Christ the Prophesied One (Ministry of John the Baptist)

Introduction

Ask: Have any of you been on a long road trip across the county?

As a kid my family traveled all over the country. In fact by the time I was 18 I had visited 40 of the 50 states and had only flown on an airplane once. and that was to south America.

all 6 of us would pack into our station wagon and travel across the county. We went through all of the mountain ranges from the Rockies in Colorado to the Adirondack mountains in New York. We went through Desserts, and forest, plains and swamps.

Why Because someone went before us and blazed the trail and laid the roadway down so that we can reach our destinations smoothly.

imagine with me, for a moment ,that we live din a time long ago before these roads were laid. We might be able to see the mountains and canyons from afar off but no safe, smooth road would be there to take us to see their beauty.

In Roman times - When the Bible was being written, When kings and Emperors would travel- a group of men would be sent out before them with the task to clear a path and smooth out the road to make traveling more comfortable for the king who was coming after them.

These men’s entire purpose was to pave the way for someone who was coming after them who was more important than themselves.

Transition: today as we continue in our text in John chapter one we are introduced to our first human witness of Jesus Christ.

We are going to look at the life of a man named Whose life was planned by God for a specific purpose

We are going to look at t The story of John the Baptist which is found in all four of the gospels.as well as the books of Isaiah and Malachi the prophets

BIG IDEA: God Sets People apart for a Special Purpose

Let’s jump in at the beginning of the story

John’s Prophetic Purpose

John’s story begins way back in the Old Testament book of Isaiah.

“700 years before John the Baptist was born, The nation of Israel was divided amongst themselves- they split from one nation into two because they could not get along. Not only was their nation divided but they were also now in captivity by the Assyrians who treated them poorly. They were looking for someone to step in and save them.

God sent them a spokesmen a prophet to tell them to repent of their sins and get right with God, this Prophet’s name was Isaiah.

He prophesied of a coming Messiah- one who would be be a deliverer not only for Israel but a deliver for all mankind.

In Isaiah chapter 40 he tells the nation of Israel that before this deliver comes another person will come first to pave the way for his arrival.

Read Isaiah 40:3-5 “A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

God spoke through Isaiah the prophet and He promised the nation of Israel -His chosen people-that there would be a special messenger who would announce the coming of the long-awaited Messiah (or Savior) for God’s people.

A savior is coming but before he arrives another will come and pave the way.

Even after Isaiah gives these warnings to Israel they still failed to turn to God.

The Assyrian oppressors were defeated in 612 BC by the more brutal Babylonians- They didn’t just want to rule over Israel but made them their slaves.

In 539 BC the Persians who prided themselves in being worse than the Babylonians came, in and defeated the Babylon, and they continued to enslave Israel.

Then in 63BC The Roman empire defeated Persia and was now the ruler over the land and the people.

it has now been 700 years since God spoke to Isreal through Isaiah. and over 400 years since they received any revelation from God.

Isreal was lost they were defeated, they were in a place of no hope, longing for a deliverer, someone tho come and free them from oppression and restore them as a nation.

John’s Purpose was prophetic- Isiah foretold that God would send a messenger to pave the way for the Messiah.

Our story picks up at the temple in Jerusalem

John’s Prophetic Birth

Luke chapter 1 tells us that a man and wife who were righteous before the Lord. This means that they lived right- that their lives honored God. The man’s name Zechariah and his wife was Elizabeth. Zachariah was a descendant of Aaron- the first jewish priest and the story tells us that He was serving at the temple in Jerusalem. Each morning the priest would cast lots to see who would go into the Holy Place and make an offering to the Lord. The Bible tells us that the lot fell on Zachariah, He was to be the one to offer incense in the Holy Place, the temple's inner chamber where only priests were allowed to enter.

As Zechariah went into the Holy place and knelt to pray, the angel Gabriel - God’s spokesmen, appeared next to the altar. Gabriel - this heavenly angel spoke to the old priest that his prayer for a son would be answered.

He Said “ Elizabeth your wife would give birth to a son and you are to name the baby John.

Gabriel went on to tell Zachariah that His son was set apart for a special purpose, John would be a great man who would lead many to the Lord their God and that He himself would be the One who would announce the arrival of the long awaited Messiah.

The Bible tells us that Zechariah was doubtful when he heard these things because He and his wife were physically too old to have kids. and as a result of his lack of faith, The angel caused him to be deaf and mute until the child would be born. The Bible tells us that when he walked out from the Holy Place the crowd standing there saw his countenance was so different that they new he had seen a vision from God.

After serving his time at the Jerusalem temple Zechariah returned to his home in the mountains of Judea. Elizabeth his elderly wife became pregnant just as Gabriel the messenger of God had prophesied. 9 months later- the prophesy was fulfilled Elizebeth gave birth to her son and they named Him John.

luke tells us that when John was Born the Holy spirit came upon Zechariaus his father and he prophesied about John’s life

Luke 1:76-79 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.””

John’s birth was not just foretold by Gabriel to Zachariah , but John was the fulfilment of the old testament Prophesy from 700 years ago made by Isaiah. That one would come before the messiah to pave the way.

John was set aside by God tas the chosen messenger to pave the way for Jesu

John had a prophetic birth

transition: not only was Johns purpose and birth Prophesied, but the life- style he would live was prophesied by Isaiah and proclaimed to Zachariah by the angel Gabriel.

John’s Prophetic Life

Luke 1:14-17 “And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

John’s life was prophetic- He was sanctified by God- meaning he was set apart for a specific purpose- and that purpose was to pave the way for the Messiah to come.

and with this purpose came a lifestyle.

John was called by God to live differently than the world .

He was called to stand out in contrast to what religion and culture said was acceptable.

and God wanted his whole life to reflect this difference.

John’s lifestyle was in stark contrast to many of the religious leaders of Jerusalem. These spiritual leaders tended to be well off they lived a life of ease and luxury in the community. They were well respected and had no wants.

John’s lifestyle looked more like an old testament prophet that wondered in the dessert ,than it did a new testament priest who lived in a home in town.

and this is because he was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah-

He was called to be the voice crying from the wilderness.

I NEED SOME HELP FOR THIS PART OF THE SERMON;

get 2 volunteers- today you are going to get to experience what it feels like to dress like an OT prophet and eat like a OT Prophet.

The Bible says John the baptist looked different then everyone else and he also ate a different diet than everyone else.

Put one kid in a robe of fine linen (the priest of the day)

Put the other kid in the deer skin with a belt

Instead of wearing a nice woven robe Matthew 3:4 says that John wore a garment of Camel’s hair and a big leather belt around his waste.

John did not dress like the normal person of his time.- He looked differently in fact he dressed like an old OT prophets

listen to what Zechariah and Jeremiah said about the clothes of a prophet.

Zech 13:4 ““On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies. He will not put on a hairy cloak in order to deceive,”

Zachariahs is saying that the garment of the prophet was a hairy cloak of animal skin. “

2 Kings 1:8 Jeremiah was describing the prophet Elijah listen to what he says says “They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.””

John the Baptist did not look like other religious leaders, he stood out from the crowd, Why Because God had set Him apart to be different. He wore the clothes of a Prophet.....

Not only did he look like an OT prophet but the bIble tells us that What he ate was a lot different than what the Jewish rabbis would have eaten.

The Food

Give the Jewish kid a platter of a sweet roll and beef stick

Now thats some good jewish eatin”.

Matthew 3:4 tells us that John the baptist also had a wholesome diet of food - it just looked a little different

(reference verse Matthew 3:4 “Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.” )

NowI lucky for us, I was able to find the exact food that John the Baptist would have eatin in the wilderness.ate- and I brought it with me today for you to eat -

Open up the platter of Johns food ( Honey and a grasshopper)

Have the kid ( and me eat a grasshoper dipped in Honey.

John wasn’t allowed to drink wine or strong drink instead he drank water, and with his water he ate grasshoppers and Honey.

THANKS FOR HELPING ME YOU CAN HAVE A SEAT

( Funny comment - i am so thankful I am not an OT prophet!)

Why did John the Baptist want to eat grasshoppers and Honey instead of the food that was made in the city? Because God had set His life apart to be different.

The Bible tells us that John the Baptist was called by God to be a nazarite.

this means that he had to live a certain way and follow a certain diet of food.

listen to what Lev. 11:22 tells us that some of the food that is clean for a nazarite to eat.- “Of them you may eat: the locust of any kind, the bald locust of any kind, the cricket of any kind, and the grasshopper of any kind.”

A nazarite could not drink any wine or anything else made from grapes,

He could not cut his hair but must let it continue to grow

He could not touch any dead bodies even those of family members

The point of is this....

John’s entire life was set apart by God for a specific purpose

He was sort of like those men who went before a king to clear the path. In fact, his job was to help clear the way for the most important king of all times,,, Jesus Christ!

John’s purpose wasn’t to clear a physical road in Jewish times for Jesus to walk on. Instead His purpose was to prepare the hearts of mankind for the message of Jesus

John’s Prophetic Message

This brings us to our passage in John 1 this morning

John 1:6-8 “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.”

JOHN WAS SET ASIDE BY GOD FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE AND THAT WAS TO Point people to Jesus..

Jesus is the central character in John the Baptist story - He came to bear witness of Jesus.

He came to prophecy of repentance of Sin and Belief in a Savior.

John preached to the people saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

As the people in to crowd listened to John, they realized how sinful they were, and they began to see their need for a Savior in their life.

They confessed their sins and John baptized them in the Jordan River.

He told them, “I baptize you with water but there is one coming after me who is much greater than I am. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!” Matt 3

Many peopel heard Johns message and repented,

John 1:19-29 the story continues…with the Jewish leaders getting upset with John and his message of repentence... ” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” [and John] said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

The religious leaders came to John and said what authority do you have to call for repentance of sin and baptize people in the name of God?

John’s response was I am the fulfillment of Isaiahs Prophecy - I am the one crying in the wildness, I an here to make straight the way of the Lord.

John 1:29-34 tells us “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel..... 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

John’s message to the world was prophetic because He revealed Jesus of Nazareth as the Promised messiah- as the Son of God. Who has come to this earth to take away the sins of this world

Say:Before John came and preached repentance to the people because Their hearts were not ready to receive jesus as their Savior.

The people were dry and dead, much like a desert John the Baptist was from! They needed to hear that Jesus was coming to forgive their sins and bring their hearts back to life .

And that’s just what John did. John helped see that we must prepare our hearts for Jesus.

Lets Bring it this morning

How does the story of John the Baptist help us in our lives today as followers of Jesus ?

OUR PROPHETIC CALLING

John was set apart by God to do God’s Will, for God’s Glory.

The Bible tells us that as followers of Jesus we are also Set apart by God to do God’s Will for God’s Glory.

1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

We are set apart as God’s chosen people to Proclaim the praises of Jesus in this Dark world.

2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1 “Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

We are set apart to live differently than the world. to cleans our hearts of sin and live in holiness like Jesus.

Romans 12:1-2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

We are set apart to live a life that worships God. We are set apart to live a life that is good and acceptable to God,

1 John 2:15-16: Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For everything that belongs to the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world.

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ If you have been redeemed and are free from the bondage of sin, than you have been set apart by God from this world. This means that we no longer lonve the things of this world but the things of God, this means that you no longer lust after the pleasures of this world but after the things of God.

Simply put- your life should look more like Jesus than the world.

Just like John prepared the peoples hearts to receive Jesus we must prepare our hearts for Jesus too?

and John’s message for Israel is the same message we must hear today.

“ I f we want the Savior in our life than we must repent of our sins.

YOU CANNOT HAVE SALVATION WITHOUT REPENTANCE of sin.

Jesus said in Luke 5:32 “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.””

5 different times In the book of Acts the Apostles called people to repent of their sins and turn to jesus for forginess

YOU CANNOT HAVE SALVATION WITHOUT REPENTANCE of sin.

You cannot accept Jesus as your savior without accepting him as your Lord.

What i mean by this is that Salvation comes when we repent of our sins and believe that Christ is the only sufficient way to pay the debt our sins carry

repentance is absolutely necessary in order to be saved, but it is also absolutely necessary for believers tif we are going to live a life that is set apart for God’s Glory.

If you are here this morning and you have never repented of your sins and asked Jesus to be your savior and Lord than you are lost- You are dead in your sins. I ask you today- to repent of your sins and be saved.

Believers the story of John the baptist is for us- He was et apart for a purpose - to proclaim the coming messiah to the world.

We too have been set apart for a purpose

and that is to look differently than the world

to live in a way that brings God the glory and not ourselves,

To live lives the point people to jesus and proclaims Him as the RISEN MESSIAH.

We accomplish this purpose when we make and equip followers of Jesus in this community.

I ask you today- to commit to following Jesus with all of your heart with all of your soul and with all of your mind.

Let’s together proclaim the message that JESUS IS THE RISEN MESSIAH!

and He alone can save mankind from their sin.

PRAY