Sermon Tone Analysis

John the Baptist—Matthew Chapter 3 jumps right into His ministry.

Luke—provides a better framework of John's life

Gives details about John’s Parents

When does the dawning of John the Baptist story begin?

Furnishes us with a time line to some of the events .

You see this in verse 5

Herod was edomite (Esau) or Idumean

The one figure in ancient world we have more primary evidence from original sources that anyone else in the world More than: Paul, Jesus, Julius Caesar, Alexander

Josephus two whole book scrolls

the paranoid tyrant who ended up killing three of his sons on suspicion of treason, putting to death his favorite wife (of his ten wives!), killing one of his mothers-in-law, drowning a high priest, and killing several uncles and a couple of cousins.

He also plotted to kill a stadium of Jewish leaders, and of course ordered the slaughter of the innocent male children recorded only in

Dr. Maier about the paranoid tyrant who ended up killing three of his sons on suspicion of treason, putting to death his favorite wife (of his ten wives!), killing one of his mothers-in-law, drowning a high priest, and killing several uncles and a couple of cousins.

They also talk about Herod’s plot to kill a stadium of Jewish leaders, and whether there are any doubts in Dr. Maier’s mind about the historicity of the slaughter of the innocent male children recorded only in

There was deep spiritual ware raging, God needed a man that would prepare the way of the Lord

King Herod the Great give creditability to the gospels.

These events happens 15 months before Jesus is born.

A few things within the first few verses that have significance.

John’s Father was Zechariah

Zechariah belonged to the priestly order of Abijah

we will find that the number of priest had grown so King David divided them into 24 divisions

By the time Zechariah’s became priest there were over 20K priest, far too many to minister at the temple at one time.

Divided into the 24 groups and roughly at about 1K in each group.

Each group served in the temple twice a a year for one week.

Of the one thousand priest service during the week how many would served the burning incense?

So 1K would gather around and cast lots.

and select the 7 (Highest Honor & only once)

.

For Zechariahs this was probably the most significant event of his life

So for Zechariahs this was probably the most significant event of his life

While performing his duty the Angel shows up

God will often show ups when you are performing everyday, ordinary tasks

Moses (shepherding) and the bush

Disciples were fishing

during our regular rhythms of life is when we have to keep our eyes open

2 Life application

Nothing just happens.

Everything in your life is orchestrated by to shape, develop, or speak to you

16 You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed

16 You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Both God and Bad (help discover something about you) (3 Hebrew Boys)

Every moment was laid out

before a single day had passed

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out

before a single day had passed

Another Significant part of the text is the mention of both Zechariah/Elizabeth as righteous people ()

The mother of Zechariah/Elizabeth were both righteous

Both Zechariah/Elizabeth were both righteous

Luke also mentions that they were both old and that Elizabeth was barren.

Why is

Both of these details are going to rather important

Zechariahs- Hebrew meaning is the Lord has remembered

divided into courses

The name Zechariah in Hebrew means the Lord has remembered

Nothing just happens, our lives are orchestrated by God

Zechariahs- Hebrew meaning is the Lord has remembered

Marries

The name Elizabeth in Hebrew means God's promises

This important because names help paint a picture.

We believe the bible is God’s Holy Word so every word means something

Zechariah’s Marries Elizabeth and they become, so when you take their names and put them together

When you take their names and put them together

When you put Zechariah and Elizabeth name together what do you get?

It says God remembers God's promise

This pretty significant because the the big question the Jewish had was does God remember his promise?

To understand this we have to look at Malachi 5:5.

The promise was that God would send a prophet that would preceed the messiah

400 years later

They are wondering if God has remembered

Malachi 5:5

400 years and beginning to wonder to if the promise would come to passed

Another promise

Another promise

Elizabeth- no baby meant that there was some sin in their life.

The bible was clear that they are righteous.

Elizabeth- no baby meant that there was some sin in their life.

They were both righeous.

What did we missed?

Do you remember your promise

Elizabeth/Zechariah were probably wondering what they did wrong?

What did we missed?

They most likely asking God do you remember your promise?

God answers prayer in his own way and in his own time.

He worked in an “impossible” situation—Elizabeth’s barrenness—to bring about the fulfillment of all the prophecies concerning the Messiah.

If you want to have your prayers answered, you must be open to what God can do in impossible situations.

And you must wait for God to work in his way and in his time.

What is God communicating through their names?

He remembers his promise

Compares John’s Luke/Malachi

God answers prayer in his own way and in his own time.

God will often test our trust and faith in him?

And you must wait for God to work in his way and in his time.

And you must wait for God to work in his way and in his time.

It's not that God had forgotten but he wanted to do something special

It's not that God had forgotten but he wanted to do something special

Look at

What does incense represent in the bible?

It is not a coincidence that he was burning the incense