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lesson 8

 

JOHN THE  BAPTIZER

 

 

I. TEXTUAL THOUGHTS

                1. Luke 1:57-80- The birth of John.

                2. Matthew 3:1-17- The forerunner of Jesus.

 

 

II. MAIN THEME:  God had promised to send Elijah to prepare for the coming of Messiah. John came in the power and spirit of Elijah and preached repentance in preparation for the coming of the kingdom of God.  Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan river, and began His ministry of teaching after His temptation in the wilderness. 

                1.  John was the promised prophet who prepared the way for Jesus.

                                a. As prophesied, Malachi 4:5-6; Isaiah 40:3-5.

                                b. As confirmed by Jesus, Mat 3:1-3;Luke 1:15-17; Mat 17:10-12; Mark

9:11-13.

                2. John's purpose as a prophet.

1.        He preached the message of repentance, Mat 3:1-2,8,11; Mark 1:4;

2.        Luke 3:3.

                                b. He gave witness of Jesus, John 1:6-8,35-36; Mark 1:7-8; Luke 3:16-17.

                                c. He taught the people, Luke 3:7-14; John 1:7; Matthew 3:7-12.

                3. Jesus was baptized by John.

                                a. In the Jordan river, Mark 1:9-11; John 3:23.

                                b. To fulfill all righteousness, Mat 3:13-17; John 1:29-34.

                4. The Holy Spirit came on Jesus just after He was baptized by John.

                                a. The Spirit descended like a dove, Mat 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22.

                                b. God spoke from heaven and identified His Son, Mat 3:17; Mark 1:11.

                5. Jesus began His ministry.

                                a. First He was tempted by Satan, Mark 1:13; Mat 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13.

                                b. Then He began His teaching and miracles, John 2:1-11; Luke 4:14-21.

 

 

III. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

                1. John denied being Elijah in the flesh, but Jesus said that John was Elijah in power and spirit See

                John 1:21; Mat 3:1-3; 17:10-12; Luke 1:15-17; Mark 9:11-13.

                2. We should follow John's example of building up Jesus and admitting our own

smallness compared with Jesus, John 1:20-27; 3:26-30; Mark 1:6-8; Mat 3:11-14.

                3. John's baptism of repentance in preparation for the coming kingdom is no

longer effective, Act  18:24-25; 19:1-5; Mark 1:8.

                4. Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness, and He was sinless, but we are

baptized in the likeness of His death, burial, and resurrection, Rom 6:3-6, 17-18; 1

Cor 15:1-4.

                5. John baptized in preparation for the coming kingdom, but we are baptized into

Christ, Gal 3:27; 1 Cor 12:13; Col 1:12-14; Act 2:38; Mark 16:15-16.

                6. One can be a great teacher about Jesus and still not be a Christian, Act 18:24-25.

 

 

IV. MEMORY VERSES- MARK l:2-3.

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