THE WORK OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

February 5, 2006 PM

MK 1:4-8

INTRO: Among the people of whom we read in the New Testament, few can be more colorful and exciting than John the Baptist. And in God's scheme of things none occupies a more unique place than does this strange, courageous man. So little is really known about him. He came, we know, from Godly parentage ... a descendent of Aaron (Lk 1:5,6). Beyond that, until he burst upon the scene in the wilderness near the Jordan River, we have no information. There has been all sorts of speculation about him ... much of it having to do with the Jewish sect of the Essenes. All of that speculation, however, is just that ... unfounded speculation. Mark's gospel begins with what he calls "the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ" and the preparatory work of John the Baptist.

I. HE PREPARED THE WAY OF THE LORD

A. Prophetic "voices" had been still for centuries

1. the last of them had been that of Malachi - of Israel's neglect of the holy

2. and his last words were of the coming of "Elijah the prophet" (4:5)

3. but the years passed ... and there was no prophet heard

B. Suddenly, this "Elijah like" prophet appears - and a religious fervor ensues

1. Mt 3:5 - "Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea..."

2. the land was abuzz with questions about his identity - Jno 1:19-23

3. he was none of the "identities" about whom they asked (there were anticipations based on the prophecies - Elijah, the prophet of whom Moses spoke, the Messiah)

C. He was the "preparer of the way" for the Savior!

1. he was like the heralds who went before the king - "the king is coming!"

2. his coming stirred the fires of inquiry, of religion, of anticipation

3. so, Jesus did not arrive in a vacuum of spiritual disinterest and lethargy

II. HE PREACHED A MESSAGE OF REPENTANCE

A. "Repentance" was a very needed message

1. priesthood was corrupt; truth was compromised; temple was den of thieves; the faith was divided into sects; spiritual had given way to ritual

2. Mt 23:25,26 - this so well described much of the religion of that day

3. doubtless, there were good, honest, faithful people - but John was calling for dramatic change of thought in view of Christ's coming

B. "Repentance" was an unpleasant message for some

1. Mt 3:7-10 - why was John so harsh with people coming to be baptized?

2. remember, the "for the remission of sins" stipulation - John knew that the  Pharisees & Sadducees were not coming in penitence for sin!

3. notice especially Mt 3:9 - descent from Abraham would not protect from God's judgment on sin ... yet, that was their hope, their confidence!

C. "Repentance" required sense & acknowledgment of sin

1. the majority of people came "confessing their sins"

2. "baptism" was something very new for Jews - and connecting it with remission of sins was "dramatic" (remember, sacrifices had been their place of forgiveness under the law)

3. but this was certainly part of John's preparatory for the work of Jesus

D. "Repentance" required change!!!!

1. Lk 3:7,8 - "Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance..."

2. notice Lk 3:10 - they needed to know practical nature of repentance - and John explained to them how these changes would affect their lives

3. Ezek 18:30b - not a new message ... but one too often unheeded

III. HE PROPHESIED OF CHRIST'S COMING

A. Remember, there were those who thought John might have been Messiah

1. but John rejected any such ideas ... never gave "wings" to them

2. rather, Mk 1:7 - what incredible humility

3. John saw himself as the lowliest of slaves ... not worthy to perform even the lowliest of household tasks! (see also Jno 3:25-30)

B. Return to Mt 3:11,12 - the coming One would come in hope and judgment

1. from Acts 1:5 we learn that baptism with the Holy Spirit was for the apostles and ushered in the gospel dispensation

2. the gospel was "hope" for those who believed

3. for those, however, who rejected the gospel message there remained only the fire of judgment of which John so profoundly spoke

CLOSE: We must remember, too, that as John preached there was a part of his message which must have enlivened the anticipation of the Jewish people: "the kingdom of heaven is at hand".

Cecil A. Hutson

05 February 2006