It is hard to believe, but somehow it is better for followers of Jesus that Jesus has gone away. Otherwise, the Spirit would not have come.
The list of names given to Jesus in the Scriptures is long and diverse. It is also a treasure trove of homiletical possibilities. Each communicates something profound and specific about who Jesus is and what He does. Consider some of the more common titles: Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life, and the Light of the World. He is Immanuel, the Prince of Peace, and the King of Kings. He is the Vine, the Door, the Way, and the Man. In this text, Jesus is called four different names. He is the Lamb of God (1:29, 36), the Son of God (1:34), Rabbi (1:38), and the Messiah (1:41).
If you look closely, there is one more in this text. It does not appear as a name or title as such, but the substance is there. In this text, we encounter “Jesus the Baptizer.” Here is how John (the other baptizer) put it: “I saw the Spirit descend from Heaven like a dove, and it remained on Him. 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 (ὁ βαπτίζων ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ)’” (John 1:32-33). It turns out that the cousins share more than a family connection.
We do not normally call Jesus, “The Baptizer,” but it would be appropriate based on this text. Like John, Jesus would also do some baptizing. Unlike John, Jesus would not baptize with water. He would baptize with the Holy Spirit, which suggests your sermon on this text might meditate on Jesus and His work together with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus’ relationship to the Spirit did not begin with Jesus’ baptizing, and neither did it begin at Jesus’ baptism. Long before He was anointed with the Spirit in Jordan, Jesus was conceived by the power of the Spirit. Long before He was conceived, Jesus’ coming was announced by those who spoke by the Spirit (as we say in the Creed, we believe in the Spirit “who spoke by the prophets”). And long before He was the object of prophecy, Jesus was working together with the Spirit to bring all things into existence (Psalm 33:6; see also Genesis 1:2 and 2:7). In other words, Jesus and the Spirit have a long history of life-giving collaboration.
Jesus and the Spirit have a long history of life-giving collaboration.
Besides the parallels to this text (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16), there is not much talk of Jesus’ “baptizing” with the Spirit in the New Testament. But later in John’s Gospel we read about Jesus “sending” and “giving” the Spirit (John 7:37-39; see also 14:15–17, 26; 15:26; 16:5–15). This would not happen until after His suffering, death, and resurrection. But then, on Easter evening, it began. The risen Jesus breathed on His disciples (John 20:19-23). Fifty days later, He made good on His promise (see Acts 1:45) and poured out His Spirit on His disciples (Acts 2:1-2), sending them to proclaim His promises to all nations.
Which brings us to your hearers. Thanks to the witness of fellow believers, they also have a relationship with Jesus the Baptizer. Peter concluded his sermon at Pentecost with the promise that the Spirit would be given to many who are far off (Acts 2:38-39). This is good news for anyone who believes and is baptized. Recall what Jesus told the disciples in the upper room:
“I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7).
It is hard to believe, but somehow it is better for followers of Jesus that Jesus has gone away. Otherwise, the Spirit would not have come.
But He has come! He has come to your believing listeners through the living and active Word of Christ (refer to John 6:63). He has come with forgiveness and life. He has come to unite His people (1 Corinthians 12:13). He has come and bears fruit in our individual and collective lives (Galatians 5:22-23).
For a glimpse of what it looks like to have received the Spirit, you might direct attention to the epistle reading for this week. Notice the references to the Spirit and the Spirit’s work in Paul’s opening words to that divided congregation:
“Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The fact that the congregation in Corinth had so many problems should be an encouragement to your (and any) congregation which feebly struggles. This is not to excuse dysfunction, but to assure them that the promise of the Spirit remains for them. The Spirit battles against our sinful flesh, and the battle often gets the best of us. But Jesus the Baptizer continues to give His life-giving Spirit to His chosen people. He continues leading them toward a new obedience and a generous life of service toward others.
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Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out 1517’s resources on John 1:29-42.
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you in preaching John 1:29-42.
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
The Pastor’s Workshop-Check out all the great preaching resources from our friends at the Pastor’s Workshop!
