John • The passed-over passages 1b • John the Baptist • the Mission of his ministry

Steve Schott
3 days ago
12 min read

► Previously in John we looked at the 7 signs recorded, and referenced in John 20:30-31, where it says

30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

► We also explored the 7 "I AM" statements that do not always correspond to the signs, but also add definition to the nature and purposes of Jesus.

► Links to all of these posts can be found at the end of this posting

► Now I'm going to turn my attention to what I call the "passed-over" passages, Those passages from chapter 1 to chapter 12 which I haven't previously dealt with.

► After that we'll deal with chapters 13 to 19, which I call "the end of it all". These chapters deal with a single 24-hour period, that starts with the last supper in the upper room, and takes us all the way to the cross and the tomb.

► And then we'll end with chapters 20 and 21 that I call "the new beginning".

► Today we are going to begin dealing with John the Baptist. We'll actually break this up into several sections, and will also be looking at the other gospels to give us more information.

► We'll break it into 3 parts...

1 → the Miracle of his birth

2 → the Mission of his ministry

3 → the Madness of his death

John the Baptist • The The Mission of his ministry

► Looking today at the ministry of JTB (John the Baptist). What was his "mission"? According to Luke 1:17, it was to "make ready a people prepared for the Lord." He was to be a "forerunner" for Jesus.

► In the gospel of John, the author shows JTB to be an opening act, if you will, for the main event, which is the coming of Jesus. Now keep in mind, Jesus is already here. Has been for around 30 years. But He is just now about to begin to complete the purpose for which He came. John shows us that JTB was from God, and was a witness "about the Light", but that he himself was not the "Light". Jesus is called the "true Light" in verse 9 (below↓)...

John 1:6-13 → 6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. (this part is about JTB)

9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (this part is about Jesus)

► From this point on, I'm going to reference, when available, the comments and/or content of all 4 of the gospel accounts. John is a little bit different from the other three, partly because it was written so much later, around 80-90AD and is focused primarily on the deity of Jesus, that fact that He is God. The other three, called "the synoptics" because they have so many parallel passages, were all written much earlier, probably around the early 50s AD, and are focus more about the human aspects of His ministry and human life. Most theologians believe that Mark was probably written first, and then possibly used as base material for Luke's and Matthew's writings.

The beginnings of the work of JTB

John 1:19-28 → 19 This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27 It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

• We clearly see several things in this passage...

→ 1st - JTB adamantly denied being either the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet (the Prophet being a leader prophesied by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15, 18). He may have been Elijah and/or the Prophet, but he wasn't going to say these things about himself, as if to give himself more credit or power.

→ 2nd - JTB was very specific about what he was... "I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'make straight the way of the LORD." When he said this he was quoting Isaiah 40:3.

→ 3rd - When asked why he was baptizing, "if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" he deflected and pointed to Jesus, "the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."

Mark 1:1-8 → things mentioned not found in John...

• 4John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

• 5And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

• 6John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.

• 8I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

→ We see that Mark adds in some info about JTB's preaching, of his speaking out about being baptized commensurate with repenting of their sins and receiving forgiveness. We see that ALL (which I'm assuming means a whole bunch) from Judea are coming to be baptized. We also see the unique features of JTB's manner of dress and dietary conditions. And lastly that not only is he baptizing, but he's referencing the baptism of the Holy Spirit which comes from God.

Matthew 3:1-12 → things mentioned not found in John...

• 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; 9and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 10The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

→ Matthew adds, that in JTB's presentation, when some Pharisees and Sadducees came to be baptized, apparently they weren't actually in a state of repentance, and as such are warned about it. He also cuts them off before they can try to make a stand based on their lineage back to Abraham.

Luke 3:1-18 → things mentioned not found in John...

• 1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, 2in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.

• 10And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” 11And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” 12And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” 14Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.”

→ Luke also mentions about the timing and the political and religious hierarchy of the day.

→ And when some came for baptism, and were confronted with the need for repentance, asked for clarification of what that would look like. Some were tax collectors, some were soldiers (doesn't mention if they were Roman soldiers or Temple guards), but to each he gave specific examples of what to do.

The baptism of Jesus

John 1:29-37 → 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ 31 I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32 John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” 35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

• Even while JTB was pointing at Jesus, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world", this text does not clearly talk about Jesus being baptized, but it does reference some of the things that happened at His baptism, like the dove/Spirit.

• We also see that once this happens, some of JTB's disciples transfer their allegiance to Jesus.

Mark 1:9-15 → things mentioned not found in John...

• 11and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

→ Mark adds the voice coming out of heaven.

Matthew 3:13-17 → things mentioned not found in John...

• 13Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. 14But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” 15But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.

→ Matthew adds the situation where JTB didn't want to baptize Jesus as he felt it was more fitting for Jesus to baptize him.

Luke 3:21-22 → things mentioned not found in John...

• No additional details added.

The last "free" words of JTB

John 3:22-36 → 22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized— 24 for John had not yet been thrown into prison.

25 Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” 27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

31 “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

• It had to be kind of weird for JTB from this point on. He had been busy doing his own thing - baptizing and pointing everyone to Christ, who would be coming soon.

• But now that Jesus is here, and is doing some of His own baptizing (actually His disciples were doing it for Him), I'm assuming that JTB must be a little confused. "Am I supposed to keep doing this? Or should I just march all my followers down to Jesus' camp and tell them "there's a new sheriff in town - see ya!"?

• When queried about Jesus and what he is doing, JTB doesn't waste any time. He sums up by saying "He must increase, but I must decrease."

• He ends his dialogue with a lengthy description of Jesus and all the qualities that He possesses that set Him apart from normal humans - like himself.

► It won't be much longer before JTB is thrown in prison. And his life will end shortly thereafter. When we look at it next time, we'll see what seems like a man defeated. But he's not defeated. If anything he has won his race. He gave it his all, and he's about to cross the finish line.

► I don't know for certain how I could, or even should, compare myself to John the Baptist. I don't dress like him. I don't eat like him. I'm not as devoted as he is. From a spiritual standpoint you could say that JTB is a major hero. His ending will look ugly, but his work speaks for itself. JTB was totally sold out to God. No shortcuts for him.

► I hope that when my time comes, that it will count for something. I've had 2 careers, but what of any eternal significance does that account for? Really, nothing. Except for maybe the interactions that I've had with other people. I know my life has been kind of a mess, zig zagging back and forth from trying to serve God to trying to serve myself. But I hope that in some small way, I might have pointed someone to Christ. And I hope that in the time I have left, that this might happen in a way where I can really see that something good came from my meager attempts to live a righteous life.

The Signs

► Sign 1, Water to Wine, Jesus is the master of the ELEMENTS → John 2:1-12

► Sign 2, Nobleman's Son, Jesus is the master over DISTANCE → John 4:46-54

► Sign 3, Lame Man at Bethesda, Jesus is the master over TIME → John 5:1-18

► Sign 4, Feeding of 5,000+, Jesus is the master over DIMENSION → John 6:1-15

► Sign 5, Jesus walks on water, Jesus is the master over NATURE → John 6:15-21

► Sign 6, The Man Born Blind, Jesus is the master over HISTORY → John 9:1-41

► Sign 7, The Raising of Lazarus, Jesus is the master over DEATH → John 11:1-46

The "I AM" Statements

► I AM #1 • I AM the Bread of Life - Jesus ELIMINATES HUNGER → John 6:26-58

► I AM #2 • I AM the Light of the World - Jesus ELIMINATES DARKNESS → John 8:12-9:5

► I AM #3 • I AM the Door of the Sheep - Jesus ELIMINATES DEATH & DESTRUCTION → John 10:1-10