A Man Sent from God

Message Summary:

In this character study centered on John 1:6–30, Chuck Swindoll presents John the Baptist as the ultimate model of a genuine servant ministry, defined by the quality of humility. Swindoll compares the Baptizer to Girolamo Savonarola, a 15th-century Italian reformer who, like John, was a “soul inspired and ablaze” sent to clear the road for better days amidst a corrupt religious system.

The message analyzes John the Baptist through a series of contrasts found in the text. First, he was human but not ordinary. Though he had a common name and human parents, he was raised in the rugged solitude of the desert, separating him from the soft, self-indulgent priesthood of his day [8–10]. Second, he was a lamp but not the Light. Swindoll explains that John was merely the “bulb” holding the illumination; once the true Light (Jesus) arrived, the lamp’s job was to shine on Him, not itself [13–15]. Third, he was a voice but not the Word. When pressed by religious leaders to identify himself, John refused all titles, claiming to be only a “voice crying in the wilderness”—a temporary vehicle for the eternal message [16–20].

Swindoll concludes by emphasizing that while John was useful, he knew he was not indispensable. Upon seeing Jesus, John immediately diverted his followers’ attention away from himself, declaring, “Behold the Lamb of God.” The sermon challenges listeners to adopt John’s life motto found in John 3:30: “He must increase, but I must decrease,” finding contentment in being a witness rather than the object of worship [23, 27–29].

Message Key Facts:

• The Savonarola Parallel: Swindoll spends significant time detailing the life of Girolamo Savonarola, a reformer in Florence who preached against the corruption of the church. Like John the Baptist, he drew massive crowds, lived an ascetic life, was hated by the religious establishment, and was eventually martyred. His executioner unwittingly prophesied, “Even though he were a second John the Baptist, this man must die” [2–6].
• The Necessity of Solitude: Swindoll highlights that John was raised in the deserts (comparable to the rugged terrain near Barstow, California, not a resort). He argues, “You cannot create a man or woman of God without the leisure of solitude,” noting that the wilderness is where John received his message from God [8–9].
• The Lamp Analogy: To explain John 1:7–8, Swindoll uses the metaphor of a lamp and a lightbulb. We may admire a beautiful lamp, but if the bulb goes out, the lamp is useless. John recognized he was just the fixture; Christ was the essential Light.
• The “Weird” Table at Knott’s Berry Farm: To illustrate how the Pharisees couldn’t “pigeonhole” John, Swindoll shares a personal story of seeing a strange group at a restaurant—a policeman, a woman in an evening gown, and men in beachwear—eating together. Just as Swindoll couldn’t figure them out, the religious leaders couldn’t classify John, so they tried to reject him.
• “Martyr” as Witness: Swindoll notes that the Greek word for “witness” in this text is martur (martyr). A witness is one who sacrifices his life for the sake of a principle or person considered of greater value than himself [13–14].
• The Danger of “Ingrown Eyeballs”: Swindoll warns against the twin dangers of pride (when successful) and inferiority (when failing), calling this the problem of “ingrown eyeballs.” He urges leaders to realize they are useful to God but never indispensable [25–26].
• The Stranger’s Advice: The sermon closes with a legend about Savonarola being helped by a mysterious stranger when he was too fatigued to cross a mountain range. The stranger’s parting words serve as the application for the sermon: “Remember to do that for which God has sent thee” [30–31].

Message References:

• John 1:6–8: The introduction of John: “There came a man sent from God… He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.”
• John 1:15: John’s testimony regarding Jesus’ pre-eminence: “He who comes after me has a rank higher than I, for He existed before me.”
• John 1:19–23: The interrogation by the priests and John’s self-identification as merely “a voice of one crying in the wilderness.”
• Deuteronomy 18:15: The prophecy regarding “the Prophet” whom Moses said God would raise up (referenced when the Pharisees ask John, “Are you the Prophet?”).
• John 1:26–27: John’s humility: “I am not even worthy to be His slave and untie the straps of His sandal.”
• John 1:29: The declaration: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
• John 3:30: The guiding motto of John’s life: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll