JOHN THE BAPTIST

[Luke:1:5-22 [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. ]; [LUK:57-66]; [Matthew:3:1-17 [1] In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, [2] And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. [3] For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. [4] And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. [5] Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, [6] And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. [7] But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: [9] And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. [10] And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [11] I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: [12] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. [13] Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. [14] But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? [15] And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. [16] And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: [17] And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. ].
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
The Parents of John the Baptist
John’s father was in the Temple doing his work as a minister, when an angel came to him. Zechariah, John’s father, was afraid when he saw the angel, but he told Zechariah not to be afraid. He said God had heard the prayer of Zechariah and his wife for a son, and God was going to give them a son. The angel said they should call him John. The angel told Zechariah that his son would make his parents very happy and make many other people happy.
The angel said John should never take any strong drink. He should do much good work for God.
John’s Great Work
It must have been a very lonely place where John lived and worked many years. His clothes were made from camel’s hair, and his food was honey and locust, a species of grasshopper.
John told the people to be sorry for their sins, ask God to forgive them, and be ready when Jesus came, for Jesus was coming to teach them many things very soon.
The Baptism of Jesus
John baptized people with water. But one day he was surprised to see Jesus coming to him and asking John to baptize Him. John felt that it would be much better for Jesus to baptize John, and that Jesus did not need to be baptized; but Jesus asked John to do it and John obeyed Him. Jesus did not need to be baptized, but He wanted to do everything that God had told the people to do, and He perhaps wanted to teach the people to obey God.
When Jesus went into the river to be baptized something wonderful came down from Heaven, like a dove, and settled on Him, and a Voice from Heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
John Praised by Jesus
John was a very good man, and Jesus said that there was no one better than he. He loved God; and God loved John because John always did the things that God told him to do. God is always pleased with those who love and obey Him.
1. Did Zechariah believe what the angel promised him? [Luke:1:18And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
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2. How was he punished for not believing? [Luke:1:20And, 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.
].
3. What kind of clothes did John wear? [Matthew:3:4And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
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4. What did he eat? [Matthew:3:4And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
].
5. What was his work? [Matthew:3:1-2 [1] In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
[2] And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
].
6. Did he feel worthy to baptize Jesus? [Matthew:3:14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
].
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