JOHN THE BAPTIST–JOHN 1:6-8, 15-34–LESSON 2
Introduction:
John the Baptist was born 6 months before Jesus and was Jesus’ cousin. John was a man sent by God on a very special mission. His father was a Jewish priest.
His birth and mission were a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
I. WHO WAS JOHN THE BAPTIST?
A. THE MAN, v. 6, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.”
1. John was born of godly parents
a. His father, Zacharias, was priest of Aaron’s lineage, Luke 1:5, “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.”
b. His mother was a cousin to Mary, the mother of Jesus, Luke 1:36, “And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.”
2. John’s birth was announced by an angel, Luke 1:11-13.
a. John’s parents were old.
b. The angel told Zacharias to call his son “John.”
B. THE MISSION OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.
1. The title “Baptist” means “baptizer.”
2. John’s youth was spent in the dessert between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, Luke 1:80, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.”
a. There he was educated.
b. He was full of the Holy Spirit from his birth, Luke 1:15, “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.”
3. His purpose, Luke 1:16-17.
a. To turn the people to God, v. 16, “And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.”
b. To go before the Christ, v. 17, “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
c. To identify Jesus as the Christ, John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
C. THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
1. The material prepared.
a. The men who were chosen to be Apostles, Luke 6:12-16.
b. Many of the members of the Church in Jerusalem were disciples of John the Baptist, Acts 1:21-22, “Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.”
2. John’s ministry terminated with his death.
a. From the beginning of the ministry of Jesus, John’s ministry began to diminish John 3:26-36.
1) John pointed his disciples to Jesus, vs. 28-30, “Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29-He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 30-He must increase, but I must decrease.”
2) The Father has put all things into the hands of the Son, vs. 35-36, “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36-He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
b. John died at the hands of King Herod, Luke 3:19-20, “But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, 20-Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.” Matthew 14:3-12.
CONCLUSION:
John the Baptist was a great man who came in the spirit of Elias (Elijah), Matthew 11:14, “And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.”
He was not the Christ, but was sent before Him. He said of himself, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.” (John 3:23).
LESSON 3 TO FOLLOW: