The Forerunner of Christ Lesson Four – Tell me the Story of Jesus!

The OT prophets had been silent for 400 years. The Romans were oppressing the Jews. Philosophy had failed to answer life’s greatest questions, and was largely atheistic. The heathen religions had not satisfied man’s deepest longings. Emperor worship was accompanied by the vilest of deeds. Men engaged in unspeakable debauchery for entertainment. Slavery was rampant with its attendant cruelty. Justice and charity had deeply disappeared. The Jewish religion had become mere ritualism, the husk without the kernel. On the other hand, Rome had built an elaborate highway system; this was used for the rapid speed of the gospel. Too, koine Greek was spoken worldwide. Thus, the time for the Messiah’s arrival had come. Kings and other dignitaries were preannounced by a herald as they entered the city. Even so, John the Baptist was divinely chosen (John 1:6) to be the herald, forerunner of the Messiah (Matthew 3:3; 11:10; Mark 1:2-3; Luke 1:16-17, 76; 3:4-6). Functioning as such, he is called “the voice” (Luke 3:4; John 1:23). “the prophet” (Luke 1:76; 7:28; 20:6; Matthew 11:9), the “messenger” (Luke 7:27)

Questions If you were writing a letter, describing the world in which we live today, to someone 1000 years from now, how would you describe it?

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2. As a parent, what emotions might you be feeling upon learning about the Lord’s wonderful plans for your only son?

“I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.” – Luke 1:19

The Birth of John the Baptist Parents (Luke 1:5-7) – Priestly background. High character individuals.

Announcement of John’s birth (Luke 1:7-17) Gabriel announced his birth to Zechariah while he was administering his priestly duties. Gabriel announced that he would be a Nazarite (1:15; Jud 13:3-5; Numbers 6:2-4), Spirit-filled and would be the forerunner of the Messiah (Matt. 11:14).

Reaction of Zachariah (Luke 1:18-25) Displayed unbelief and was struck

dumb till the birth of John when he said, “His name is John” (1:57-66) displaying their obedience to Gabriel’s message.

Meaning of his name: John mean’s “Jehovah’s gift” or “God is gracious”.

Zachariah’s prophecy (Luke 1:67-80) John is part of God’s overall scheme

of redemption in bringing to pass the Abrahamic seed promise (Gen 22:18) which was realized in Christ and he will be the “Dayspring’s” forerunner.

The Mission of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-5; Mark 1:1-3; Luke 3:1-6)

• Isaiah 43:3-4 and Malachi 3:1 state the mission of John was to prepare the way of the Lord.

• John wore the raiment of a prophet (1 Kings 1:8; Zechariah 13:4). He ate locust (Leviticus 11:22) and honey (Exodus 3:8, 17; 12:5). He preached in the wilderness.

• The means by which his mission was to be accomplished was mainly through preaching repentance and the kingdom; and by baptizing the penitents.

• We know he was successful given in these words: “Jerusalem, and all Judea and all the region around Jordan went out to him” (Mathew 3:5. Incidentally, his crowds were not due to his miracles (John 10:41).

• In Luke 3:1-3, Luke gives us the time, politically and religiously, when John began his ministry.

The Meaning of Repentance The word “repent” in Matthew

3:2 translates the Greek word metanoeite. The term conveys the idea of changing one’s mind. In a religious sense, it signifies a turnabout in attitude toward God and life’s priorities.

Repentance is part of the conversion process. Through the working of the Holy Spirit, sinners come to the point at which they are ready to turn away from sin and place their trust in Christ for salvation.

John’s Baptism (Matthew 3:5-6)

John’s baptism was not a Christian baptism (See Acts 19:1-7), but rather baptism unto repentance. His baptism was from heaven (Matthew 21:25-27) for two purposes: (1) to introduce Christ to the nation (John 1:31) and (2) to prepare their hearts for the coming of the King. His baptism was from heaven (Mt. 21:25). It was in water (Mt. 3:11) by immersion (Mark 1:1-4) and was based on faith (Acts 19:4) repentance (Mt. 3:11) and on a confession of sin (Mt. 3:6). It was for remission of sins {in view of the soon-to-be shed blood of Christ (Mt. 26:28). Those who did not submit to John’s baptism rejected the counsel of God (Luke 7:30). NOTE: Those whom he baptized, being the prepared material, were set into the church on the day of Pentecost. To illustrate, the stones were prepared at the quarry and then set into Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6:7). In like manner [the church being the temple of God, 1 Cor. 3:16-17], those whom John baptized constituted the prepared material for the church. No temple stone had to be worked over; nor, did those whom John baptized have to be re-baptized. Otherwise, this suggests that John’s mission was a failure and that his work had to be redone. Now, concerning those of whom we read in Acts 17:1-7, no doubt they had been baptized with the baptism of John after it had ceased to be valid (Acts 19:4).

The Preaching of John

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• He preached repentance (Mt. 3:3,8; Mk. 1:4; Luke 3:3,8)

• He preached the kingdom (Mt. 3:2; 16:18-19).

• He preached baptism for the remission of sins (Mk. 1:4; Luke 3:3).

• He preached the Christ (Mt. 3:11-12; Mk. 1:7-8; Luke 3:16; John 1:6-8, 15-39; 3:25-36).

• He preached right living (Mt. 14:1-12; Luke 3:10-14).

• He preached the judgment (Mt. 3:7, 10-12; Luke 3:9, 16-17) and “with many other exhortations he preached to the people” (Luke 3:18).

Additional Gleanings 1. Zachariah and Elizabeth constitute a model

for family piety (Luke 1:5-6, 13, 60, 63). They were active in God’s service (Luke 1:8), prayerful (Luke 1:13), united as husband and wife in the service and devotion to God (Luke 1:6), obedient (Luke 1:6, 60), blameless (Luke 1:6) and abided by the law (Luke 1:59).

2. We must realize that every child has potential; and, to a great extent, the responsibility for such is on the shoulder of the parents (Luke 1:66). If you ask the question, “What kind of child will this be?” to a Jew, the was answer, “He will be a Jew all of his life.” As a Catholic the same question and get the same type answer. As a Christian and they will respond, “Only the

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future will tell.” Why? We must make sure that our repentance is genuine (Mt. 3:8; Luke 3:8). The fruits of repentance are restitution and reformation (Like 19:8). A person who has stolen a thousand dollars cannot be baptized and keep the one thousand dollars.

3. Christ must be exalted in our preaching and teaching (John 1:6-8; 3:30; 5:31-35). Such characterized apostolic preaching (Acts 8:5, 35; 1 Corinthians 1:23; 2:2).

4. The church was NOT established in the days of John the Baptist or prior thereto. John preached that the kingdom was “at hand” (Mt. 3:2). The church was not established until the day of Pentecost (Mk 9:1; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4, 47). Accordingly, prior to Pentecost, the church was spoke of as being in the future (Isaiah 2:1-4; Dan 2:44; Mt 3:2, 4:17; 10:7; Luke 10:9; 19:11; Mk. 15:43; Luke 23:42), and after Pentecost, the kingdom or church (Mt. 16:18-19) is spoken of as having already been established (Acts 2:47; 8:1; Romans 16:16; 1 Cor. 1:2; Col 1:13-14; Hebrews 12:22-28; Rev. 1:9). Prior to that time, in the days of John’s and Christ’s personal ministries, it is spoken of as existent in the state of preparation. (Mt. 11:12; Luke 17:20-21).

John called for a change in conduct. He did not

hesitate to discuss the wrath of God and hell.