John was
- preach or herald or preaching or to an official messenger bringing news
- the theme of his God given message was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near". In other words to accept the kingdom of heaven one must let go of something else.
- he preached from the wilderness of Judea. People from hundreds of miles ranging from Jerusalem, all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan came to him for ministry. John was a ministry with national attraction. It appears John the Baptist held his ministry in a stationary location and people were drawn to him. In contract Jesus traveled hundreds of mile. The primary purpose of John the Baptist was God calling the people to repentance. Therefore most everyone that came to John for ministry had to take a long journey away from their homes which is a reflection of the primary spiritual journey God required of the region before Jesus was to come to Earth.
- a big credit to the arrival of Jesus has to be given to the people that agreed with John and they were hungry. They went out of there way to aggressively ask God into their lives
- Isaiah prophesied about John purpose some 800 years before John was born when he said “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” John is the voice of one who calls in the wilderness
- John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. In other words John made a lifestyle of practical yet high quality product.
- John the Baptist was a man of humility and order. His statement to Jesus in letting him know he was not worthy to baptize was an act of humility. It was true Jesus is John's and everyone else's superior in every way and the baptism for repentance which Jesus did not require. But to keep in line with Seder Jesus submitted himself to God's plan for every person. Our Lord Jesus and our great elder John the Baptist are men of humility and order
- John was given therefore the great privilege of anointing Christ Jesus to the highest role that has or ever will be given to any being from God. God the Father said the first and last statement written in the New Testament saying “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
- John and his disciples were a team that fast together. We are also to fast since the bridegroom is not with us in body
- According to Jesus John was strong in heart full of conviction, as expressed earlier a man who dressed modestly in practical measure. John came in the spirit of Elijah who had greatness that exceeded that of the standard spirit of prophet. John had the prophet plus anointing on him. He came in the spirit of Elijah.
- John came neither eating much food nor drinking wine. John's diet was very clean, light, and efficient. He was most like very slim due to his diet and fasting. Meaning his physical body lived much by Spirit
- "John was a lamp that burned and gave light" John 5:35
- Jesus places significance on character of heart and the willingness to help others shape their character of heart than he does the performance of miracles John 5:36; John 10:40-42
- for he will be great in the sight of the Lord Luke 1
- ever to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born
- He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God
- he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah
- to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous
—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord
The only sermon on record for John the Baptist the High Word of the entire Bible from Old Testament to til his death:
“A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
All the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
John the Baptist is the Elijah who was to come
And from the days of John the Baptist until Jesus, the city of BHM had been subjected to violence.
Violent people had been raiding BHM.
All the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John the Elijah.
And from the days of John the Elijah until Jesus, heaven had been subjected to violence. Violent people had been raiding heaven.
Interpretation
perhaps from the time John was born to the moment of Jesus statement here violent people violently raided heaven Mt 11
Matthew 11:11-12; Luke 16:16-17
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