THE COMING OF THE WORD Penge Baptist Church New Year ’ s Day 1st January 2012

The Testimony of John and the coming of Jesus (John 1:19-34) Now this was John ’ s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “ I am not the Christ. ’” They asked him, “ Then who are you? Are you Elijah? ” He said, “ I am not. ” “ Are you the Prophet? ” He answered, “ No. ” Finally they said, “ Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself? ”

John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “ I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘ Make straight the way for the Lord. ’ ” Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “ Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet? ” “ I baptize with water, ” John replied, “ but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. ” This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “ Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘ A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me. ’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel. ” Then John gave this testimony: “ I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘ The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. ’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God. ”

Who was John? Sent from God Humble Performed no miracles Witness to Jesus “ I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘ Make straight the way for the Lord. ” (Isaiah 40) Call to repent and be baptised His ministry reveals Jesus “ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel. ”

Who is Jesus? Saviour – sacrificed for our sins “ Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;he was led like a lamb to the slaughter …. For he bore the sin of many,and made intercession for the transgressors (Isaiah 53:7,12) Son of God – uniquely related to the Father “ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God. ” Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight;I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. (Isaiah 42:1)

Bearer of the Holy Spirit “ I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. ” The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord ’ s favour (Isaiah 61:1-2)

Giver of the Holy Spirit The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

A New Year transition Year of John 2011 – “ make straight paths ” Humble, hardworking, repentant “ The best that man can get ” Year of Jesus 2012 – “ the Lord ’ s favour ” Humble, hardworking, repentant ALSO Miraculous, empowered, life-changing Mobilised!

We need God ’ s Holy Spirit …. Merciful God, we confess to you now that we have sinned. We confess the sins that no one knows and the sins that everyone knows: the sins that are a burden to us and the sins that do not bother us because we have got used to them. We confess our sins as a church: we have not loved one another as Christ loved us and we have not given ourselves in love and service for the world as Christ gave himself for us. Father forgive us. Send your Holy Spirit to us, to give us power to live as, by your mercy, you have called us to live; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

… as we go forth in 2012 “ We shall preach this message: ‘ The kingdom of heaven is near. ’ We shall Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely we have received, let us freely give. ” (from Matthew 10:7-8)

Then Jesus came to them and said, “ All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ” Therefore we commit ourselves to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything Jesus has commanded us. Jesus said “ surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. ” (from Matthew 28:18-20)