The Book of John (Chapter 1- Part 2)

II. Initial Ministry of Christ

A. Proclamation of the Son by John the Baptist (v. 19-34)

Who is John the Baptist?

Christ’s Cousin (See Luke 1:35-43, 59-63, 76)

The Prophet

Extremely Faithful Follower (Matt. 11:11)

Pharisees asked the same question. Who did they think he might have been?

Christ

Elijah

The Prophet (See Deut. 18:15-19, as well as Acts 3:22)

Why were these questions so important? Who sent the Jews and what made this John worth investigating?

**To know the answers to these questions, follow up on the other gospel accounts. Mark 1:1-8, Matthew 3:1-17, Luke 3:1-22)

The crowds were large (Matt. 3:1)

His message was unique (Mark 1:4, Matt. 3:6-8)

“repent or face the coming judgment”

Why did John the Baptist baptize?

What was John’s primary purpose? And what does that mean?

“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord.” Foretold in Mal. 3:1 and Is. 40:3.

“Make straight the path of the Lord” (v. 23)

God selected John to be His special ambassador to proclaim His own coming.

“In the original context of Is. 40:3, the prophet heard a voice calling for the leveling of a path. This call was a prophetic picture that foreshadowed the final and greatest return of Israel to their God from spiritual darkness and alienation through the spiritual redemption accomplished by the Messiah.”

“I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God” (v. 34)

What applications can we make to our lives through this account?