New Testament Survey: the Gospels

NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY: THE GOSPELS

LECTURE 9

John the Baptist

Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Matt 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Luke 3:2b the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
The summary from these verses is: John was a man sent from God; God’s word came unto him while in the wilderness;
John was preaching in the wilderness of Judea the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins and that the kingdom of heaven was at hand.
It is important to note that John the Baptist was sent by God the Father; he had authority from God Almighty for what he was sent to do. He was sent to preach the gospel and to baptize.
Repentance was definitely part of his message; it was coupled with the gospel. Baptism has everything to do with repentance; it truly pictures it; and, the baptizee needs to have repented...this is automatic if he just got saved, but is a little more difficult if months or even years after salvation.
The word ‘for’ here means ‘because of’ not ‘in order to’…thus, it doesn’t state that we are baptized to get remission of sins, it is because we have received remission of sins!
The kingdom of God was ‘at hand’ because one could directly enter into it upon being ‘born again’.
Matt 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.
Luke 3:4-6 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet , saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

From Is 40:3,4. This prophecy followed the ‘horizon principle’: first part (prepare) fulfilled with Jesus’ first coming, and the second part (brought low) to be fulfilled at His second coming. At the end of the Tribulation verse 5 and 6 will come true.

John was preparing suitable members for the church which Jesus Christ would soon begin: preached the gospel of the kingdom and they were saved, and then scripturally baptized them; then Jesus would come and call them into His church.

Mark 1:5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
Matt 3:5-6 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

The people of the land of Judaea, including Jerusalem, came and were baptized in Jordan by John. John was preaching of repentance that was involved with salvation and the relationship that it has with baptism. Baptism and repentance are inseparable. Should a church investigate whether someone is truly repentant prior to baptizing them?

Interestingly, these ‘converts’ publicly confessed their sins prior to being baptized. Should we practice the same today?

Mark 1:6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins ; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
Matt 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 didn’t look like a ‘Tarzan’ here; he was properly covered. Camel hair can be a very nice, expensive fabric.
It is possible that this honey was date honey crushed from dates, and that the flour for his bread came from grinding the bean of the locust tree.
It is quite possible though that the locusts is referring to real grasshopper-like locusts that often came in swarms in that area and would provide an abundance of enjoyable protein-rich ‘desert trail mix’. People do eat these critters as a part of survival training expeditions. Wild honey is pretty simple to obtain as long as you are brave enough to get the bees away prior to swabbing a stick into the honeycomb.
John was a great model for today’s Baptist preachers: unconventional, a bit rough and odd, out away from the big urban centers, preaching salvation, repentance, and baptism.

John 1:7-13 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 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: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

We are sent to bear witness of the Light, Jesus Christ. But, John was the first to do that specifically. Some thought that John might be the Messiah.

Jesus made the world, plain and simple…why do scoffers still scoff at this? They just don’t want to believe it…

Jesus came to His people, the Jews, and they, in general, received Him not.

Are you a ‘son of God’? We are if we have received Him; not as in a wafer, as the Catholics wrongly teach, but spiritually, via the Holy Spirit of God. We become a child of God, adopted into the family of God, and are brothers of Jesus Christ.

Are Christian ladies ‘sons of God’? This is probably a generic use implying both ladies and men.

John 1:15-18 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

We would do well to cry as John did about the One that is ‘coming’.

This speaks of Christ’s eternity past existence (he was before me).

Oh dear 7th dayers, Orthodox Jews, and others, remember that the ‘law’ was by Moses, but what you are reading here in the NT is by Jesus Christ; it is based on grace not on rules and works!

‘Bosom’ here denotes closeness, friendship, as when one reclines into the bosom of another in Asian countries after a meal.

Jesus Christ came to declare who God is...”if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.”

Matt 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? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 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. / Luke 3:7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin 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.
Matt 3:10 And now also the axe 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 . / Luke 3:9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

‘His baptism’ was very important; it was unique; it was the only baptism at that time with God’s authority and stamp of approval on it.

The Pharisees were self-righteous; they didn’t think that they had any sin problems; they came from a long line of self-righteous ones; they were not concerned at all about escaping Hell.

They didn’t have a repentant heart. John could discern that; and, the Pastor should be able to also. Not everyone that comes for baptism needs to be examined in detail as to whether they are repenting or have repented; but, the topic should come up as to whether they have a repentant heart or not. Many, I feel, are baptized without a repentant heart… There is more to getting baptized than having a solid salvation testimony.

What do you do with someone coming for baptism who still smokes or drinks??! What happens if they say they ‘want to stop, but struggle’? Should a Pastor go on a ‘witch hunt’ looking for unrepentant sin prior to baptizing them?...

The act of confession and the sign of sorrow could be enough in itself to be ‘fruit’. It is fairly believable for someone just getting saved to have their heart still right for baptism. But, as time goes on, their heart groweth cold and the picture that baptism holds doesn’t seem to show true as what their heart holds.

God has no grandchildren! You must be born again. There is nothing that special about Abraham. Who cares if your daddy was a preacher. There are a lot of preacher kids that will go to Hell sad to say.

The tree is a person’s life; the axe is picturing God’s judgment, which is now more than ever laid before each of us: for now there is no excuse of wondering who Messiah is. Good fruit – fruit of repentance will show if one is saved and a good tree. Those that never bring forth good fruit will burn in Hell; To be legitimately saved you must show forth good works. The Holy Spirit is the only One that can cause good works (fruit) in you; and He will indeed do this; thus, a saved person will not be thrown into Hell…for he has good fruit. The hewing down is at the Great White Throne Judgment. Baptism is an important verifier for the validity of one’s supposed salvation.

Luke 3:10-14 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

The truly wanted to know what they should repent of. The Baptist preacher told them: he gave examples for different groups of where there was need for repentance. It was areas where they had a big problem: greed, selfishness, extortion, anger, lying, ungratefulness. Each person today has an area of sin in their life that if they could repent of it, they could repent of all the other sins also…go for the big, obvious one first.

Luke 3:15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; / John 1:19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

John 1:20-24 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias .24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

There was plenty of people who were ‘looking for Messiah’; they thought John could be Him.

The main reason for them wanting to find out who he was was so that they could develop a strategy against this ‘religious freak’ who might steal away some of their power and fame.

Said in Is. 40:3,4.

John 1:25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

Mark 1:7-8 And John preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. / Matt 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: / Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: / John 1:26-27 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

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Matt 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Luke 3:17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
Was there baptisms prior to John the Baptist?...
“Baptism on receiving a proselyte from "paganism" was common before the time of John, but it was not customary to baptize a "Jew." John had changed the custom. He baptized "all," and they were desirous of knowing by what authority he made such a change in the religious customs of the nation.” (Barnes Notes)
“Baptism was a very common ceremony among the Jews, who never received a proselyte into the full enjoyment of a Jew’s privileges, until he was both baptized and circumcised. But such baptisms were never performed except by an ordinance of the Sanhedrin, or in the presence of three magistrates:” (Adam Clarke)
“Of the many kinds of ceremonial washings in Jesus' day, the most significant once-for-all kind of washing was proselyte baptism. Gentiles were usually baptized when they converted to Judaism; this was widely known and even mentioned by the Greek philosopher Epictetus. By reporting that John asks Jews to be baptized in an act of conversion,
the Gospel writers declare that John treats Jews as if they are pagans, which was unheard-of.” (IVP B.B. Commentary)
The summary of these 4 passages is: John preached that they needed to be baptized with water unto repentance; but there was another among them that they knew not, who John was totally inferior to, who would baptize them with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
There are 3 types of baptisms: water (repentance), Holy Ghost (Pentecost), and fire (Christ’s judgment).
Jesus would (shall, future tense, Pentecost) baptize (not water) you (the believers, the church folk at Jerusalem) with(not of or by) the Holy Ghost. This Holy Ghost baptism was a one time event; all the other events that seem similar toit were speaking of ‘receiving’ the Holy Ghost and were to authenticate this (for they did not understand that something new and wonderful was happening).
There are 6 passages dealing directly with this baptism: 4 in the Gospels (all related to the same event); Acts 1:5,8 which was the reminding and admonishing of the church body of what was soon going to take place (the one timeevent); and Acts 11:16 which is a look back (past tense) at the one time event. 1 Co 12:13 is dealing with water
baptism.
It is not an experience to be sought after by Christians; it does not give you the gift of tongues; it is not reaching ahigher spiritual plane; it was a one time event never to be repeated again.
Fire often symbolizes judgment in the Bible. Look at the end of verse 10 and there is some help in understanding this fire; it is related for sure to end time
judgment. Also, look at verse 12’s context of end time judgment. Everyone and everything is immersed in this (though at different times) completely
and thus are completely fully judged without and within ( Judgment Seat of Christ, Great White Throne Judgment, and the dissolution of the universe).
Some Pentecostal/Charismatic groups are taking this ‘fire baptism’ to be yet another level of spiritual experience; a maturity level to where you are
completely exhilarated and empowered by God.
Luke 3:18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
John 1:28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

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