John 1:6-8, 19-34
February 14, 2021
preached by Pastor Doug Cooper
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Time of Reflection Quotations

“Joy blossoms in our hearts not as we try harder and harder to grow, but as we see more clearly the depths of our sin and understand more fully our utter helplessness. Only then will we take our eyes off ourselves and look to Christ for all that we need…”

~ Barbara R. Duguid, contemporary counselor and author

“No one can become and remain a theologian unless he is compelled again and again to be astonished at himself.”

~ Karl Barth (1886-1968), Swiss theologian and professor

“Knowing God without knowing our wretchedness leads to pride. Knowing our wretchedness without knowing God leads to despair. Knowing Jesus Christ is the middle course, because in him we find both God and our wretchedness.”

~ Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), French mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, writer and theologian.

“Without the black backdrop of our sinful nature and its consequences (God’s wrath), the gospel is a big yawn.”

~ William Farley, contemporary writer and former pastor

“Only when we see the depth of our sin will we be electrified by the wonder of grace.”

“As long as we think we are not that bad, the idea of grace will never change us.”

~ Tim Keller (1950-present), American author and minister

“True maturity does not mean repenting less. It means repenting more, and repenting more quickly.”

~ Scott Sauls, contemporary pastor and author

“One mark of growth in grace is increased humility. The man whose soul is growing feels his own sinfulness and unworthiness more every year.”

~ J.C. Ryle (1816-1900), English writer and minister

Sermon Passage

John 1:6-8, 19-34 (NASB)

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light…

¹⁹ And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰ He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” ²¹ And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” ²² So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” ²³ He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

²⁴ (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) ²⁵ They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” ²⁶ John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, ²⁷ even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” ²⁸ These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

²⁹ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ³¹ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” ³² And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. ³³ I myself did not know 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.’ ³⁴ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”