Interesting Facts

John the Baptist

Josephus corroborates story Machaerus loyalty of disciples (Acts 18:25; 19:1-7) Mandaeans (Iraq/Iran) Qumran community

Friday, August 19, 2011

Friday, August 19, 2011

John the Baptist

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers (Mal 4:5-6)

His Mission
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord [1] to prepare His ways, [2] To give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; [3] To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, [4] To guide our feet into the way of peace
(Lk 1:76-79)

Friday, August 19, 2011

Friday, August 19, 2011

His Mission
He must give a new direction to their thoughts. He must impress them with the [1] holiness of God's requirements, and [2] their need of His perfect righteousness.
Desire of Ages, 100

His Preparation
In childhood and youth the character is most impressible. The power of self-control should then be acquired. . . More than any natural endowment the habits established in early years decide whether a man will be victorious or vanquished in the battle of life.
Desire of Ages, 101

Friday, August 19, 2011

Friday, August 19, 2011

His Education
I. Not trained in rabbinical

His Education
III.studied society & human nature
From time to time he went forth to mingle with men; and he was ever an interested observer of what was passing in the world. From his quiet retreat he watched the unfolding of events. With vision illuminated by the divine Spirit he studied the characters of men, that he might understand how to reach their hearts with the message of heaven. The burden of his mission was upon him.
Desire of Ages, 102

schools-why?
1. unt him for the work 2. educated in nature & natures God II. Stern discipline of

wilderness
1. to learn habits of simplicity & self-denial 2. study nature, Scripture, & Providence uninterrupted 3. maintain sense of exceeding sinfulness of sin 4. haven from society

Friday, August 19, 2011

Friday, August 19, 2011

His Lifestyle
Matt. 3:4 Now John himself was clothed in camels hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. - simple dress - simple food

His Qualications
must be holy sound physical constitution, mental, & spiritual strength self control: appetites & passions abstemious life & plain dress (a rebuke to excesses) life of simplicity and selfdenial interested observer of what was passing in the world studied the characters of men WHY are these things important?

Friday, August 19, 2011

Friday, August 19, 2011

His Message
He saw his people deceived, self-satised, and asleep in their sins. . . The message that God had given him to bear was designed to startle them from their lethargy, and cause them to tremble because of their great wickedness (DA 104)

see Luke 3:7-14

Our Message
Friday, August 19, 2011

Friday, August 19, 2011

Our Message
Before the seed of the gospel could nd lodgment, the soil of the heart must be broken up. Before they would seek healing from Jesus, they must be awakened to their danger from the wounds of sin. . . . God does not send messengers to atter the sinner. He delivers no message of peace to lull the unsanctied into fatal security. He lays heavy burdens upon the conscience of the wrongdoer, and pierces the soul with arrows of conviction. The ministering angels present to him the fearful judgments of God to deepen the sense of need, and prompt the cry, "What must I do to be saved?" Then the hand that has humbled in the dust, lifts up the penitent. The voice that has rebuked sin, and put to shame pride and ambition, inquires with tenderest sympathy, "What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?"

DA 103, 104-105
Friday, August 19, 2011

Our Purpose & Mission

Friday, August 19, 2011

Our Purpose & Mission

In preparing the way for Christ's rst advent, he was a representative of those who are to prepare a people for our Lord's second coming. The world is given to self-indulgence. Errors and fables abound. Satan's snares for destroying souls are multiplied. All who would perfect holiness in the fear of God must learn the lessons of temperance and self-control. The appetites and passions must be held in subjection to the higher powers of the mind. This self-discipline is essential to that mental strength and spiritual insight which will enable us to understand and to practice the sacred truths of God's word. For this reason temperance nds its place in the work of preparation for Christ's second coming.

(DA 101)
Friday, August 19, 2011

He Must Increase
Friday, August 19, 2011

John 3:22-30
22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. 24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison. 25 Then there arose a dispute between some of Johns disciples and the Jews about purication. 26 And they [Johns disciples] came to John and said to him, Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testiedbehold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him! 27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but, I have been sent before 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 bridegrooms voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fullled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

John 3:22-30
EGW commentary:
Every consideration that appeals to the ambition of the worlds conquerers Satan had stood ready to urge upon John the Baptist (DA 178). Those who are true to their calling as messengers for God will not seek honor for themselves. Love for self will be swallowed up in love for Christ. No rivalry will mar the precious cause of the gospel (DA 179).

Friday, August 19, 2011

Friday, August 19, 2011

Matthew 11:1-6
1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus nished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. 2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said to them, Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.

Imprisonment
Friday, August 19, 2011

Friday, August 19, 2011

Matthew 11:1-6
(Johns Imprisonment)
Points of Interest:
John rebukes Antipas Antipas convicted Doubts of disciples affect John John questions Jesus Messiahship Expectations of Johns work ! John had been bitterly disappointed in the result of his mission. . . He had expected . . . that there would follow deep-seated work of repentance and returning unto the Lord. . . Had it been in vain? (DA 216). John afterwards understands: ! Jesus was to do His work, not with the clash of arms and the overturning of thrones and kingdoms, but through speaking to the hearts of men by a life of mercy and selfsacrice (DA 217). Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me (Lk 7:23)

Who Was John?

Jesus said concerning John (Mt 11:7-11): 7 What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10
Friday, August 19, 2011

The above words were a gentle reproof to John. It was not lost upon him. Understanding more clearly now the nature of Christs mission, he yielded himself to God for life or for death (DA 218).

For this is he of whom it is written: Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You. 11 Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist.

Friday, August 19, 2011