Part III

THE PREPARATORY MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

From Spring until Autumn AD. 26

21. The First Public Appearance of John the Baptist

Judea; spring of AD. 26

Mark 3:1-6, Mark. 1:2-6, Luke 3:1-6, John 1:6-8

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar - when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene - 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah, in the desert.

(Mt3:1) 1. In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea, 2 and saying, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3 This is he who was spoken of (Lk2:4) as is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

(Jn.1:6) There came a man who was sent from God, (Mk1:4) and so John came, (Lk.33) He went into all the country around the Jordan, (Mk1:4 ) baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Jn.1:7) he came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. (Mk.1:6) John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. (Mt3:5) People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

22. John the Baptist's Forceful Preaching

Math 3:7-10, Luke 3:7-14

(Mt3-7) But when many of the Pharisees and Sadducess coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance, 9 and do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." (Lk.3:10)

"What shall we do then?" the crowd asked.

11. John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."

12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" "Don't collect more than you are required to do?" he told them.

Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely - be content with your pay."

23 John the Baptist's Messianic Proclamation.

Matt 4:11-12, Mark 1:7-8, Luke 3:15-18

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were wondering in the hearts if John might possibly be the Christ? 16 John answered them all, (Mk1: 7) and this was his message: (Mt 3:11) "I'll baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful (Mk1:7) than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I will baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17 His winnowing fork in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." 18. And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.