John The Baptist:
Fore-Runner of Christ
John the Baptist is one of the many interesting characters in the Bible. As you study him from your bible you will find that his life is marked by several distinctive features. Read from Luke chapter one of his unusual conception and birth and the interesting events that attended both. It is evident from this account that John experienced the 'New Birth' prior to his natural birth, for he leaped for joy in his mother's womb at the salutation of Mary! From this we learn that the God of the Bible works as it pleases Him, and is not nearly so limited as he is often represented in many pulpits.
Another distinctive feature about John is that he was the first Gospel preacher of the New Testament. In the fortieth chapter of Isaiah he is spoken of. In the fortieth book of your bible he appears on the scene. Now bear in mind that there were no seminaries for him to attend that he might learn how to preach or what to preach! Nor did he have other preachers to confer with on just what message would be appropriate. However, this did not handicap him in the least! He had the best counselor of all. God! Read from Isaiah 40:6 the message he was told to deliver. "All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:".
This message that John was told to deliver is just as timely today as it was then. Our lives, like the grass of the field quickly pass away. The strength, beauty, and glory of youth vanish away as the flower. I rejoice that this was not the end of John's message! How sad it would be if there was nothing to tell but this! The good news of John's message is: "The word of our God shall stand forever.". Regardless of the changes that occur in our lives, God lives and rules, and his promises stand sure; he is the same today as in John's day! God's word transcends time and mortal comprehension.
John The Baptist
New Testament Herald
A study of John the Baptist would not be very meaningful if it failed to give attention the "office" and position that this bible character filled. Simply put, John was a Herald. In former times a Herald was an official sent to proclaim and publish important news, or to announce the coming of a monarch or some dignitary.
It is fitting that suitable arrangements be made before the arrival of an important person. This was the purpose that God had in sending John the Baptist in advance of the Messiah. As it is written in Malachi 3:1, "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...".
In our age of technology, getting news dispersed is not the problem that it was in bible times! In those times a Herald was the most efficient way to pass important news from province to province. How important it was that the Herald understand his job and get the message down right! Imagine the confusion that would occur if the Herald got the facts confused!
In a very real way a Gospel preacher is a Herald for he has important news from a "far country" to publish! However, from the content of the message coming from many pulpits in this country, the question rises whether some of these Heralds are sent from God as John was. There is a saying about preachers, "Some were called, some were sent, and some just got up and went"!
The bible portrays John the Baptist as a rather coarse and salty individual. His clothing was substandard for his day to put it mildly! When self-righteous Pharisees came to him, he didn’t bother using diplomacy with them. Read in Matthew 3:7 how he addressed some hypocrites of his day!
When I was growing up we occasionally sang the song, "Give me that Old Time Religion". People recognized and valued the virtue of true religion. When we went to the store we didn't bother locking the doors or setting the burglar alarm. The adage, "As the Church, so goes the world", seems more relevant today than heretofore.
I suspect that if John the Baptist came into your community he might not be received very hospitably: much less into many of the churches! Perhaps our generation has become too "refined". Have we become too refined to receive the message of John the Baptist? Is our diet of "Theology" more healthy than the "beans an' tators" of John's gospel?
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