The Power of the Incarnation

Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life

Tim Keller

Religion, Religion & Spirituality, Religion & Spirituality:christianity, Christianity, Spirituality

4.8 • 15K Ratings

🗓️ 24 December 2025

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the middle of John 1, the religious leaders send people to interrogate John the Baptist. It doesn’t look like it’s got much to do with Christmas, and yet it does. Some major inner change has happened to John the Baptist. And if John the Baptist has had that change with what little knowledge he had of Jesus and the meaning of Christmas, how much more should we be exhibiting that change? Let’s take a look at 1) John’s view of himself, 2) John’s view of Jesus, 3) the resulting character change, and 4) how we might know it as well. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on December 18, 2016. Series: Jesus, Mission, and Glory: Advent. Scripture: John 1:19-28. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Gospel in Life. Today, Tim Keller is looking at a passage from the opening chapter of the Gospel of John.
0:11.1	John begins his account of Christ's birth not with shepherds or angels, but with the mystery of the word becoming flesh, God himself entering the world as a person in Jesus Christ. Join us as Tim Keller explores the meaning of the word becoming flesh, God himself entering the world as a person in Jesus Christ.
0:22.7	Join us as Tim Keller explores the meaning of Jesus's birth.
0:32.9	Tonight's scripture reading is from John chapter 1, verses 19 to 28.
0:39.4	Now this was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.
0:46.8	He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely.
0:50.5	I am not the Messiah.
0:52.6	They asked him, then who are you? Are you Elijah? He said, I am not. Are you the
0:59.1	prophet? He answered, no. Finally, they said, who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent
1:07.7	us. What do you say about yourself? John replied in the words of Isaiah the
1:13.1	prophet. I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness. Make straight the way for the Lord.
1:20.0	Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him. Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah,
1:26.2	nor Elijah, nor the prophet?
1:28.6	I baptized with water, John replied, but among you stands one you do not know.
1:34.4	He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.
1:40.7	This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing, the Word of the Lord.
1:49.4	Now, during these weeks leading up to Christmas, we've been looking at John Chapter 1, because John Chapter 1 tells us, in there, the gospel writer writer John is telling us about the meaning of Jesus
2:04.2	coming into the world, which of course is the meaning of Christmas.
2:09.9	But here, right in the middle of John chapter one is this passage in which the religious leaders
2:17.2	come out and they send people out to
2:19.7	interrogate John the Baptist. And who are you? Who do you think you are? And it doesn't look
2:28.5	like it's got much to do with Christmas and maybe not real directly and yet it does. And here's
	...

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