Category: John The Baptist

John the Baptist

9/28/2021

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:5-17 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. [6] They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. [7] But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. [8] Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, [9] according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. [10] And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. [11] And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. [12] Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. [13] But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. [14] You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. [15] For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. [16] And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. [17] It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Commentary: The Holy Spirit prepared the way for Jesus through the life and ministry of John the Baptist. One of the side subjects that comes to light in this particular passage of scripture is the sanctity of life. Even as an unborn child, John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit. This reminds me of the prophet Jeremiah: The word of the LORD came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
This tells us that God had a specific work and mission for John the Baptist to fulfill, and that this mission was set into motion before John the Baptist was even born. John's parents were "righteous in the sight of God." (This is a challenging theological issue when you consider the depravity of mankind) Scripture calls them blameless in their pursuit of obeying the commandments and requirements of the law. (Amazing!)
God rewarded their faithfulness; although past the age of child-bearing; and although Elizabeth was barren; Zacharias and Elizabeth had a son, who would become known as John the Baptist. It took a miracle of God to produce the one who would prepare the way before Jesus.
John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb. By the time Jesus was ready to embark upon His public ministry, John the Baptist was already the leading prophet of Israel. He was calling the people of Israel to repentance. He also prophesied that the arrival of the promised Messiah was at hand.
When Jesus appeared where John was baptizing people, John recognized Jesus publicly as the promised one. A short time later when asked about Jesus' fame, John humbly stated, "He must increase and I must decrease."

Questions to Consider:

I think one of the tragedies of abortion is the fact that unborn children are being killed before they ever have a chance to live in the purposes of God. Are you aware of God's purposes for your life? (Are you walking in God's purposes?)
John the Baptist's acceptance of Jesus gave Jesus instant spiritual credibility; why was this important?

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Jesus is Baptized

1/13/2021

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9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.” Mark 1:9-11 NASB

Questions to Consider:

Whose standard of righteousness is this act of baptism fulfilling?

How can one event of Jesus being baptized fulfill all righteousness?

Theology & Apologetics:
One of the objections to Jesus being the Messiah is the fact that Jesus was baptized by John. Why would the Son of God, the Messiah, the King of all the earth be baptized by a man who was conducting a baptism of repentance? What would that baptism accomplish if He is the spotless Lamb of God without the need of repentance? When Jesus comes to John to be baptized, John has the same questions in his heart. The gospel of Matthew gives us a clear cut answer as to why Jesus was baptized.

13 Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” 15 But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him. Matthew 3:13-15 NASB

Jesus understands the confusion in the heart of John and tells him to 'permit it at this time'. What Jesus is saying is this is a one time event that is going to have extraordinary benefits. Jesus tells John in verse 15: 'for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.'

How can Jesus being baptized fulfill all righteousness? Because through Jesus being baptized He is revealing the reason why He came. To save sinners. This was a picture of what He would accomplish almost 3 years later when He would take the sin of the world upon Himself and in exchange, offer the righteousness of God that is imputed unto us by faith in the Son of God.

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Jesus is Baptized

1/12/2021

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Mark 1:9-11 (NASB) 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came from the heavens: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
Cross references to read and meditate on:

Matthew 3:13-17 (NASB) Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” 15 But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him. 16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

What do you think Jesus meant in Matthew's account when He told John the Baptist to "permit it at this time"?

Luke 3:21-22 (NASB) Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

Luke's account describes the dove coming down in 'bodily form'. This means that others besides John and Jesus may have seen the dove descending from heaven. What do you think the people were thinking when they saw this event take place?

John 1:24-28 (NASB) Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27 “It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The Pharisees asked John if he was the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet. What do they mean by 'the Prophet'? (See Deuteronomy 18:15-22, Deut. 34:10-12, John 1:45 & John 6:14)

Isaiah 9:1 (NASB) But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.

Why would God decide to send the Messiah from Galilee of the Gentiles? What does this say about God?

Big Idea: Jesus steps onto the scene in a way that would have went unnoticed. He came from Nazareth in Galilee without a parade or entourage with Him. Humbly He enters into the narrative. Then to make it even more head scratching, He is baptized by a man that has been baptizing and preaching repentance to groups of sinners! The difference between the men who came to John and Jesus is revealed when the heavens open, the Spirit descends and the Father speaks. This is no ordinary man, but He is, as John declares: 'the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!'

Additional Reading: Isaiah 53
2 For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. 3He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Isaiah 53:2-3

7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. Isaiah 53:7

12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12

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Predestined for Work?

1/7/2021

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Ephesians 2:8-10 (NASB) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

John 3:26-30 (NASB) 26 And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him." 27 John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. 28 "You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent ahead of Him.' 29 "He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 "He must increase, but I must decrease.

Predestination. Sometimes I do not even say the word so that I can avoid the pitfall of arguments and differing opinions. That said, the idea that God has prepared good works for "us" to accomplish "beforehand," carries the idea of predestination with it. To be fair and in keeping with the context, we are saved, not by works, but maybe for works?

So, what does this mean? It means that God has a purpose for your life. It means that God indeed has a plan for your life. It means that you have been saved so that you might fulfill God's destiny for your life.

John the Baptist understood, clearly understood God's purpose for his life. John was not the bridegroom. John was not the Christ. John was not the Savior of the world. John was the friend of the bridegroom who rejoiced as he watched Jesus' ministry eclipse his own. In John's own words, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (What an amazing expression of humility)

Questions to Consider:

Have you discovered "your" calling in Christ Jesus?
How can selfish ambition get in the way of God's calling and purposes?
Do you rejoice at the success of others, even when they seem eclipse your own success?

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The Back Story/Part 2

1/6/2021

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Luke 1:57-80 (NASB) 57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her. 59 And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father. 60 But his mother answered and said, "No indeed; but he shall be called John." 61 And they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name." 62 And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. 63 And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, "His name is John." And they were all astonished. 64 And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. 65 Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, "What then will this child turn out to be?" For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him. 67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: 68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, 69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant-- 70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old— 71 Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US; 72 To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant, 73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, 74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. 76 "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; 77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, 78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, 79 TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace." 80 And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Elizabeth, in answer to her prayers, gave birth to a son. There was a debate concerning the name of the child. Those that came to do the circumcision had it in their collective mind to name the baby after his father. Zacharias, acting on the instructions of the angel Gabriel, insisted on the name of "John."

Before anyone could strongly object, Zacharias began to speak in praise of God. (v.64) A number of Bible Scholars view Zacharias' experience as being similar to the Day of Pentecost, when the church was filled with the Holy Spirit. No doubt, the Holy Spirit "fell" on Zacharias and he began to prophesy over his newly born son.

There will continue to be a debate in the church concerning predestination and free will. The question will always be raised, "Can we make decisions that alter our destiny, and shape our future?" Whether you are a stanch believer in free will or hold to a more fatalistic view of the future; your decisions do matter.

Zacharias believed that his son, John, had a God-given purpose. That John would be the one to prepare the way for the Messiah. He prophesied that this would be his son's destiny.

If you are either a parent or a grandparent, what is the destiny of your children and grandchildren? What insight has God given you concerning their purpose and calling in Christ? What environment have you created in the home that is pointing them in the right direction? Please note: If we are not pointing our children and grandchildren to Jesus and the purposes of God, they will generally default to the "other" influences that make up their environment.

John grew up and became known as John the Baptist. He became strong in the spirit and fulfilled His God-ordained purpose to become the Prophet that would indeed prepare the way for Jesus.

This is our hope for our children and grandchildren; that they would serve God all the days of their lives; that they would walk in the purposes that God has ordained; that they would accomplish the work that God has prepared for them to do. As parents and grandparents, it is our job and calling to assist them in connecting to God's destiny for their lives. (Refer to Deuteronomy 6)

Questions to Consider:

What measures have I taken to create a "Jesus-Centric" environment in my home?
If you believe that God has a purpose for my children and/or grandchildren, what am I doing to help connect them to that destiny?
Do you believe in the concept of making "your" ceiling your children's floor?

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The Back Story/Part 1

1/5/2021

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Luke 1:5-25 (NASB) 5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. 8 Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14 "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb. 16 "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." 18 Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years." 19 The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 "And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time." 21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. 23 When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home. 24 After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, 25 "This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men."

There are three prominent back stories in the John the Baptist saga. The first story involves his miraculous birth.

John's mother, Elizabeth, was unable to have children. In our time, for a woman who wants to start a family, it is a great disappointment when they are unable to bring children into this world. In the time that Elizabeth lived it was widely believed that a barren woman was cursed by God. It was both a personal point of pain and shame.

That all turned around for Elizabeth when her husband, Zacharias (who was a Jewish priest), was visited by the angel, Gabriel. Gabriel informed Zacharias that the prayers that Zacharias and Elizabeth had prayed were going to be answered, and that Elizabeth was going to have a son.

There is a lesson to be learned in this story. Sometimes our prayers are ultimately answered in a time frame far removed from when the petition was initiated. It tells us that time does not invalidate our prayers, and that God answers our prayers in His time, according to His will. By the time God answered Zacharias and Elizabeth's petition to bring a child into the world, Elizabeth is not only barren, but beyond the child-bearing age. This was not a barrier that God was unable to overcome.

Gabriel told Zacharias that his son was to be given the name of John, and that the baby would be filled with the Holy Spirit before he was born. Please note: This certainly informs us of how God views the worth of an unborn child.

God has plans for "us". The plan for us was probably not announced by an angelic visitation; however, God has a specific plan for our lives just as He did for John the Baptist. That is the point of a very well-known passage of scripture. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NASB) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

"You" were "born again" when God gifted you salvation. He gave you a spiritual birth so that you would fulfill His divinely appointed purposes on earth. Those are the "good works" that God has prepared for you. Please know...really know, God has a purpose for your life! This tells us that your life has meaning and is important in the Kingdom of God.

Questions to Consider:

Have you discovered God's "calling" and "purpose" for your life? (Are you walking in those purposes?)
Can you think of petitions that you prayed to God that eventually were answered?
Since prayers are not confined by time, what are some of the prayers (that you might not be praying) that you should be praying?

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John the Baptist

1/4/2021

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Mark 1:1-8 (NASB) 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY; 3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.'" 4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. 7 And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. 8 "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

How do you prepare a theocracy to receive a Messiah? An even greater challenge: How do you prepare a fallen world to receive a Savior? God used a young Jewish Prophet by the name of John the Baptist to introduce "the Light" to a world filled with darkness.

A young Jewish woman was yet a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus. The shepherds were visited by the heavenly host who told them of the Savior's birth. The three wise men traveled, following a star, to pay homage to the young King; but, by-in-large, Jesus was unknown.

God chose John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus. John was arguably the most famous prophet in Israel when Jesus walked into the waters of the Jordan River to be baptized. John's purpose from birth was to help establish the spiritual credibility of an unknown Rabbi from the wrong side of the tracks. John declared to his followers, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals."

Questions to Consider:
1. How did John demonstrate true humility with regard to Jesus? (Why was this important?)
2. How did John's endorsement help launch the public ministry of Jesus?
3. Why do you think that God chose to use an "outsider" (John the Baptist) rather than the Jewish High Priest to establish Jesus' spiritual credibility?

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Discipleship plan

John the Baptist

Jesus is Baptized

Jesus is Baptized

Predestined for Work?

The Back Story/Part 2

The Back Story/Part 1

John the Baptist

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