JOHN THE BAPTIST

1) One of the most powerful preachers of all time was John the Baptist.

2) This morning we want to look at some information about John and his life:

a) We begin with his family.

b) As far as John’s parents, we know he was a man of priestly descent.

c) Elizabaeth, his mother, was a daughter of Aaron (Lk. 1:5).

d) His father (Zacharias) was a priest (same verse).

e) John’s parents were both “blameless” before God (Lk. 1:6).

3) As children grow up they may or may not give too much thought to who their parents are.

4) Based upon Lk. 1:6, we find that God takes notice of those who are adults.

5) John’s parents were good servants of God; they were not sinless, but they strove to please God.

6) Thinking about John and his parents reminds us of this thought:

7) Any child who grows up in a home where one parent is a Christian is blessed.

8) To grow up in a household where both parents are Christians is literally twice as good.

9) It was from a quality home that a great man of God was produced.

10) Today this still happens on a fairly regular basis.

a) We still have parents who love God and seek to do His will.

b) As children are reared in these homes, they can go on to do great things in the kingdom of God.

c) Good parental influence in the home, especially from Christian parents, makes a huge difference.

11) John and Jesus were born about the same time; John was about 6 months older than Jesus.

12) A lot of people were enthused about John’s coming into the world.

13) Earlier we heard Lk. 1:14-16 read. Many “rejoiced” at John’s birth.

14) People were thinking John would be great and do many important things.

15) This was a religious family and people knew it.

a) John’s parents did not have the attitude we sometimes see today

b) There are cases where a husband and wife have a baby and think, “we need to start worshipping.”

c) John’s family had some good habits formed before he came along.

d) In this marriage there was already a bond that glued the family together.

16) In life there are a lot of things that can bring or keep members together.

17) Family members may all share the same desire for a certain activity.

18) Some families have personalities that help bind them together.

19) One bond that has stood the test of time is religion, especially the religion from God.

20) Ideally single people will develop a strong faith before they marry.

21) If this doesn’t get done, hopefully a faith is created soon after marriage.

22) If this does not happen, there is a chance to right things before or right after a child is born.

23) Earlier is better, and the important of religious influence is seen in John’s life.

24) A good and Godly home was the place where Jesus’ forerunner came from.

a) Today we can and must continue to extend the right parental influence to our young.

b) This can be done in many ways.

c) We have Bible classes twice a week for all ages; this is a resource that needs to be used.

d) As children grow up they are taught some basic routines.

e) Most children in this country are taught to brush their teeth and comb their hair.

f) Bathing is generally a practice that is taught. All kinds of habits are formed.

g) Our attitude towards Bible class, worship and service to God should be “this is a routine.”

h) We show our children this is a regular part of life and then we tell them why.

i) If we teach a class, we need to remember the influence we are extending to and over others.

j) Teachers help mold others to become strong Christians later in life.

k) A local congregation is a team effort to make a group of God’s people strong.

l) John got a good start in a good home.

m) John influenced and changed many, many people during his lifetime.

n) For the next generation of Christians to be faithful and strong, we need to start in the home.

HAVING NOTICED SOME THINGS ABOUT JOHN’S BACKGROUND AND HOME LIFE, LET’S TURN OUR ATTENTION TO HIS MINISTRY.

1) If we look at the gospels we have two locations mentioned concerning John’s work.

2) He did some evangelistic activity in Bethany (Jn. 1:28).

3) He was also working in Aenon near Salim (Jn. 3:23).

4) We cannot identify where these exact locations are; they were in the wildness of southern Judea.

5) We know the general location of John’s work and we know what he did.

6) He began to preach.

a) The Jews were familiar with religious teaching and teachers.

b) They had the Old Testament Scriptures and they had read from the prophets.

c) They had their rabbis, some of whom were legendary.

d) John showed up for work and he was in a class by himself.

e) Mt. 3:4 describes this prophet’s dress and mannerisms – READ.

f) John sounds similar to Elijah, and an angel said this fulfilled prophecy (Lk. 1:17).

g) Back in the Old Testament, Elijah was a prophet of national judgment.

h) John began to proclaim the time for the Messianic age had come.

i) Verse 2 of Mt. 3 – READ.

j) This part of the preaching may not sound too judgmental; notice verse 12 –READ.

7) John did not pull any punches as he preached– verses 7-9 of Mt. 3 – READ.

a) John’s style and message would be considered hate speech in our day and time.

b) Many would look at a preacher like John and say he is not welcome in America.

c) John was not hateful. He was a man of God who presented facts.

d) Today we often hear (even from religious people) that preaching needs to be toned down.

e) Avoid controversy; speak “smooth things” to the people. Let people come in sad and go out happy.

f) Those who come to worship want to leave feeling good about themselves.

g) We also find a second common viewpoint in the world – the other extreme.

8) There are those who believe God wants people to feel badly about themselves.

9) Both extremes are wrong. God wants people to feel good, but how does the good feeling come?

10) The answer is found in the third chapter of Matthew –people are to change.

11) John said if lives were not altered, there would be destruction (verse 10).

12) If the people altered their lives, blessings would come and they would feel good.

13) In the religious world and in the church, we have a new set of challenges on our hands.

a) There are a growing number of people who are hesitant to take a bold stand on what the Bible says.

b) God’s word is not preached, or the presentation of the word is weakened to please people.

c) We readily admit that the Scriptures can be presented in a way that is hateful.

d) It is possible for a preacher to stand up with a Bible and berate people.

e) The best tools in life can be misused.

f) I have seen this done with the Scriptures, and it is a sad thing to experience.

g) John was not telling people off in his preaching.

h) He spoke the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).

i) A good illustration of John’s preaching the truth in love comes a little later in Matthew.

j) By the time of Mt. 14, John has been put to death.

k) Matthew records the reasons behind John’s death.

l) A big factor in John’s death was his teaching concerning two people who had married.

m) Mt. 14:4 – READ.

14) Herod Antipas had married his brother’s wife and this relationship was sinful.

15) John told this couple their marriage was contrary to God’s will.

a) Just like now, this information was not received too well.

b) In our day and time, John and his preaching would be called unkind, unloving and even hateful.

c) No matter how this passage is read, hate is not found in the account.

d) If we accept the definition for hate speech in the world, it means we cannot speak the truth.

e) Anytime someone doesn’t care for what we try to say someone screams “hate speech.”

f) Another method to try and silence the gospel is “discrimination.”

g) If we speak about a certain practice from a certain group, prejudice is alleged.

h) John’s life says that we may live in a difficult world but we need to speak the truth.

i) We not only need to speak up for what is right, we need to do it with regularity.

j) When John’s teaching involving the marriage matter is described, the imperfect tense is used.

k) More than once John talked about Herod’s unlawful marriage.

l) Earlier we noted how John’s parents were good examples to those who knew them.

m) One of the ways parents can be good examples is to stand for what is right.

n) Even when it is not popular or easy, this is the example we must leave for our children.

o) Notice too that the nature of this part of John’s preaching was “moral.”

p) John preached on morality.

q) Other moral teachings from John’s life are found in Lk. 3:11.

r) John said extortion was wrong; failing to share was wrong; greed was wrong.

s) A lot of people in the world want to talk about morals and values.

t) What is right and what is wrong are common topics each day in America.

u) Politicians at the present time often try to base some of their campaign around this topic.

v) Morals are our issue; they come from God and we have the final word on this subject.

16) Another lesson from John’s life is that his influence lived on after death.

17) John was a man who lost his head (literally, Mt. 14:10).

18) Thought John had died by the time of Mt. 14, later chapters in Matthew refer to him.

19) Today, years after John’s death, there is still being exercised through John.

20) Heb. 11:4 says Able (as in Cain and Able) is dead but he continues to speak.

21) God reminds us that our influence can continue after death.

22) If this worked for Able and John the Baptist, what about us?

a) A lot of parents would like their children to learn some things from them.

b) Many parents would like to continue their influence their children as the years pass.

c) I spoke with a man last Tuesday who has a daughter in college.

d) He said she doesn’t listen to very much that he tries to tell her.

e) I didn’t ask, but I didn’t get the impression this is a very religious household.

f) There is no guarantee that children will listen to their parents.

g) Even the best Christian parents sometimes have difficulty in this area.

h) One God given tool to help in this regard is the religious system God has given.

i) Many of us have heard someone say, “My father taught me” or “I am this way because of mom.”

j) If mom or dad taught truths from the Bible, this can last for many generations.

k) John’s parents were godly people and he followed in their footsteps.

23) Another key lesson from John’s life is found in the word “baptism.”

24) John baptized people. He baptized a lot of people.

25) People were baptized in a river (Mt. 3:6).

26) A time came after the resurrection when people were baptized with John’s baptism (Acts 19:1-6).

27) These later people were told about the Lord instead of John and they were dipped again.

28) John’s baptism was good for a certain period of time; it is no longer valid.

29) John’s work shows us that being immersed was not enough. Baptism is to be for the right reason.

a) I have spoken with people who said, “I was baptized.”

b) That is the wrong question to ask.

c) Those in Acts 19 were baptized, but the baptism was not the one God wanted.

d) Have we been baptized as the Bible says?

e) Paul reminded the Ephesians (Eph. 4:4-5) about their being only baptism.

f) This is the baptism into Christ, into the church He built, for the forgiveness of sins?

g) Bible baptism means, “I am lost before being immersed.”

h) “Now that I have been immersed, I am saved.”

i) Baptism is the line that separates the condemned from the saved.

j) It is the final step in the process that brings us back to God.

k) Just as John preached it, so preachers of the gospel preach it; only now it is the baptism of Christ.

30) John is dead but his life still speaks to us.

31) Are we listening?