Ministry and Message of John the Baptist
A detailed Account - Gospel of Luke • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 42:21
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Handout
Handout
The set up
The set up
Prophesied before (Mal4:5-6)
5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. 6 “He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”
Johns birth foretold (Lk1:5-17)
His birth (Lk1:57-66)
Today we are going to get to his ministry and his message but I think there is a little more general information can get in our set up first.
John came after 400 years of silence in heaven
No other prophet since Malachi. John is part of God’s perfect plan, God’s perfect timing.
Luke will give much historical proof of John the Baptist.
How he came? He came as prophesied like Elijah (consider Lk1:17, Mt3:4; 2Kings1:8)
Why He came? As forerunner, a preacher to fulfill the prophesies, to set the stage for the Messiah
(Transition) That is just some general information, our passage is in Luke form with much information, much detail for us to learn from, so may we look together now?
The Scripture
The Scripture
1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,
2 in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;
4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight. 5 ‘Every ravine will be filled, And every mountain and hill will be brought low; The crooked will become straight, And the rough roads smooth; 6 And all flesh will see the salvation of God.’ ”
I think we need to make that a pausing point
What stands out to you in these verses?
In (v.1) there are some historical markers, what are they?
We know the when
We know the who was in Roman power at the time
In (v.2) we have more historical markers, what are they?
The Jewish leaders at the time
In (v.3) we know where He came, and what he was doing, note that down
District around Jordan
Preaching baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins
In (vv.4-6) whose prophesy here is noted that John was fulfilling?
Isaiah (Isa40:1ff)
7 So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 “Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.
9 “Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
In his preaching (v.7) He gives some specific warning, what is it?
Flee from the wrath to come!
Now, in (v.8) he gives instructions and overcomes an objection they may offer, what is it, are they?
Bear fruit keeping with repentance
Being attached to Abraham won’t work
What is at the root of the trees and what will be the result if a tree does not bear good fruit (v.9)?
10 And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” 11 And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.”
12 And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.”
14 Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.”
A question is asked in response to John’s comment (v.9) what is the question (v.10)?
What shall we do?
Now scan the rest of the verses through (v.14) what people does John address?
Man who has (v.11)
Tax Collectors (v.12-13)
Soldiers (v.14)
15 Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ, 16 John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
17 “His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 So with many other exhortations he preached the gospel to the people.
19 But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the wicked things which Herod had done, 20 Herod also added this to them all: he locked John up in prison.
Questions brought wonder (v.15), what were they wondering?
Is he the Christ?
John is unworthy of what (v.16)?
untie the thong of His sandals
What will happen to the chaff (v.17)?
burn with unquenchable fire
Why was John locked up in prison (vv.19-20)?
Because of Herodius, his brothers wife.
Some important points to grasp
Some important points to grasp
Historical markers (political)
15th year of Tiberias (emperor) - known for cruelty and severity
Pontius Pilot - (prefect) known for brutal massacres of Jews
Herod (Tetrarch) son of Herod the great; broths to Philip and Lysanias) -known for corruption and cruelty
Historical markers (Jewish)
Caiaphas (High Priest)
Annas (Father in law to Caiaphas) - he is former High Priest and really the one with all the power and influence
There were historical markers for both Roman and for Jews showing the time in which John came.
Johns message
Given by the Jordan, in wilderness
Preached repentance and baptism for remission of sins
Johns ministry to fulfill prophesy (Isa40:3-5)
3 A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. 4 “Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley;
5 Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Johns message to the crowd
You brood of vipers; don’t call on your Jewish roots
Bear fruits worthy of repentance
Johns specifics spoken
In short speak “be people of integrity.”
Share what you have
Tax collectors be honest
Soldiers, don’t use your authority for personal gain
Johns promise
Greater One coming
Greater and different baptism
Future judgment is coming
John brings on personal problems
He rebuked Herod
Ended up in prison and eventually beheaded
Josephus quoted by Barclay said regarding the imprisonment:
“The arrest was that Herod ‘feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it in his power and inclination to raise a rebellion; for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise.”
A few more things to touch on.
John did not just preach repentance, he preached the gospel (good news)
Introduced Jesus
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
One commentator said that John was the best man and Jesus was the bridegroom of (Jn3:25-30)
John’s baptism was different in aspect that Jews baptized Gentiles to become proselytes, but John is baptizing Jews for repentance of sins
John’s baptism looked forward to the coming of Messiah; Christian baptism looks back to the finished work on the cross.
Baptism of fire mentioned is judgment
AD70 - national judgment under Titus
In (rev20:11-15) will be a judgment in the lake of fire
Wiersbe said this that I found interesting
“John reminded them that God gets to the root of things and is not impressed with religious profession that does not produce fruit. In the last judgment, the true believers (wheat) will be gather by God, while the lost sinners (chaff) will be burn in the fire.”
(Summarize) (Prayer) (Close)