John the Baptist

John was six months older than Jesus, so his ministry began six months earlier. He was a priest and priests began their work when they were thirty years old. We know that John was born in the spring, so we know his ministry began in the spring, around the time of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

He came as a witness to the Light; the coming Messiah, saying "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is drawing near!" The prophet Isaiah wrote of John: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord and make His paths straight!'" He always told the people he was not the Messiah himself but that the Messiah was coming soon.

John was in a wilderness area on the Jordan river. People came from all over, especially from Judah and Jerusalem, to hear John preach and to heed his call to repent of their sins and be baptized. Baptism shows that a person wants the old sinful character to die and be buried and to rise up out of the water a new character, forgiven of their sins and beginning a new life of overcoming sin.

When many of the religious leaders came to join the crowds hearing John and being baptized, he knew they were just there for show and were not really seeking to be forgiven of their sins. In fact, they didn't think they had sins to be forgiven. John said to them, "You children of vipers, who has warned you to escape from the coming anger of God? You don't deserve to be baptized unless you show by the way you live that you have really changed.

"Don't think you can boast and say you're children of Abraham and therefore blessed above others. God can change these very stones around us into children of Abraham. You are like trees ready to be cut down with an ax, and every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down!"

The people who were baptized were apprehensive about John's message. They knew that it was very near the time the Messiah was prophesied to appear. The people asked him, "What shall we do?"

He answered, "He who has two coats, freely give one of them to someone who has none. He who has food, give some to someone who has none."

The tax collectors asked what they should do and John told them, "Don't take any more than you are supposed to." (The Roman government hired local people to collect the taxes and they were to add on a certain percentage to keep for themselves, but many of them dishonestly added on much more and became very rich.)

There were even Roman soldiers who came to be baptized, and they asked John what they should do. "Don't intimidate people or do violence to anyone. Don't falsely accuse anyone and be content with your wages. (Many soldiers threatened people to extort money from them.)

Since the Messiah was prophesied to appear at this time, the people were waiting in anticipation and discussed among themselves whether John might be the Christ, the Messiah. But whenever John heard about these discussions, he told them in no uncertain terms, "I am not the Christ!"

"Well then, who are you? Are you Elijah? One of the prophets?" Some of the priests and Levites said, "Our leaders have sent us to find out. What do you have to say for yourself?"

He said, "I am a voice crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord! This Isaiah wrote."

"If you are not the Christ or Elijah why are you baptizing?" they asked.

John replied, "I am baptizing with water, but there stands among you someone you don't know. He comes after me but He is far above me. I'm not even worthy to unfasten His sandals so I can wash His feet. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

John exhorted them in many other ways and told them the good news of the coming Kingdom of God.

He did this for about six months and then his cousin Jesus came to him to be baptized. But John, knowing that the Messiah would be without sin and have no need to be baptized, said, "I have a great need to be baptized by you, yet you come to me to be baptized?"

But Jesus said to John, "Permit it, for it is fitting and proper for me to fulfill all righteousness and set an example for those who do need to be baptized." So John baptized him. And when Jesus came up out of the water heaven opened and the Spirit of God descended like a dove and settled on Jesus. Then a voice came out of heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and told everyone around, "Look, here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world! This is the one I told you about who comes after me but is far above me - He existed before me. I did not know who the Messiah was going to be, but God told me, 'The One upon whom you will see the Holy Spirit descending will be the One.' I saw this happen yesterday and I testify that this is the Son of God!"

Life of Christ Part Six - Satan Tempts Jesus

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