The Gospel of John the Baptist
John 1:6-9; 15,19-30
John the Baptist was a unique man in Christian History
All four gospels write about him
As did the OT prophets; Isa 40:3,4; Mal 4:5
Very complex, maybe even a little bit weird (by our standards anyway),...wore odd clothes, lived in an odd place, and ate odd food,...and preached an odd message
A Nazarite,...no haircuts, no wine, could not come near a dead body or carcass,...He was set apart for God’s purpose.
He was a man of great courage, he was unafraid of the king,
He was uncompromising and did not preach for the money. He was a man of integrity and great faith, but given to doubts too.
John’s aim was to be obedient and prepare the way, introduce Christ to the Jews.
Like the Holy Spirit, he never drew attention to himself but always pointed people to Jesus.
He must increase, but I must decrease.
It all began with godly parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, Lk 1:6
John was a gospel preacher without a New Testament.
All he had was the Old Testament, but in it are contained the prophecies of Messiah, the Christ.
His ministry only lasted six months or so, until he was arrested for preaching righteousness and offending the king. He would not back down and was arrested and jailed.
Jn 1:35-41...Jesus began His church with Baptist material. We are not Baptists because we are followers of John the Baptist, but because we have strict views on baptism as he did.
John wasn’t out for mere numbers (nickels and noses)
He refused to baptize some because their lives didn’t match up with their profession,
Matt 3:7-9
John’s arrest and imprisonment, Lk 7:19ff
While in prison, John began to have doubts. If Jesus was the Messiah, then why doesn’t He get me out of here? Wouldn’t it be better if I was preaching instead of sitting in jail?
Jesus didn’t answer John directly with, “Yes, John I am the Messiah.”
He did something better, He pointed him to scripture, (the source of spiritual food),
John’s arrest and imprisonment, Lk 7:19ff
While in prison, John began to have doubts. If Jesus was the Messiah, then why doesn’t He get me out of here? Wouldn’t it be better if I was preaching instead of sitting in jail?
Jesus didn’t answer John directly with, “Yes, John I am the Messiah.”
He did something better, He pointed him to scripture, (the source of spiritual food),
Lk. 4:18,19; Isa. 61:1,2
Jesus did not rebuke John, but answered in a way John would understand.
With observable, provable deeds complete with eyewitnesses, and not hear-say and theories.
Jesus knew the Word would nourish and sustain John as nothing else would.
Jesus’ estimation of John, Lk 7:24-28
What did you go out to see? A spineless, wishy-washy preacher?
John was not a two-faced compromiser, nor was he a celebrity enjoying the best comforts of life.
Maybe God allowed John’s arrest to prove to them he wouldn’t back down in the face of persecution?
Questioning God is one thing, deserting God and backing down is quite another thing. This John did not do.
Every Believer is immortal until their work is done, and in just a few short months John’s ministry came to an end,… but his reward followed him.
Remember, we’re still in the OT time, and John did not have the advantage you and I do.
He had no New testament, he lived and died before the cross and the resurrection.
How is the least person in the Kingdom greater than John?
Jesus did not rebuke John, but answered in a way John would understand.
With observable, provable deeds complete with eyewitnesses, and not hear-say and theories.
Jesus knew the Word would nourish and sustain John as nothing else would.
Jesus’ estimation of John, Lk 7:24-28
What did you go out to see? A spineless, wishy-washy preacher?
John was not a two-faced compromiser, nor was he a celebrity enjoying the best comforts of life.
Maybe God allowed John’s arrest to prove to them he wouldn’t back down in the face of persecution?
Questioning God is one thing, deserting God and backing down is quite another thing. This John did not do.
Every Believer is immortal until their work is done, and in just a few short months John’s ministry came to an end,… but his reward followed him.
Remember, we’re still in the OT time, and John did not have the advantage you and I do.
He had no New testament, he lived and died before the cross and the resurrection.
How is the least person in the Kingdom greater than John?
Not in character, or in ministry.
But in position and privilege,...John’s ministry was a watershed, a turning point in God’s dealings with His people.
But in position and privilege,...John’s ministry was a watershed, a turning point in God’s dealings with His people.
We are privileged to live in the day of grace on this side of the cross and resurrection.
We have the complete revelation of God in Christ, and therefore we have the greater responsibility also.
I Cor. 15:58,...Like John the Baptist we need to be ...stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
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