Guess Who - Week 1 | ALIVE Wesleyan Church

I think Jesus called John one of the greatest because John knew who he was and what he was created to do.

John the Baptist is one of my favorite people in Scripture. He knew who he wasn't (I am not the Messiah) & he knew who he was (I am a voice in the wilderness). Every day I need to get clear in my soul who I am & who I am not. Otherwise I find myself living a life God never called me to.

-- Rich Vollodas

Isaiah 40:3

A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God."

Luke 1: 13-17

But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord…to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

John turned people from sin, Jesus died for sin.

John paved the way, Jesus was the way.

John 1:19-23

"Who are you?”

He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”

“Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”

“No,” he replied.

“Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”

“No.”

“Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”

John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the LORD’s coming!’”

John was the voice, Jesus was the Messiah, and John didn’t try to wear the Savior’s crown

John 1:35-39

As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!”

When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?”he asked them.

They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

“Come and see,” he said.

-- Rich Vollodas

John 3:27-30

“No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”

Luke 7:19

“Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Luke 7: 22

Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.”

John’s life was spent fulfilling our ultimate purpose—pointing people to Jesus.

Luke 7:27-28

John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’ I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John.”

Why were we sent into the world? For one sole end, and for no other, to prepare for eternity. For this alone we live. For this, and no other purpose, is our life either given or continued…Remember! You were born for nothing else. You live for nothing else. Your life is continued to you upon earth, for no other purpose than this, that you may know, love, and serve God on earth, and enjoy him to all eternity.

-- John Wesley

Hebrews 13:14-15

For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.