John the Baptist Devotion

Intro - Have you ever had doubts?

Doubts that God loved you.

Doubts God was doing the right thing.

Doubts that God existed.

Doubts that He really could change hearts and lives.

You are in good company.

The doubt of John the Baptist -

While imprisoned for calling out Herod Antipas for many of his sins. John the Baptist doubted.

Luke 7:18–23 ESV

18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ ” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Here we see John the Baptist in a really week moment.

-He is doubting. He is struggling. Pause

Who was John the Baptist?

Not only the last of the O.T. Prophets ushering in Jesus.

He was considered the greatest.

Luke 7:28 “28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.””

Let’s do a short survey of John

John 14:1-5

Pre-Conception, Gabriel gives Zachariah a prophecy and promise about a child he would have with Elizabeth & what his name would be.

How was John Born

Conception

By a Miracle - Elizabeth past child bearing years. Yet despite their physical inability, a baby was created.

John was unique Spiritually before he was born.

Holy Spirit in the Womb.

When Mary who was expectant with Jesus visited her aunt Elizabeth, John the Baptist lept in Elizabeth’s womb. Somehow, Elizabeth knew that Mary had The Christ within her. Luke 1:5 & 1:39-56

Birth - Angel told Zechariah to name the child John.

Nazarite - Set apart from birth for a spiritual purpose.

Describe Nazarite.

Work as foretelling of the Messiah - John’s purpose was to ready the people of Israel for the Messiah.

“The Kingdom of God is here”, The Messiah has drawn near to you.

Prophesied about

Malachi 3:1 “1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.”

Baptizing Thousands and seeing lives changed.

He watched people repent & come to God in droves.

Baptizing Jesus

-John didn’t want to baptize Jesus, but wanted Jesus to Baptize him.

-John said he wasn’t worthy to untie Jesus sandals.

-Trinity, The Spirit came down and rested. The Father spoke his approval of the Son.

John sees the Son, the Spirit and Hears the Father all at one time.

After the Baptism and ministry of Jesus begins.

Attitude - He must become greater

John 3:30 “30 He must increase, but I must decrease.””

Imprisonment -

Luke 3:19-20 “19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.”

Hendrickson -Quote below

Now Herod Antipas, another half-brother, on a visit to Herod Philip, became infatuated with Herodias (Philip’s wife). The two illicit lovers agreed to separate from their present marriage partners—Herodias from Herod Philip; Herod Antipas from the daughter of Aretas, … and to marry each other. This was done. When John the Baptist heard about this he rebuked Herod Antipas. He did this repeatedly. There was good reason for the rebuke, for such a marriage was incestuous (Lev. 18:16; 20:21). Was it not also adulterous (Rom. 7:2, 3)?

Of course, Herodias (Herods wife) knew very well that whenever John rebuked (Herod Antipas) he was also, by implication, denouncing her. So she insisted … that John be put to death.

… Herod Antipas compromised with his wife … He arrested John, put him in chains, and shut him up in a terrible, deep, and hot dungeon that formed part of the castle-palace at Machaerus. (Located east of the Dead Sea).

Doubt -

Why did John doubt?

He knew that he would most likely be martyred.

-We think we are strong and that we would die for Jesus.

-Facing death, John had his struggles.

When you face death, fear is a normal emotion, even for the Christ Follower.

Why else did John doubt?

Maybe because Jesus did not meet John’s expectations?

-It is very possible that John was not only looking for a Spiritual Messiah, but also a Political King.

Those in the time of Jesus did not know about a Second Coming of Jesus.

They only knew about 1 coming of Jesus.

-Rightly so, the prophecies in the Old Testament that we know now are speaking about the 2nd coming - those in the Time of Christ thought Messiah only came once.

-They applied 2nd coming scripture about Jesus ruling and reigning to Jesus 1st coming.

As a result of their false expectation - Jesus confused and disappointed.

Jesus possibly confused and disappointed John the Baptist as well.

“Are you the one or should we look for another.”

This is the comfort - Jesus

John 7 - the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Application -

Do you ever doubt?

Do you ever wonder if:

-If life is really eternal.

-If you will see you deceased loved on again in heaven.

-If Jesus is faithful and loves you.

-If God hears you when you pray.

-If God can change the lives of those who you pray for.

-If God can lift your heart when you struggle or are depressed.

Does God ever disappoint you?

-Does He allow something to happen you don’t like?

-Does He not act the way you would want Him to?

We must remember what kind of God we serve.

We must remember what Jesus said to John the Baptist.

He is real. He is working. He does have a plan.

Why? Jesus proved Himself to be God.

the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

If Jesus can heal the blind, cause the crippled to walk, restore the leper, and raise the dead, then your situation that is difficult He has handled.

He can turn the doubter of Him into the Defender of Him.