John the Baptist
Mat 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
He proclaimed the message of repentance, and a warning that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. No person can come to heaven with sins unforgiven.
John was a cousin to Jesus, his mother Elizabeth was a kin to Mary. Mary visited Elizabeth when Elizabeth was six months pregnant with John the Baptist.
Luke 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
Luke 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
Luke 1:43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Luke 1:44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
John's father was Zacharias, a priest who was visited by an angel with a message concerning his son.
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.
Luke 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
Luke 1:17 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.
For those who say abortion is for something not yet human, remember that John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost within his mother's womb. He would prepare the way for the Lord Jesus, Baptizing with water for repentance of sin, turning many from sin and towards the coming Messiah.
Mat 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Another fulfilled prophecy.
Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isa 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
Isa 40:5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Mat 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
John the Baptist followed in the path and spirit of the prophet Elijah of old, boldly proclaiming the message of God to Israel.
2 Ki 1:6 And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.
2 Ki 1:7 And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?
2 Ki 1:8 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.
Mat 3:5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
Mat 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
John's baptism, immersion in water, did not remove sins, his was a baptism of confession of sins and repentance.
Without the knowledge of sin, their is no repentance.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
The One who has power to forgive sins was coming, Jesus the Messiah. Repentance is the confession and turning away from sins and the turning to God.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
John came to stir up the hearts of the people so that they would see their need for the one who could take away their sins. There is no one righteous apart from Jesus.
The Religious
Mat 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
John was the prophet of God. It was revealed to him from heaven the hearts of men and he was no respecter of persons. He spoke forth the message of repentence, with boldness.
Vipers, who has warned you to flee the wrath to come? You, who do outward things to look righteous before men, will you be baptized for show as well?
Mat 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Repentance and baptism are not rituals with magic powers. Nor are these things empty outward observances of the law. The law and the ministry of John are holy, meant to change hearts and behavior. Do not pretend, but show a changed life through your fruits, your good works. As James wrote in his epistle;
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
James 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Mat 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Mat 3:10 And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Jesus was criticized by these same people. He told them the truth;
John 8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
John 8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
John 8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
John 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
It was the religious who opposed the Son of God. They followed the shadows not the light. Their hearts showed that they served satan and not God. We must be careful to not pretend to be religious, with our heart serving satan. We may fool man, but we cannot fool God and those who are of his spirit. A tree is known by its fruit just as a person is known by their works. Submit yourself completely to our Lord. Repent and receive Jesus.
Baptism with the Holy Ghost
Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
John's baptism was of water unto repentance, but there was one greater coming. John was not even worthy to carry his sandals, and certainly not worthy to walk in them. Jesus was God's son in man. No one could take his place and no one but him was without sins.
He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, this is the baptism of Jesus. A new life with the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. It is God that converts a sinner and makes him a child of God.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
and with fire:
The fire of God burns away impurities, sins and unacceptable works, and it also refines that which is pure, as fine gold.
John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
1 Pet 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire
It is better to have the Lord burn off the impurities of our hearts, then to burn in hell for eternity. Have your way Lord, make me acceptable in your sight.
See how the Holy Ghost and fire were literally poured out at the day of Pentecost;
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit, here used to praise God in all the languages present. This is not the only evidence of the presence of the Holy Ghost. I look for a heart that wants to learn more of God's word and to serve him. This is a repentant heart, touched by God.
Phil 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
The Triune God
Mat 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
Mat 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
Jesus had no sins, but all others have sins. God came down and met with man, in Jesus. Those who were of God Knew who Jesus was.
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Mat 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Suffer it, allow it to be done to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus kept all the law's of God perfectly and he was our example to follow. Unlike the Scribes and Pharisees, he led by example. Not putting on us anything that he has not already done before. He also continues with us, helping us. As he spoke;
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
All three members of the Triune God, or the Trinity were together at the baptism of Jesus. Some say that baptism hasn't any special power, it is a sign of the new covenant; others say it is the power of God. Yet, at the baptism of Jesus we see the sign of the eternal Godhead: God the Father speaking His approval of His Son. God, the Son, in man, the blessed savior. Finally the Holy Spirit, the power of God for service. The three persons of the Eternal God, all one but sent for our salvation and to bring a people to an eternal inheritance. God has revealed himself through the law and the prophets. The prophets told of a coming Messiah, Jesus from God. The prophets also spoke of the Holy Spirit being poured out in the last days. The life of Jesus, was the beginning of the last days. Emmanuel, God is with us.
John 3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
John 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
John 3:36 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.
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