revealed to Israel.” This takes us to our next main heading:
—Spirit Baptism
Notice that John is telling us of an event that’s already taken place—that is to say, he’s speaking of what happened after he baptized Jesus. “And John bore witness. I saw the Spirit descend from Heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.” John then adds again that he did not know the fullness of who Jesus was; and yet, he saw the Spirit descend on 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.” (vs. 33) So it’s God the Father who confirms that Jesus is the Messiah who will baptize with the Holy Spirit (e.g., Mt. 3:17; Mk. 1:11; Lk. 3:22). This truth was given hundreds of years prior to the first century by Isaiah who prophesied that the Spirit would rest on the coming Davidic King (Is. 11:1ff); the One who would come who was called the Servant of the Lord (Is. 42:1)
In Acts 10:38 we read that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.” Importantly, the Spirit not only descends but remains on Jesus. Jesus was given the Spirit without measure by the Father (John 3:34). The fullness of the teaching of the baptism of the Spirit for Christians would come much later (e.g., 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 2:18), but it’s important for us to see that the Spirit has come in His fullness on Jesus at the beginning of his public ministry. In summary, we’re told in the Scriptures that there’s coming a day of judgment for those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation. “For he says, ‘In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2) May all Christians pray that no one we know and love will enter eternal punishment (Mt. 25:46) and say, “I never intended to come here…..but it came upon me unexpected.”
Rev. Dr. Steve Jones is the pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church PCA in Paxton, Illinois.