Cooperation not Competition

(Matt. 3:1-12)

(Mark 1:1-8)

(Luke 3:1-20)

Jesus himself declared John the Baptist as one of the greatest men who ever lived (Matt. 11:11). John was Jesus’ forerunner , a prophet sent ahead of Him to prepare the way for His ministry. He went ahead of Jesus to prepare people for his arrival. (Luke 3:4-6).

The relationship between John and Jesus was worth noting. Mark 1:1 seems to be the introduction to his gospel. It seems as though he identified John’s ministry as the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Their ministries were linked. They were one ministry. John’s ministry marked the beginning of Jesus’ ministry ; it’s preparation phase.

In ancient times, when a king intended to visit a place, he would often send messengers ahead to prepare the way for his visit. They prepared in two ways. 1) They would physically prepare the road so that he could travel with minimum difficulty. Second, heralds would go ahead of him into the cities he planned to visit to prepare the people for his arrival. God sent John as a herald to announce the coming of the King. As a King’s servant would clear the roads, to make his journey smooth, so J John prepared “the way” for Jesus’s ministry by turning many hearts back to God. (Luke 1:16-17).

It was John’s job to prepare the nation for the Messiah.

John and Jesus were certainly not in competition with each other. They were on the same page working towards the same goal. At times ministries struggle with this principle. In most cases, if ministries are preaching the true Gospel of Christ, they must realize they are on the same team. Sure there may be differences but reality is, we are trying to achieve the same goal. We need a spirit of Cooperation rather than competition.

Luke 3:1-2 may seem slightly boring, but they help us place the time in which John is conducting his ministry. Some have suggested that after careful study of the first two verse of chapter 3 we can place the start of John’s ministry at AD 28 while Jesus’s earthly ministry in A.D. 29.

Characteristics of John’s message:

Although John is known for baptizing converts, his real focus was preaching an urgent message. This urgent message contained the fact the the “kingdom is at hand”. This is to say that the Messiah has arrived! (Luk. 3:3)

John explains to the crowd that the messianic age would bring God’s judgment on the wicked and blessing on the righteous. (Luke 3:7).

John is preaching that repentenance is a required response to the Kingdom being at hand. (Luke 3:3).

John’s emphasis on repentance was both strong and practical. John knew that the action of baptizing had no real value in itself. Baptism symbolizes repentance and a change of direction. A declaration of different intentions. (Luke 3:7-8).

When asked, what God expected out of them, John explained that they needed to live in a manner worthy of repentance. (Luke 3:10-14). The fruits of repentance is what John was trying to convey as the true meaning of baptism. It is clear that John’s understanding of Baptism was simply a public act of confession. Baptism itself does not produce forgiveness or grant access into the blessings of the coming Kingdom. Real repentance leads to forgiveness.

Romans 10:9 NKJV

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

“This confession must be that Jesus is Lord, because Lord means “Diety” therefore what we are we actually saying when we confess Jesus as Lord? We are ascribing Him to two things- ownership and diety.” Luke 5:32

Luke 5:32 NKJV

32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

6. John 1:6-8 “6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.”

John 1:19-34 “19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. 27 It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, whe…”

John 3:22-36 “22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. 24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison. 25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” 27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. …”

John preached condemnation vs 7.

John Preached repentance vs. 8

John Preached against pride vs. 8

John preached judgement vs.9

john preached love and care for others vs.10-14

John preached the Messiah is coming! vs15-17

John preached various truths vs 18

John preached against sin in high place 19-20