CREDENTIALS OF JESUS: JOHN THE BAPTIZER'S TESTIMONY
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Credentials of Jesus
a) When someone expects our trust, we look for credentials. What entitles that person to our trust? What testimony is there that this person should be believed? This applies to our faith in Jesus. He has credentials. He is not without testimony that he is truly whom he claims to be.
2. John The Baptizer’s Testimony
a) Jesus did not appoint himself a preacher, or announce himself to the world. He was announced by no less a personage than John the Baptizer "a prophet of the Most High" (Luke 1:76).
b) John was the last of the Old Testament prophets. John came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 16:16, Matthew 17:11-13, Malachi 4:5-6), and was the "voice crying in the wilderness" (Mark 1:2-4, Isaiah 40:3-5).
c) John’s prophet-hood was fully attested. His testimony about Jesus was clear and specific. "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who is preferred above me because he existed before me'" (Luke 3:15-18, John 1:6-8,19-36).
d) So, to the credentials of Jesus is added the fact that the prophet of God in Jesus's own time bore witness of him.
The End ...
1. Credentials of Jesus a) When someone expects our trust, we look for credentials. What entitles that person to our trust? What testimony is there that this person should be believed? This applies to our faith in Jesus. He has credentials. He is not without testimony that he is truly whom he claims to be.
2. John The Baptizer’s Testimony
a) Jesus did not appoint himself a preacher, or announce himself to the world. He was announced by no less a personage than John the Baptizer "a prophet of the Most High" (Luke 1:76).
b) John was the last of the Old Testament prophets. John came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 16:16, Matthew 17:11-13, Malachi 4:5-6), and was the "voice crying in the wilderness" (Mark 1:2-4, Isaiah 40:3-5).
c) John’s prophet-hood was fully attested. His testimony about Jesus was clear and specific. "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who is preferred above me because he existed before me'" (Luke 3:15-18, John 1:6-8,19-36).
d) So, to the credentials of Jesus is added the fact that the prophet of God in Jesus's own time bore witness of him.
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