The Baptist’s story is told in all four Gospels. His coming was predicted in Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 4:5. He is also mentioned frequently throughout the book of Acts.
"A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken'" (Isaiah 40:3–5). The Spirit of God was speaking these words thru the prophet Isaiah over 700 years prior to the birth of John the Baptizer.
Just who was John the Baptizer. His name implies that he baptized new converts, and he did; however, John’s main mission from God was to be the appointed messenger that would announce the coming and then arrival of prophesied Messiah. John was the FIRST prophet called by God since Malachi, some 400 years earlier.
Regarding his birth, John’s father, Zechariah, a Levitical priest, received an angelic visitation to announce his son’s birth. (John 1:8-23) This was a very common practice when announcing the births of major figures in the OT. [1] The angelic announcement proceeded in stages: the child's name (v. 13), the response to the child (v. 14), the position and character of the child (v. 15) and the mission of the child (vv. 16-17). The child was to be named John. When God names a child, that child is especially significant in God's plan (Gen 16:8, 11; 17:19; 1 Kings 13:2; Is 7:14; 49:1; Mt 1:21; Lk 1:31). This child will be great before God. In Luke 7:28 Jesus says that no one greater had been born of woman before John. His greatness emerges from his prophetic role and from his function as a forerunner to Jesus, as the rest of Luke 1 makes clear.
John was uncompromising in his faith and belief in God. Though he didn’t have the entirety of scripture at his disposal at that time, for the NT had yet to be written, His godly knowledge came from all the portions of OT scripture he found to read.
John lived a disciplined life of self-denial in the mountainous area of Judea, between the city of Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. He wore clothes made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, the typical garb of a prophet. His diet was a simple one—he would avoid drink & eat nothing but locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4). John lived a simple life as he focused on the kingdom work set before him. His lone message was for people to repent of their sin and serve God.
WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM JOHN THE BAPTIST?
1) That God doesn’t guarantee an easy or safe life to those who serve Him.
2) Doing what God desires is the greatest possible life investment.
3) Standing for the truth is more important than life itself.
Up next we will throw a spotlight on Nicodemus. Until that time, walk with the King and be a blessing.
In His name & for His glory,
Richard Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
Resources: The Life Application Study Bible, p.2279; https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/ivp-nt/Announcement-Johns-Birth.
[1] (Gen 16:10-11; 17:15-19; 18:10-15; 25:23; Judges 13:3-21)
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