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The Gospel Observer
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to
observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to
the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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November 28, 2010
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Contents:
1) John the Baptist (Tom Edwards)
2) News & Notes
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-1-
John the Baptist
by Tom Edwards
The last of the Old Testament prophets was not Malachi. Though we
often think of Malachi as being the final book of the Old Testament,
the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John also cover a time frame
that is primarily during that same period of the Mosaical
Dispensation. For the Law of Moses was still in effect while
Jesus lived on earth; and it continued until He brought an end to it by
His death on the cross (Col. 2:14; Heb. 10:8-10) and, thus, also
established the New Covenant by that same sacrifice of Himself (Heb.
9:13-26).
It is in those accounts of the life of Christ that we read of
John the Baptist, of whom it is said, "A voice is calling, 'Clear the
way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway
for our God.'" For this is actually a citation from the prophet
Isaiah, and Matthew shows John the Baptist to have been the fulfiller
of this (Matt. 3:1-3).
John the Baptist is a man we can all greatly admire for his strong
stand in those things that were pleasing to God, and for his life of
self-denial. He preached the truth, regardless of the trouble it
led to -- for it was in boldly declaring God's message that eventually
led to even his very death.
In thinking of John, let us now go back to his birth. Perhaps
this is something that many people overlook: The conception of John was
miraculous. For according to Luke 1:7, concerning his
parents-to-be, "And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren,
and they were both advanced in years." But just as God said of
Sarah, Abraham's wife, who had also been barren and way past the years
of child-bearing, that she would have a child, even so, Elizabeth would
also conceive. For when the Lord says it will be so, it will be
so!
So through the help of God, John was conceived and born into a priestly
lineage. His father Zacharias was a priest of the division of
Abijah (Luke 1:5) -- a tribe which is spoken of in 1 Chronicles 24:10,
where it shows how the Levites were divided into groups for their
service unto the Lord. John's mother was also of a priestly
descent. For she could trace her roots back to the daughters of
Aaron, as also seen in Luke 1:5.
Prior to John's birth, it was the angel Gabriel who appeared to
Zacharias and announced that he would have a son (Luke 1:8-13).
Apparently, this was something that Zacharias had prayed for.
For, in those days, it appears to have been a shame for a couple to be
childless -- since the blessings of children is said in connection with
being faithfully obedient toward the Lord, according to Deuteronomy
28:1,2,11. Some of the barren women in the Bible, for example,
refer to their barren state as being a "reproach"; but when they
finally conceived a child, then they would say to the effect that God
had taken away their reproach from among men (e.g., Gen. 30:22,23).
Unfortunately, Zacharias did not initially believe what the angel had
to say and, as a consequence, Zacharias remained mute until the birth
of his son.
When that joyous event of John's birth took place, it had a great
impact upon the people. It had even been prophesied that "...many
will rejoice at his birth" (Luke 1:14). Many people who heard of
the birth of John and the amazing events that accompanied it knew that
the hand of the Lord was with John; and they wondered, "What then will
this child turn out to be?" (v. 66).
Parents, of course, often have much to do with how their children turn
out. Luke tells us of John's parents that "...they were both
righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the
commandments and requirements of the Lord" (v. 6). So they were
certainly fine examples for others, and I'm sure they had a great
influence on young John -- and throughout all his years.
Though he lived in a time when miracles were being performed by the
Lord and by the Lord's apostles, John himself didn't perform any
miracles. Therefore, it must have been his miraculous birth, his
godly lifestyle, and the soon expectation of the Messiah that served as
some of the motivating factors that drew such large crowds to
him. Some of them had even initially thought that perhaps John
was their long-awaited Messiah.
Just like Jesus, not much is said about John during his growing up
years. We do know that John had the Holy Spirit from birth (Luke
1:15). He was recognized as being a "righteous and holy man"
(Mark 6:20); and Jesus spoke quite highly of him in Matthew 1:9,11:
"But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I say to you, and
one who is more than a prophet. ... Truly, I say to you, among those
born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the
Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than
he." The reason why even the least in the kingdom of heaven is
greater than John is because John was never in the kingdom. For
he was put to death before the kingdom was established on that day of
Pentecost, as Acts 2 records. So, in that sense, we who are
Christians have a greater advantage over John.
We saw earlier that many would rejoice over John's birth, and Jesus
also says of John that "He was the lamp that was burning and was
shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light" (Jn.
5:35).
The early days of John are summed up in Luke 1:80, by saying, "And the
child continued to grow, and to become strong in spirit, and he lived
in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to
Israel." Notice the type of strength this verse emphasizes:
spiritual strength. Unfortunately, we live in a time when much
concern is placed on the physical, rather than the spiritual.
Many people watch what they eat; they exercise; and they take care of
their bodies in other ways, too -- but give little or no concern for
their soul, which is the most important part of them. For the
body will return to the dust, but the soul is eternal.
As we just saw, John "lived in the deserts until the day of his public
appearance...." Many of the great people of faith in the Bible
took time to prepare themselves for God's service -- and it wasn't
always by going to some kind of official school where they would
receive this. Moses, for example, spent forty years in Egypt,
then another forty years working for his father-in-law Jethro in Midian
before he finally was to go into Egypt again and help deliver God's
people. So he was about 80 years old, when he led the children of
Israel across the Red Sea and into the wilderness. Joshua was
also in his 80's when he became Israel's next leader, after the death
of Moses. But throughout his prior years, Joshua had been
faithful to the Lord and also faithful in his service to Moses.
Jesus, who had probably spent many years in the carpentry shop, was
about 30 years old when He began His main public mission. But we
know that He had always been perfectly obedient to His Father in
Heaven, from His youth up.
In contrast to today's world, it's a rather bizarre description of John
in Mark 1:6: "And John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather
belt about his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey."
Being a Nazarite, John was not allowed to cut his hair (Num. 6).
I imagine it was very long. He must have also been a very rugged
outdoorsman. When we think of John, we think of one who could get
by without all the creature comforts of his day. He probably
lived a very austere and ascetic life.
But even more important than what he wore, what he ate, and where he
lived was the strong stand he took for the truth. For he boldly
urged people to repent. He even stood opposed to the great
religious leaders of his day and spoke to them rather harshly (Matt.
3:7-10). He demanded a changed life from the people -- for just
being a Jew wasn't enough to be acceptable unto God (Luke
3:10-16). Though Herod the Tetrarch was a man of great power,
John was bold to rebuke him for his unlawful marriage to Herodias, the
former wife of Philip, Herod's brother (Matt. 14:1-4).
John's life must have greatly influenced many people. For the
multitudes viewed him as being a prophet (Matt. 14:5), and some thought
he might even be the Christ (Luke 3:15). Matthew 3:5,6 speaks of
not only "Jerusalem," but also "all Judea and all the district around
the Jordan" that were going out to him. Later, when Herod had
heard of the great works of Jesus, after John had already been
beheaded, Herod thought that John the Baptist had arisen from the dead
and was the one doing these miraculous works (Matt. 14:1,2).
As was the lot of many of God's prophets, John, too, lost his life
unjustly for standing for the truth. He was executed by Herod in
response to his wife's request that was actually made through her
daughter, as recorded in Matthew 14:6-12.
Though John's life was taken from him when only in his early 30's, he
had carried out God's purpose for him while he lived. Luke
1:16,17 speaks of this: "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel
back to the Lord their God. It is he who will go as a forerunner
before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the
fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of
the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
John was also very humble. In pointing the people to Christ, he
exalted the Lord above himself. For John viewed himself as not
even being worthy enough to remove the Lord's sandals; saw Him as being
"mightier" (Matt. 3:11); and knew that it was time for the Lord to be
in the limelight, while John would take a backseat. For he
declares in John 3:30 that "He must increase, but I must decrease."
So John had fulfilled his mission. He pointed the people to Jesus
(John 1:26-29), and that is also the job that every child of God today
has as well. May we each, therefore, always be encouraged by the
life of John the Baptist, this faithful servant of the Lord, to do
likewise in our service to God.
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-2-
News & Notes
Congratulations to Tom Tircuit and
Misty Farmer who have recently joined their lives in
matrimony! Let
those of us who are Christians pray that all will always go well for
them
throughout their life together.
Let us also continue to remember Agnes
Shuff
in our prayers who continues to be at home under hospice
care.
We want to also keep praying for Sheila
Watts who has been having trouble with sickness over the last
few weeks.
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel,
for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the
deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins
(Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ
(Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water
for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4;
Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith;
for,
if
not,
salvation
can
be
lost
(Heb.
10:36-39;
Rev.
2:10;
2
Pet.
2:20-22).
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CHURCH OF CHRIST
201 Rushing Road (at the Hampton Inn), Denham Springs, Louisiana
70726
Sunday services: 9:15 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 4 PM (worship)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
tedwards@onemain.com
tedwards1109@gmail.com
http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go (Gospel Observer website)
http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/audioser.html (audio sermons)
Directions:
Take the Denham Springs exit (exit 10) off of I-12. At the end of
the exit ramp, turn north. Go about a stone's throw to Rushing
Road. (You'll see a Starbucks, Circle K, and two other gas
stations; with each on each corner.) Turn left on Rushing Road,
and go a little less than 0.3 of a mile. Hampton Inn will be on
the
right. We assemble in its "Meeting Room," which is very close to
the reception counter. Just walk pass the check-in counter; turn
right at the hall. The first and second doors on the left lead to
where we meet.