The GREATNESS of JOHN the BAPTIST

 

Luke 1:15-17

King James Version

15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, 

and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; 

and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, 

even from his mother's womb.

16 And many of the children of Israel 

shall he turn to the Lord their God.

17 And he shall go before him 

in the spirit and power of Elias, 

to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, 

and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; 

to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

I had no idea the volume of material that would result from this 63rd blog when I first started the blog this morning.

Neither had I any idea I would be writing much about John the Baptist.

But SPIRIT made sure I honored GOD's messenger, who prepared the way for JESUS as well as baptizing Him, before the LORD started His ministry.

John's birth was special, too.

GOD sent His angel Gabriel to tell the good news that Zacahriah and Elizabeth were going to have a son.

Luke 1:13-14

King James Version

13 But the angel said unto him, 

Fear not, Zacharias: 

for thy prayer is heard; 

and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, 

and thou shalt call his name John.

14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; 

and many shall rejoice at his birth.

JESUS thought highly of His cousin.

Matthew 11:7-15

King James Version

7 And as they departed, 

Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, 

What went ye out into the wilderness to see? 

A reed shaken with the wind?

8 But what went ye out for to see? 

A man clothed in soft raiment? 

behold, 

they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

9 But what went ye out for to see? 

A prophet? 

yea, I say unto you, 

and more than a prophet.

10 For this is he, 

of whom it is written, 

Behold, 

I send my messenger before thy face, 

which shall prepare thy way before thee.

11 Verily I say unto you, 

Among them that are born of women 

there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: 

notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven 

is greater than he.

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now 

the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, 

and the violent take it by force.

13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

14 And if ye will receive it, 

this is Elias, 

which was for to come.

15 He that hath ears to hear, 

let him hear.

JESUS was saying John is prophet Elijah.

Proof of that will be for the next post.

Sadly, John's life fell into the hands of women who influenced a ruler to do away with him.

Mark 6:17-29

King James Version

17 For Herod himself 

had sent forth and laid hold upon John, 

and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, 

his brother Philip's wife: 

for he had married her.

18 For John had said unto Herod, 

It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, 

and would have killed him; 

but she could not:

20 For Herod feared John, 

knowing that he was a just man and an holy, 

and observed him; 

and when he heard him, 

he did many things, 

and heard him gladly.

21 And when a convenient day was come, 

that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, 

high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, 

and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, 

the king said unto the damsel, 

Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, 

and I will give it thee.

23 And he sware unto her, 

Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, 

I will give it thee, 

unto the half of my kingdom.

24 And she went forth, 

and said unto her mother, 

What shall I ask? 

And she said, 

The head of John the Baptist.

25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, 

and asked, saying, 

I will that thou give me by and by in a charger 

the head of John the Baptist.

26 And the king was exceeding sorry; 

yet for his oath's sake, 

and for their sakes which sat with him, 

he would not reject her.

27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, 

and commanded his head to be brought: 

and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

28 And brought his head in a charger, 

and gave it to the damsel: 

and the damsel gave it to her mother.

29 And when his disciples heard of it, 

they came and took up his corpse, 

and laid it in a tomb.

How did the LORD react, upon hearing of John's death?

Matthew 14:12-14

King James Version

12 And his disciples came, 

and took up the body, 

and buried it, 

and went and told Jesus.

13 When Jesus heard of it, 

he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: 

and when the people had heard thereof, 

they followed him on foot out of the cities.

14 And Jesus went forth, 

and saw a great multitude, 

and was moved with compassion toward them, 

and he healed their sick.

Despite the LORD's grief, He had to continue ministering to others, for people kept seeking Him out.

We can only honor John the Baptist's dedication to JESUS, in these posts:

John the BAPTIST

VOICE in the wilderness

John's RECORD of JESUS

John the Baptist's WARNINGS

We mentioned earlier that JESUS spoke of John, as prophet Elijah.

Let's learn more about that here.

Image: Free Bible Images

John the BAPTIST

 

Mark 1:4

King James Version

4 John did baptize in the wilderness, 

and preach the baptism of repentance 

for the remission of sins.

Ever heard of the man who prepared the way for CHRIST?

Do you know that John the Baptist was prophesied about?

Isaiah 40:3

King James Version

3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, 

Prepare ye the way of the Lord, 

make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Malachi 3:1-4

King James Version

3 Behold, I will send my messenger, 

and he shall prepare the way before me: 

and the Lord, whom ye seek, 

shall suddenly come to his temple, 

even the messenger of the covenant, 

whom ye delight in: 

behold, 

he shall come, 

saith the Lord of hosts.

2 But who may abide the day of his coming? 

and who shall stand when he appeareth? 

for he is like a refiner's fire, 

and like fullers' soap:

3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: 

and he shall purify the sons of Levi, 

and purge them as gold and silver, 

that they may offer unto the Lord 

an offering in righteousness.

4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem 

be pleasant unto the Lord, 

as in the days of old, 

and as in former years.

Do you also know that JESUS and John the Baptist were cousins?

And that John was older by six months?

Let Scripture tell you the details:

Luke 1:5-44

King James Version

5 There was in the days of Herod, 

the king of Judaea, 

a certain priest named Zacharias, 

of the course of Abia: 

and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, 

and her name was Elisabeth.

6 And they were both righteous before God, 

walking in all the commandments and ordinances 

of the Lord blameless.

7 And they had no child, 

because that Elisabeth was barren, 

and they both were now well stricken in years.

8 And it came to pass, 

that while he executed the priest's office 

before God in the order of his course,

9 According to the custom of the priest's office, 

his lot was to burn incense when he went 

into the temple of the Lord.

10 And the whole multitude of the people 

were praying without at the time of incense.

11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord 

standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12 And when Zacharias saw him, 

he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said unto him, 

Fear not, Zacharias: 

for thy prayer is heard; 

and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, 

and thou shalt call his name John.

14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness;

 and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, 

and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; 

and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, 

even from his mother's womb.

16 And many of the children of Israel 

shall he turn to the Lord their God.

17 And he shall go before him 

in the spirit and power of Elias, 

to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, 

and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; 

to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, 

Whereby shall I know this? 

for I am an old man, 

and my wife well stricken in years.

19 And the angel answering said unto him, 

I am Gabriel, 

that stand in the presence of God; 

and am sent to speak unto thee, 

and to shew thee these glad tidings.

20 And, behold, 

thou shalt be dumb, 

and not able to speak, 

until the day that these things shall be performed, 

because thou believest not my words, 

which shall be fulfilled in their season.

21 And the people waited for Zacharias, 

and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

22 And when he came out, 

he could not speak unto them: 

and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: 

for he beckoned unto them, 

and remained speechless.

23 And it came to pass, that, 

as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, 

he departed to his own house.

24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, 

and hid herself five months, 

saying,

25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me 

in the days wherein he looked on me, 

to take away my reproach among men.

26 And in the sixth month 

the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, 

named Nazareth,

27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, 

of the house of David; 

and the virgin's name was Mary.

28 And the angel came in unto her, 

and said, 

Hail, thou that art highly favoured, 

the Lord is with thee: 

blessed art thou among women.

29 And when she saw him, 

she was troubled at his saying, 

and cast in her mind 

what manner of salutation this should be.

30 And the angel said unto her, 

Fear not, Mary: 

for thou hast found favour with God.

31 And, behold, 

thou shalt conceive in thy womb, 

and bring forth a son, 

and shalt call his name Jesus.

32 He shall be great, 

and shall be called the Son of the Highest: 

and the Lord God shall give unto him 

the throne of his father David:

33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; 

and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34 Then said Mary unto the angel, 

How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35 And the angel answered and said unto her, 

The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, 

and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: 

therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee 

shall be called the Son of God.

36 And, behold, 

thy cousin Elisabeth, 

she hath also conceived a son in her old age: 

and this is the sixth month with her, 

who was called barren.

37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

38 And Mary said, 

Behold the handmaid of the Lord; 

be it unto me according to thy word. 

And the angel departed from her.

39 And Mary arose in those days, 

and went into the hill country with haste, 

into a city of Juda;

40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, 

and saluted Elisabeth.

41 And it came to pass, that, 

when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, 

the babe leaped in her womb; 

and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

42 And she spake out with a loud voice, 

and said, 

Blessed art thou among women, 

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43 And whence is this to me, 

that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44 For, lo, 

as soon as the voice of thy salutation 

sounded in mine ears, 

the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

The day came for John the Baptist to be born, six months ahead of JESUS.

Here's his family's story:

Luke 1:57-64

King James Version

57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; 

and she brought forth a son.

58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard 

how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; 

and they rejoiced with her.

59 And it came to pass, 

that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; 

and they called him Zacharias, 

after the name of his father.

60 And his mother answered and said, 

Not so; but he shall be called John.

61 And they said unto her, 

There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

62 And they made signs to his father, 

how he would have him called.

63 And he asked for a writing table, 

and wrote, 

saying, 

His name is John. 

And they marvelled all.

64 And his mouth was opened immediately, 

and his tongue loosed, 

and he spake, 

and praised God.

The next post will tell us more about John the Baptist, the "voice in the wilderness".

Image: Free Bible Images