INTRODUCTION

1. There is more written in the New Testament about John the baptist than about any other person other than Jesus and perhaps Paul.

2. Because of this, it is evident that John's role is important for us to understand. Therefore, let us take two lessons to consider the life and the message of John the baptist.

    

THE BIRTH OF JOHN

1. John was born to aged parents and of a priestly lineage (Luke 1:5-7).

   1. His father, Zacharias, was a priest, and his mother, Elizabeth, was a descendant of Aaron.

   2. Both of his parents were righteous and blameless in God's sight.

   3. Before John, his parents had no children, and they were advanced in years.

2. John's birth was foretold by an angel to his father, Zacharias (Luke 1:8-25).

   1. While Zacharias was serving in the temple by burning incense, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and told him that Elizabeth would bear a son to him.

   2. Gabriel described this extraordinary son and his mission.

      1. His name would be John, and he would be great in the sight of the Lord.

      2. He would drink no alcohol, and he would be filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb.

      3. He would be a forerunner of the Lord with the spirit and the power of Elijah to turn the sons of Israel back to the Lord and the fathers back to their children (Mal. 4:5-6).

   3. When Zacharias did not believe Gabriel, his ability to speak was taken away.

      1. Zacharias did not believe because of his and Elizabeth's ages.

      2. Therefore, Gabriel said that Zacharias would be silent until these events occurred.

      3. When Zacharias came out of the temple, he was unable to speak. He made signs to the people, and they realized that he had seen a vision.

   4. In the days that followed, Elizabeth conceived just as Gabriel had foretold.

3. Even before John was born, he expressed joy because of Jesus, the Son of God (Luke 1:39-44).

   1. After Mary had conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit, she came to visit Elizabeth while she was still carrying John in her womb.

   2. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, John leaped in her womb. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth said that John had leaped for joy.

4. From the time of his birth, it was widely known that the Lord was with John (Luke 1:57-80).

   1. Eight days after John's birth, he was taken to be circumcised. Zacharias was still unable to speak.

   2. When Elizabeth said that his name was John, their relatives and neighbors objected.  They thought he should be named after his father.

   3. When Zacharias was asked about the name, he wrote on a tablet, "His name is John."  Immediately, his tongue was loosed, and he spoke in praise of God.

   4. These events became widely known throughout the hill country of Judea so that people were asking in fear, "What then will this child turn out to be?"

       

THE LIFE OF JOHN

1. John was an exceptionally unusual man.

   1. By lineage, John would have become a priest like his father, but he was very unlike the priests.

   2. He grew strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts and the wilderness all of his life (Luke 1:80).

   3. For clothing, he wore a garment of camel's hair with a leather belt about his waist (Matt. 3:4; Mark 1:6).

   4. For food, he ate locusts and wild honey (Matt. 3:4; Mark 1:6). As Gabriel foretold, he drank no alcohol, and some have surmised that he was under the Nazirite vow (Luke 1:15; Num. 6:2-3).

   5. Just as Gabriel foretold, John was a modern Elijah (Luke 1:17).

      1. God foretold Israel through Malachi, "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD" (Mal. 4:5).

      2. Many were anticipating Elijah's coming in the first century, and some thought that Jesus was Elijah (Matt. 16:14; 17:10; Mark 6:15; 8:28; 9:11; Luke 9:8, 19).

      3. Jesus confirmed that John was the true fulfillment of Malachi's prophecy concerning Elijah (Matt. 11:14; 17:10-13; Mark 9:11-13).

      4. Even John's clothing resembled Elijah's (2Ki. 1:8).

      5. John himself denied that he was literally Elijah, but this was not a denial of fulfilling the prophecy concerning Elijah (John 1:19-23).

   6. Consider Christ's testimony about John after John's disciples had come asking whether He was "the Expected One" (Matt. 11:7-19; Luke 7:24-35).

      1. Jesus said that John was not a "reed shaken by the wind" or a "man dressed in soft clothing" living in a palace.  Instead, he was a rugged man who lived in the wilderness.  As Jesus spoke these words, John was in prison (Matt. 11:2).

      2. Primarily, Jesus said that John was a prophet, who was rejected by his generation just as Jesus was also rejected by that generation.

2. John carried out his work in the wilderness of Judea where he lived.

   1. He did not go to Jerusalem, but Jerusalem went to him (Matt. 3:5; Mark 1:5).

      1. John's influence was extraordinary considering his lifestyle and the fact that he did not perform miracles.  People came to him just to hear his message, confess their sins, and be baptized by him.

      2. Even the Pharisees, Sadducees, and lawyers went to him, although they did not obey his message (Matt. 3:7-12; Luke 7:30; John 1:24).

   2. He preached in the wilderness of Judea at Bethany beyond the Jordan, and he baptized his hearers in the Jordan River (Matt. 3:1, 6; John 1:28).

   3. Even Jesus came to John to be baptized (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:31-34).

      1. John initially resisted, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" However, Jesus said, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."

      2. When John baptized Jesus, John saw the Holy Spirit descend as a dove upon Jesus and heard the voice of the Father declare that this was His Son.

          

THE DEATH OF JOHN

1. Herod had John imprisoned, but he was afraid to put John to death (Matt. 14:3-5; Mark 6:17-20; Luke 3:19-20).

   1. John had told King Herod (Antipas) that it was unlawful for him to have Herodias, the wife of his brother (Herod) Philip.  John also reproved Herod for all of his other wicked deeds.

   2. Because of this, Herod had John imprisoned.  However, he did not kill John because John was holy and righteous and the people regarded him as a prophet.  He also enjoyed listening to John.

2. Eventually, Herod had John executed because of a foolish oath he made (Matt. 14:6-12; Mark 6:21-29).

   1. When Herod gave a banquet for his noblemen on his birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for him.  This pleased Herod, so he granted her anything she wished up to half of his kingdom.

   2. By the direction of Herodias, the daughter asked for John's head on a platter.  Herod did not want to grant the wish, but he was compelled because he had made the oath before his dinner guests.

   3. John's head was severed from his body by an executioner. His head was brought to the girl, who gave it to her mother.  His body was taken by his disciples and buried.

   4. When Jesus heard of John's death, He withdrew to a lonely place by Himself (Matt. 14:13).

3. Later, when Herod heard about Jesus, he thought John had risen from the dead (Matt. 14:1-2; Mark 6:14-16; Luke 9:7-9).

   1. Herod's conscience was smitten because he knew he was guilty of killing a righteous man.

   2. Herod multiplied his guilt later when he participated in the injustice in the execution of Jesus (Luke 23:8-12).

       

CONCLUSION

1. The events of John's life are remarkable, and Jesus said of him, "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the baptist!" (Matt. 11:11).

2. However, the events that were ushered in by John's message were even greater, for Jesus also said, "Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (Matt. 11:11).

3. In the next lesson, we will continue our study of John the Baptist by considering the message of his preaching.