We have covered individuals in the past, Let’s look at John the Baptist now.

We will find some interesting things about him and what Lord Jesus said about John the Baptist.  What he did, thoughts, actions, and character.

Is there anyone today, who is sounding the warning of sin to the leaders of the United States like John the Baptist did to the Jewish leadership.  I do not know of anyone today.  The group is very limited, The person would have to obey Jesus words and commands.  Important.

John the Baptist was of the most influential man in all of history.  John is a man who lived in the desert. Who ate locusts and wild honey, wore clothes from camel’s hair with a leather belt, and lived for one purpose alone, to point others to Jesus Christ.  A child of prophecy. Had a circle of disciples.

What type of man in the end times will be the one doing this, a very strong type of person.  Someone who is not afraid to speak up to the government leadership or their forces.  Preach repentance to the people.

John mission in life was to introduce Jesus as God’s promise Messiah, the hope for all mankind and ages.  John was to personally prepare the world for Christ’s arrival.  After Jesus came, John introduced Him to the world as the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. It was this introduction that officially recognized the authority and endorsement of Jesus before the Jewish crowds and leaders, some of whom believed on Jesus, and many of whom did not.

Luke 1:14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

Luke 1:15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

John was called a Nazirite. A Nazarite refrained from cutting their hair, drinking alcohol, touching dead bodies, and other things. There were at least 3 Nazirites in Scriptures who were dedicated from birth: Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist. 

Luke 1:16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

Luke 1:17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘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.”

We will cover this in more detail when we go through the Book of Luke.

Luke 1:76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

Luke 1:77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins,

Luke 7:28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”   {no. 1, greatest prophet of all time}

Remember, Jesus said, John was the greatest prophet ever born, there is no one greater than John the Baptist, think about it, that includes Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Malachi.

Matthew 3:1-2 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, (2) and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”    {Jesus preached this also}

Mark 1:1-3 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, (2) as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” (3) “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'” 

Quotes from Mal 3:1 and Isa 40:3.  {John preach what Jesus did}

In ancient times, a messenger was sent ahead to announce the coming of the king.

Mark 1:4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

This is characteristic of a man of God, John, only one saying these things to the leadership and people.  What was John purpose: to bring people to repentance of their sins in their lives. 

Notice, John was preaching in the wilderness, not big cities, like Jerusalem.   Not standing on street corners, but where people had to come to him, and notice John was not going door to door.

Mark 1:5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

People Confessed their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Believe the Holy Spirit brought people to John to confess their sins.  The people hear about John and came from all Israel to hear him.

Notice, people were baptized after confessing their sins, but did not receive the Holy Spirit. 

We talked about the Apostle Paul had to lay their hands on individuals to receive the Holy Spirit and some to be re-baptized and have the laying of hands to receive the Holy Spirit. {Acts 19:1-5}  {Acts 8:17}

We can visualize people making the trip to the wilderness, with people waiting in line to be baptized by John.  Did John disciples help out, Jesus disciples did.  Apollos Speaks Boldly in Ephesus, was there to hear John.

Acts 18:24-26 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 

(25)  This man had been instructed in the Way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.  (26)  So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Notice, he knew the Way of the Lord Jesus from teaching by John.

Mark 1:6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

Clothing shows John rejected the leadership of the Jews at the time and wore clothing appropriate and ate food from the wilderness. 

Remember, John was of the priesthood and had a very strong religious training.  We do not eat locusts today, it does not look good to me.

Leviticus 11:21-22 Yet these you may eat of every flying insect that creeps on all fours: those which have jointed legs above their feet with which to leap on the earth.  (22)  These you may eat: the locust after its kind, the destroying locust after its kind, the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind.

Interesting side view 

John 4:1-2 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (2) (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples),

Therefore, refers to

John 3:26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”   {were they jealous}

John 3:28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.‘

John 3:29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.

John 3:30 He {Jesus} must increase, but I {John} must decrease.

John not only had the force of Elijah’s personality, but dressed and had the same type clothing as Elijah did. 

 2 Kings 1:7-8 The king asked them, “What kind of man was it who came to meet you and told you this?”  (8)  They replied, “He had a garment of hair and had a leather belt around his waist.” The king said, “That was Elijah the Tishbite.”

2 Kings 1:14 See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!”

Zechariah 13:4 “And it shall be in that day that every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; they will not wear a robe of coarse hair to deceive.  

In the future, at the end time, false prophets.

Question, would any church leadership accept John, including the Church of God, today.  

John the Baptist, while in prison, questioned whether he had failed in naming Jesus as the Messiah.  Did John get down, depressed some, thinking he had failed in his mission. 

Do we get down, because of our circumstances.  Did this happen to the greatest man to ever live, John.  Not my opinion, but Lord Jesus words.  

Matthew 11:2-3 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples (3) to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”  {Luke 7:19-20}

Matthew 11:4-6 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:  (5)  The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.  (6)  Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”  {John needed encouragement, close to death}

Matthew 11:7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind. {Luke 7:23 blessed is he who is not offended because of Me}

John was steadfast in his preaching and message was clear and faith was strong, not wishie, washie like ministers today, who only want to give good feel, messages.

Matthew 11:8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.

Matthew 11:9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

Other prophets foresaw the Messiah, but John the Baptist beheld Him, and ushered in His kingdom: fulfilling {Mal 3:1}.

What blessing did John receive:  pointed Jesus out with his finger; declared that Jesus was come; saw Jesus himself; showed Jesus to others; saw Spirit of God descending on him; baptized Jesus;

Jesus gave John a preference to all the prophets, ordinance of baptism to perform.  Notice, no recorded miracles performed by John. 

Matthew 11:10 This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

John was more than a prophet in that he alone was the forerunner who announced the coming and presence of the Messiah, Lord Jesus.

So what did John really do:  Prepare Jesus way – That is, to prepare “the people;” to make them ready, by proper instructions, to receive Jesus, the Messiah.  Important, think about this again.

John was not as of the Jewish leadership, but was dress like, who, Elijah.

Matthew 11:11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

The violent take it by force means that violent people forcibly oppose the kingdom with their hostility against Lord Jesus. As Christ’s kingdom advances, so do the attacks against it, against believers in our Lord Jesus.  Especially from political leaders in governments and hate groups.

Matthew 23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

Matthew 11:13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.

The prophets and the law refers to the Old Testament, which looks forward the coming of Jesus, the Messiah.

Because John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus, the OT anticipated John’s ministry as well and closed with a new beginning for Lord Jesus and His Bride and Body. 

Matthew 11:14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.

Just wondering, if Israel had repented, but they did not, then the prophecy  has not to be fulfilled.

Malachi 4:5-6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.  (6)  And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.  {future reference}

John the Baptist fulfilled the following:

Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the LORD of hosts.

What are some of things John preached and promoted about Lord Jesus.

Mark 1:7  And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.

John had to have a ministry before Jesus to have His ministry.  John life tells us what the future will be like.

Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 

John was talking to the leading religious leaders of their day, not in their churches, but in the wilderness.  This is why John was so scathing of the religious leaders: he knew they only wanted to rinse off their soiled feet, not cleanse or repent of their unrighteous souls.

Jesus and John same attitude with Jews.

Jesus said the same thing about the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Matthew 12:34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Matthew 23:33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?

Matthew 3:8-9 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,  (9)  and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

If church leaders say you have to belong to our church to be saved, then this is the first clue, they are worshipping a false god.  God is not bound by church politics, but by the body of Christ, the bride.

John basically preaches a message of repentance, but not to condemn.  Telling the USA leaders their sins, to repent of.  John was looking for change, not to condemn people.

John preaches and warns that the fruits of repentance are necessary.

Luke 3:9-10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”  (10)  So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”

The people wanted to know what they are to do.  The people need a genuine change of mind results in a change of action in their lives, external change, or action for good to other people.  John teaching.

Luke 3:11-12 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”  (12)  Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”  {who does this sound like now} 

Luke 3:13-14 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”  (14)  Likewise, the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

Luke 3:16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Luke 3:19-20 But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, (20) also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.

Mark 6:20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

John was not afraid to tell the king he needed to repent.  John was put in prison by the ruler, King Herod.  John died for the message he preached by the political leaders of his time.

We are living in a time and have a government that religious freedom of speech will be overrule by politically correct speech. It is happening now.

Matthew 14:10 So he {Herod} sent and had John beheaded in prison.

Matthew 17:9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”

Why, because the people and the disciples expected a conquering king, not suffering servant. Do you think the disciples believe Jesus will be raised.

Matthew 17:10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

Matthew 17:11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.

The fact that Christ used the phrase will restore all things indicates that the prophecy still has a future fulfillment. Someone will come in the end time.

Matthew 17:12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.”

Matthew 17:13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

Jesus summary about John life

Matthew 21:32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

We will need a John the Baptist spirit at the end time.  This type of Prophets obeys God even when the government tells them to stop saying these things.

Prophets have said some very offensive things even we might not want to hear.  not politically correct.  they will say offensive things to the people but telling the truth.

Satan is now stirring up all the anti-religious group against the Believers of Jesus.  So, we {as a Nation and individuals} have been warned not to sin and repent of that sin. Will we see someone like John the Baptist or someone like the 2 witnesses, give the final warning against the nation.   We, as a group, are in for a bumpy ride for the next few years.