John the Baptist

Summary

• Born to be a priest
• Made a decision
• Set apart from birth - Nazarite
• Was to announce the coming of Christ
• Quite a man; willing to take the backseat

The Times

• Jesus said - Matthew 11:11
• Matthew 3:1 - Luke 3:1-2
• Tiberius was born in 42 B.C.
• Tiberius had distinguished himself
• As Caesar he showed his true self

The Times

• Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea
• Herod Antipas was prince in Galilee
• Philip the tetrarch ruled(half brother)
• Annas and Caiaphas were High Priest
• Caiaphas appointed by Rome - Luke 3:2

"In those days" - John 3:1

• John brought the beginning of a new era
• He began in "the wilderness of Judea"
• A desolate, dreary area along the Dead Sea
• The crowds came to him
• Estimates say 1 mil people came to hear him

What John Preached

• Didn't beat around the bush
• Main word was "Repent!"
• No room for excuses or explanations
• Same for us today.

His Lifestyle

• No questions on what he was
• He was separated to God
• His clothes showed it
• His way of life showed it
• He could have been a high priest

The Multitude

• They came confessing - Matthew 3:5-6
• His message was easy to follow
• When he preached conviction fell

His critics

• If you take a stand you'll always have these
• Others came to repent
• These guys came to critique and criticize
• Matthew 3:7
• These guys came to critique and criticize

John and Jesus

• To understand John we have to see Jesus
• John was sent to awaken the nation
• Preached it straight to those who would reject Jesus
• No John = No Jesus
• John preached repent - Jesus preached rebirth

John's message for his critics

• He denounced their actions
• Matthew 3:7
• He told them what they should do
• Matthew 3:8
• He hit their pride - Matthew 3:9

John's message for the Nation

• Matthew 3:10
• They had already had many opportunities
• Their biggest test was at hand
• What would they do with Jesus
• We know they rejected Jesus - John 15:6

John's message for the believers

• Matthew 3:11-12
• John acknowledged he wasn't "the Light"
• It seems he was constantly pointing men to Jesus
• It wasn't about him
• He becomes "invisible" when Jesus comes

Johns interactions with Jesus

• Jesus baptized - Matthew 3:13-17
• Shortly after this John was imprisoned
• Jesus said of him - Matthew 11:11
• John was beheaded - Matthew 14:1-12
• His light decreased as Jesus increased