CENTRAL THOUGHT
Those who faithfully do the will of God are blessed by Him.
HYMN: When Jesus comes to reward his servants
TEXT: John 1:6-8; 15-36; John 3:22-36.
INTRODUCTION:
As a forerunner of the Lord Jesus Christ, John the Baptist carried out his God-given mission creditably with sense of purpose and direction. When he appeared on the scene, He called on the people of Israel to turn to God, announcing that the Messiah was coming soon. He preached fearlessly to the King, soldiers, republicans, teachers of the law and the people, encouraging them to turn away from their sins. Those who repented from their evil ways were baptized unto repentance. He lived a humble life within his means in the wilderness. Worldliness, antics, and gimmicks were not part of his character. He was truthful and straight to the point in his preaching.
When the Pharisees asked him who he was, he did not mix words, he said “ I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness make straight the way of the Lord….” John 1:19-23. He refused to usurp Christ’s position and told the Pharisees that his mission was to announce the coming of the Messiah and to prepare the way for Him. He remained focused in his mission till he introduced Christ to the people as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the whole world. Thereafter he was beheaded by king Herod at the request of Heordia’s daughter.
His faithfulness, commitment, dedication and humility is worthy of emulation by believers in Christ. Although his style of living may not fit into the present day living standard, he was contented and performed his assignment with zeal and zest. This may be why the Lord Jesus had high regard for John the Baptist, Luke 7:28. How would Christ rate you as a believer, a Christian leader, or a minister of the gospel; this is the thrust of this teaching.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are:
- To appreciate the ministry of the Baptist.
- To examine the content of the message of John the Baptist.
- To know the lessons we can draw from the character of John the Baptist.
BIBLE TRUTH:
Q1. COULD IT BE SAID THAT THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS SUCCESSFUL?
The mission of John the Baptist on planet earth was to prepare the way for the coming Messiah and introduce Him to the people. (Matt.3:3 and John 1:29-34). This involved preaching to the people to repent of their wicked ways and baptizing them unto repentance. When he appeared on the scene to carry out his mission, he did it to the letter with zeal and zest, not deviating from it. Although it is not recorded that John performed any miracle, (John 10:41) built a synagogue or even owned properties, he was able to carry out his mission without distraction and was successful in his ministry by God’s standard of measuring success. No wonder Jesus said in Luke 7:28 that “For I say unto you, among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist”. This is because he successfully accomplished what God sent him to do. He preached the message of repentance to all kinds of people irrespective of their social status and majority of them convinced by the word they heard and convicted of their sins, repented, and accepted to be baptized unto repentance.
He also succeeded in acknowledging and identifying the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the whole world. Thereby pointing Him to the people as the Savior of the whole world. Thus, he accomplished his mission successfully.
Q2. COMPARE JOHN’S SUCCESS WITH THE STANDARD OF MEASURING SUCCESS TODAY?
The standard of measuring success in ministry today is based on numerical strength of the congregation, quality of infrastructural facilities, wealth of members or ministry, the number of branch churches credited to the ministry, television or radio programs credited to the ministry. More often, the measuring standard does not take into consideration the spiritual standing of member, the spiritual programs/ church activities, or the positive impact of the ministry on the people. This is infact an aberration of a true measuring standard of a spiritual assignment. To use this aberrant standard to measure the success of John’s ministry, will be out of place because his messages of repentance were of high spiritual content, convincing and convicting enough to have won the people to the Lord.
John the Baptist preached truthfully, fearlessly, and boldly not minding who could be offended by his preaching. He was devoid of gimmicks and antics which are common features in today’s preaching. Despite the fact that he was a wilderness preacher, the people sought to hear his message of repentance or to ask him questions. This is an indication that he was popular. (John 10:41-42). Above all, he fulfilled God’s will concerning his mission on earth by successfully performing his role as a forerunner and introducing the Lord Jesus Christ to the people as the Savior of the whole world. No wonder the Lord Jesus referred to John the Baptist as a burning and a shining light, John 5:35.
Finally, in God’s reckoning, John the Baptist was successful in his mission on earth.
Q3. WHAT ARE THE COMMON FEATURES OF THE MESSAGE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THOSE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HIS DISCIPLES?
The major theme of the message of John the Baptist was repentance from evil work. Those who accepted this message surrendered themselves for baptism. Although John dwelt in the wilderness, his audience were people from the surrounding towns and villages, who heard his voice and came to him. He preached the message of repentance from evil works to all who came to him regardless of their social status. Towards the end of his earthly mission, he introduced the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the whole earth.
The Lord Jesus Christ came preaching repentance from evil works, teaching with authority and telling the people to repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, Matthew 4:17. He began and concluded his mission on earth successfully.
The disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ came preaching the gospel of salvation to the people, healing all manner of diseases, and performing many signs and wonder in the name of Jesus.
The message of these three dispensations were the same. They encouraged and persuaded the people to turn from ungodliness to serve the Almighty God in sincerity.
Q4. WHAT LESSONS CAN BE DRAWN FROM THE CHARACTER OF JOHN THE BAPTIST?
Only few ministers of the gospel in our generation can truly acknowledge and perhaps live out and publicly proclaim like apostle Paul in Gal.2:20 that “I am crucified with Christ: never the less I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me”. No doubt, the life lived by apostle Paul was evidently that of self-denial so that the life of Christ who now “Liveth in me”, might be made manifest to the world. This was clearly also the pattern of life of John the Baptist.
It is not uncommon today to find believers who by sheer projection of their old lives and the lust of their hearts relegate Christ to the background of their lives as they “show” to the whole world how rich their “Father” is. Even their mannerisms easily give them up as being in competition with fellow believers or ministers. So much arrogance is displayed in some instances that it becomes difficult to distinguish them from unbelievers to whom they are supposed to project the life of Christ that is in them.
Some ministers amass so many titles to themselves to make them appear invincible and perhaps above the ordinary human beings that they are. It has been said some, who as a result of the grace of God upon their lives, considered greater than some of the prophets of old and even accepted to be referred to as such-old-prophets “resurrected”. But we see in John the Baptist a man who knew whom he was, and when he was asked who he was by Scribes and the Pharisees, he answered, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord….” John 1:19-23. He demonstrated that he was in constant touch with God who commissioned him. He testified in John 1:33 thus: “…. But He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, upon whom thou shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.” Some preachers today would hardly make reference to anything in the lives of other preachers which is remarkably unique and different from theirs. This was not so with John the Baptist. He remarked. “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.….And I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God” John 1:32; 34. On the superiority between him and the Lord, he said “…but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not: He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose”.
In every way, John the Baptist’s life is a model of humility for believers in Christ especially the preachers of the gospel, today. John the Baptist was focused and maintained his course he did not allow himself to be swayed by the apparent revival of Israel through his ministry. His goal and ministry was to introduce the Lord Jesus Christ and he did not allow any distractions to derail him from accomplishing that purpose. He was determined, fearless, truthful, and prayerful in accomplishing his mission on earth. Christians ought to emulate him.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
It was not recorded in the Holy Bible that John the Baptist was among the wealthiest in his generation. Despite this, he was determined in accomplishing his mission as a forerunner of the Lord Jesus Christ successfully. He remained focused until he introduced Christ to the people as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the whole world. He did not usurp Christ’s position as the Messiah even when he was tempted by the Scribes and the Pharisees. He was humble enough to say “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness make straight the way of the Lord…” John 1:19-23. How many believers can display this kind of unusual humility in the face of increasing popularity? Believers are encouraged to emulate Him.
MEMORY VERSE:
Luke 7:28a
“For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist.”
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE:
Monday: Obeying God.
Joshua 1:7-9.
Tuesday: Serving God.
1 Sam.3:1-10.
Wednesday: Horning God.
Prov. 3:1-10.
Thursday: Loving God.
John 14:21-24.
Friday: Believing God.
Rom.4:19-25.
Saturday: Do not allow material blessing to blur your vision.
Col.3:2; 2Tim.2:4; 4:10.