CHAPTER 4 JOHN THE BAPTIZER

Zacharias in the Temple and the angel Gabriel
Zacharias, Elizabeth and John
A message from God to John
The One you are looking for
Turn from your sins to God
John’s clothing
John, the people and baptism
John’s preaching
Someone else is coming soon
Baptism with God’s Holy Spirit
John the Baptist
Jesus baptized by John
Jesus and the Holy Spirit
The Father and the Son
John and the Messiah
The One you are looking for, the Messiah
John and the Messiah
John, Jesus and the miracles
John in prison
Jesus and John and the miracles
Jesus speaks about John
Response to John the Baptist
Jesus and John the Baptist
King Herod, John the Baptist and Jesus’ miracles
John’s arrest
John the Baptist beheaded

Zacharias in the Temple and the angel Gabriel
Luke 1:5-25
My story begins with a Jewish priest, Zacharias, who lived when Herod was king of Judea. Zacharias was a member of the Abijah division of the Temple service corps. (His wife Elizabeth was, like himself, a member of the priest tribe of the Jews, a descendant of Aaron.) Zacharias and Elizabeth were godly folk, careful to obey all of God’s laws in spirit as well as in letter. But they had no children, for Elizabeth was barren; and now they were both very old.
One day as Zacharias was going about his work in the Temple – for his division was on duty that week – the honour fell to him by lot to enter the inner sanctuary and burn incense before the Lord. Meanwhile, a great crowd stood outside in the Temple court, praying as they always did during that part of the service when the incense was being burned.
Zacharias was in the sanctuary when suddenly an angel appeared, standing to the right of the altar of incense. Zacharias was startled and terrified.
But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid Zacharias! For I have come to tell you that God has heard your prayer, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. And you are to name him John. You will both have great joy and gladness at his birth, and many will rejoice with you. For he will be one of the Lord’s great men. He must never touch wine or strong drink – and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from before his birth. And he will persuade many a Jew to turn to the Lord his God. He will be a man of rugged spirit and power like Elijah, the prophet of old; and he will precede the coming of the Messiah, preparing the people for his arrival. He will teach them to love the Lord just as their ancestors did, and to live as godly men.”
Zacharias said to the angel, “But this is impossible! I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well on in years.”
Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to you with this good news. And now, because you haven’t believed me, you are to be struck dumb, unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly come true at the proper time.”
Meanwhile the crowds outside were waiting for Zacharias to appear and wondered why he was taking so long. When he finally came out, he couldn’t speak to them, and they realized from his gestures that he must have seen a vision in the Temple. He stayed on at the Temple for the remaining days of his Temple duties and then returned home. Soon afterwards Elizabeth his wife became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months.
“How kind the Lord is,” she exclaimed, “to take away my disgrace of having no children!”

Zacharias, Elizabeth and John
Luke 1:57 – 80
By now Elizabeth’s waiting was over, for the time had come for the baby to be born – and it was a boy. The word spread quickly to her neighbours and relatives of how kind the Lord had been to her, and everyone rejoiced.
When the baby was eight days old, all the relatives and friends came for the circumcision ceremony. They all assumed the baby’s name would be Zacharias, after his father.
But Elizabeth said, “No! He must be named John.”
“What?’ they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name. So they asked the baby’s father, talking to him by gestures.
He motioned for a piece of paper and to everyone’s surprise wrote, “His name is JOHN.” Instantly Zacharias could speak again, and he began praising God.
Wonder fell upon the whole neighbourhood, and the news of what had happened spread through the Judean hills. And everyone who heard about it took it to heart and asked, “I wonder what this child will turn out to be? For the hand of the Lord is surely upon him in some special way.”
Then his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:
“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to visit his people and has redeemed them. He is sending us a Mighty Saviour from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago – someone to save us from our enemies, from all who hate us.
He has been merciful to our ancestors, yes, to Abraham himself, by remembering his sacred promise to him, and by granting us the privilege of serving God fearlessly, freed from our enemies, and by making us holy and acceptable, ready to stand in his presence forever.
“And you, my little son, shall be called the prophet of the glorious God, for you will prepare the way for the Messiah. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. All this will be because the mercy of our God is very tender, and heaven’s dawn is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, and to guide us to the path of peace.”
The little boy greatly loved God and when he grew up he lived out in the lonely wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.

A message from God to John
Luke 3:1
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius Caesar, a message came from God to John (the son of Zacharias), as he was living out in the deserts. (Pilate was governor over Judea at that time: Herod, over Galilee; his brother Philip, over Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias, over Abaline; and Annas and Caiaphas were the Jewish High Priests.)
Luke 3:2
A message came from God to John (the son of Zacharias) as he was living out in the deserts.

The One you are looking for
John 1:33
John said, “At the time God sent me to baptize he told me, ‘When you see the Holy Spirit descending and resting upon someone – he is the one you are looking for. He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’”

Turn from your sins to God
Matthew 3:1-2
While they (Jesus, Mary and Joseph) were living in Nazareth, John the Baptist began preaching out in the Judean wilderness. His constant theme was, “Turn from your sins (your disobedience of God’s Laws) …turn to God…for the Kingdom of Heaven is coming soon.”
Mark 1:4
This messenger was John the Baptist. He lived in the wilderness and taught that all should be baptized as a public announcement of their decision to turn their backs on sin, so that God could forgive them.
Luke 3:3
Then John went from place to place on both sides of the river Jordan preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had turned to God and away from their sins, in order to be forgiven.
Matthew 3:3
Isaiah the prophet had told about John’s ministry centuries before. He had written, “I hear a shout from the wilderness, ‘Prepare a road for the Lord – straighten out the path where he will walk.’”
Mark 1:2-3
In the book written by the prophet Isaiah, God announced that he would send his Son to earth, and that a special messenger would arrive first to prepare the world for his coming.
“This messenger will live in the barren wilderness,” Isaiah said, “and will proclaim that everyone must straighten out his life to be ready for the Lord’s arrival.”
Luke 3:4-6
In the words of Isaiah the prophet, John was, “a voice shouting from the barren wilderness, ‘Prepare a road for the Lord to travel on! Widen the pathway before him! Level the mountains! Fill up the valleys! Straighten the curves! Smooth out the ruts! And then all mankind shall see the Saviour sent from God.’”

John’s clothing
Matthew 3:4
John’s clothing was woven from camel’s hair and he wore a leather belt; his food was locusts and wild honey.
Mark 1:6
His clothes were woven from camel’s hair and he wore a leather belt; locusts and wild honey were his food.

John, the people and baptism
Matthew 3:5-6
People from Jerusalem and from all over the Jordan Valley, and, in fact, from every section of Judea went out to the wilderness to hear him preach, and when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the river Jordan.
Mark 1:5
People from Jerusalem and from all over Judea traveled out into the Judean wastelands to see and hear John, and when they confessed their sins he baptized them in the river Jordan.

John’s preaching
Matthew 3:7-10
But when he (John) saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he denounced them.
“You sons of snakes!” he warned. “Who said that you could escape the coming wrath of God? Before being baptized, prove that you have turned from sin by doing worthy deeds. Don’t try to get by as you are, thinking, ‘We are safe, for we are Jews – descendants of Abraham.’ That proves nothing. God can change these stones here into Jews! And even now the axe of God’s judgment is poised to chop down every unproductive tree. They will be chopped and burned.”

Luke 3:7-9
Here is a sample of John’s preaching to the crowds that came for baptism: “You brood of snakes! You are trying to escape hell without truly turning to God. That is why you want to be baptized. First go and prove by the way you live that you really have repented. And don’t think you are safe because you are descendants of Abraham. That isn’t enough. God can produce children of Abraham from these desert stones! The axe of his judgment is poised over you, ready to sever your roots and cut you down. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”
Luke 3:10-14
The crowd replied, “What do you want us to do?”
“If you have two coats,” he replied, “give one to the poor. If you have extra food, give it away to those who are hungry.”
Even tax collectors – notorious for their corruption – came to be baptized and asked, “How shall we prove to you that we have abandoned our sins?”
“By your honesty,” he replied. “Make sure you collect no more taxes than the Roman government requires you to.”
“And us,” asked some soldiers, “what about us?”
John replied, “Don’t extort money by threats and violence; don’t accuse anyone of what you know he didn’t do; and be content with your pay!”

Someone else is coming soon
Luke 3:15
Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and eager to know whether or not John was he. This was the question of the hour, and was being discussed everywhere.
Matthew 3:11
(John says) “With water I baptize those who repent of their sins; but someone else is coming, far greater than I am, so great that I am not worthy to carry his shoes!”
Mark 1:7
Here is a sample of his (John’s) preaching:
“Someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am, so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave”
Luke 3:16
John says, “I baptize only with water; but someone is coming soon who has far higher authority than mine; in fact, I am not even worthy of being his slave.

Baptism with God’s Holy Spirit
Matthew 3:11-12
“He (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He will separate the chaff from the grain, burning the chaff with never-ending fire, and storing away the grain.”
Mark 1:8
“I baptize you with water but he (Jesus) will baptize you with God’s Holy Spirit!”
Luke 3:16-18
“He (Jesus) will baptize you with fire – with the Holy Spirit. He will separate chaff from grain, and burn up the chaff with eternal fire and store away the grain.” He used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people.

John the Baptist
John 1:6-9
God sent John the Baptist as a witness to the fact that Jesus Christ is the true Light. John himself was not the Light; he was only a witness to identify it. Later on, the one who is the true Light arrived to shine on everyone coming into the world.

Jesus baptized by John
Matthew 3:13-15
Then Jesus went from his home in Galilee to the river Jordan to be baptized there by John. John didn’t want to do it.
“This isn’t correct,” he said. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you.”
But Jesus said, “Please do it, for I must do all that is right.” So then John baptized him.
Mark 1:9
Then one day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by John in the river Jordan.

Jesus and the Holy Spirit
Matthew 3:16
After his baptism, as soon as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were open to him and he saw the Spirit of God coming down in the form of a dove.
Mark 1:10
The moment Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens open and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descending on him.
Luke 3:21-22
Then one day Jesus himself joined the crowds being baptized by John. And after he was baptized and was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove settled upon him.

The Father and the Son
Matthew 3:17
And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, and I am wonderfully pleased with him.”
Mark 1:11
And a voice from heaven said, “You are my beloved Son; you are my delight.”
Luke 3:22
And a voice from heaven said, “You are my much loved Son, yes, my delight.”
Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry.

John and the Messiah
John 1:19-27
The Jewish leaders sent priests and assistant priests from Jerusalem to ask John whether he claimed to be the Messiah.
He denied it flatly. “I am not the Christ,” he said.
“Well then, who are you?” They asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No,” he replied. “Are you the Prophet?” “No.” “Then who are you? Tell us, so we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you have to say for yourself?”
He replied, “I am a voice from the barren wilderness, shouting as Isaiah prophesied, ‘Get ready for the coming of the Lord!’”
Then those who were sent by the Pharisees asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”
John told them, “I merely baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you have never met, who will soon begin his ministry among you, and I am not even fit to be his slave.”

The One you are looking for, the Messiah
John 1:28-46
This incident took place at Bethany, a village on the other side of the river Jordan where John was baptizing.
The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, “Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the world’s sin! (thoughts, speech and actions against the Laws of God!) He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Soon a man far greater than I am is coming, who existed long before me.’ I didn’t know he was the one, but I am here baptizing with water in order to point him out to the nation of Israel.”
Then John described how he had seen the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descending from heaven and resting upon Jesus.
“I didn’t know he was the one.” John said again, “but at the time God sent me to baptize he told me, ‘when you see the Holy Spirit descending and resting upon someone – he is the one you are looking for. He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. I saw it happen to this man, and I therefore testify that he is the Son of God.”
The following day, as John was standing with two of his disciples, Jesus walked by. John looked at him intently and then declared, “See! There is the Lamb of God!”
Then John’s two disciples turned and followed Jesus.
Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them.
“Sir,” they replied, “Where do you live?”
“Come and see,” he said. So they went with him to the place where he was staying and were with him from about four o’clock that afternoon until the evening. (One of these men was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.)
Andrew then went to find his brother Peter and told him, “We have found the Messiah!” And he brought Peter to meet Jesus.
Jesus looked intently at Peter for a moment and then said, “You are Simon, John’s son – but you shall be called Peter the Rock!”
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and told him, “Come with me.” (Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s home town.)
Philip now went off to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the Messiah – the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”
“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael, “Can anything good come from there?”
“Just come and see for yourself,” said Philip.
John 3:22
Afterwards Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and stayed for a while in Judea and baptized there.
John 3:23-24
At this time John the Baptist was not yet in prison. He was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there.
John 3:25-26
One day someone began argument with John’s disciples, telling them that Jesus’ baptism was best. So they came to John and said, “Master, the man you met on the other side of the river Jordan – the one you said was the Messiah – he is baptizing too, and everybody is going over there instead of coming here to us.”

John and the Messiah
John 3:27-36
John replied, “God in heaven appoints each man’s work. My work is to prepare the way for that man so that everyone will go to him. You yourselves know how plainly I told you that I am not the Messiah. I am here to prepare the way for him – that is all. The crowds will naturally go to the main attraction – the bride will go where the bridegroom is. A bridegroom’s friends rejoice with him. I am the Bridegroom’s friend, and I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”
“He has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else. I am of the earth, and my understanding is limited to the things of earth. He tells what he had seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! Those who believe him discover that God is a fountain of truth. For this one – sent by God – speaks God’s words, for God’s Spirit is upon him without measure or limit. The Father loves this man because he is his Son, and God has given him everything there is. And all who trust him – God’s Son – to save them have eternal life; those who don’t believe and obey him shall never see heaven, but the wrath of God (the anger, rage, fury, exasperation, indignation and resentment of God) remains upon them.”

John, Jesus and the miracles
John 5:31-37
(Jesus said) “When I make claims about myself they aren’t believed, but someone else, yes, John the Baptist, is making these claims for me too. You have gone out to listen to his preaching, and I can assure you that all he says about me is true. But the truest witness I have is not from a man, though I have reminded you about John’s witness so that you will believe in me and be saved. John shone brightly for a while, and you benefited and rejoiced, but I have a greater witness than John. I refer to the miracles I do; these have been assigned me by the Father, and they prove that the Father has sent me. And the Father himself has also testified about me, though not appearing to you personally, or speaking to you directly.”

John in prison
Luke 3:19-20
(But after John had publicly criticized Herod, governor of Galilee, for marrying Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for many other wrongs he had done, Herod put John in prison, thus adding this sin to all his many others.)
Matthew 11:2-3
John the Baptist, who was now in prison, heard about all the miracles the Messiah was doing, so he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you really the one we are waiting for, or shall we keep on looking?”

Jesus and John and the miracles
Matthew 11:4-6
Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him about the miracles you’ve seen me do – the blind people I’ve healed, and the lame people now walking without help, and the cured lepers, and the deaf who hear, and the dead raised to life; and tell him about my preaching the Good News to the poor. Then give him this message, ‘Blessed (happy and fortunate) are those who don’t doubt me.’”
Luke 7:18-23
The disciples of John the Baptist soon heard of all that Jesus was doing.
When they told John about it, he sent two of his disciples to Jesus to ask him, “Are you really the Messiah? Or shall we keep on looking for him?”
The two disciples found Jesus while he was curing many sick people of their various diseases – healing the lame and the blind and casting out evil spirits. When they asked him John’s question, this was his reply: “Go back to John and tell him all you have seen and heard here today: how those who were blind can see. The lame are walking without a limp. The lepers are completely healed. The deaf can hear again. The dead come back to life. And the poor are hearing the Good News. And tell him, ‘Blessed (happy and fortunate) is the one who does not lose his faith in me.’”

Jesus speaks about John
Matthew 11:7-11
When John’s disciples had gone, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “When you went out into the barren wilderness to see John, what did you expect him to be like? Grass blowing in the wind? Or were you expecting to see a man dressed as a prince in a palace? Or a prophet of God? Yes, and he is more than just a prophet. For John is the man mentioned in the Scriptures – a messenger to precede me, to announce my coming, and prepare people to receive me.
“Truly, of all men ever born, none shines more brightly than John the Baptist. And yet, even the lesser lights in the Kingdom of Heaven will be greater than he is!
Luke 7:24-28
After they left, Jesus talked to the crowd about John. “Who is this man you went out into the Judean wilderness to see?” he asked. “Did you find him weak as grass, moved by every breath of wind? Did you find him dressed in expensive clothes? No! Men who live in luxury are found in palaces, not out in the wilderness. But did you find a prophet? Yes! And more than a prophet. He is the one to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, ‘Look! I am sending my messenger ahead of you, to prepare the way before you.’ In all humanity there is no one greater than John. And yet the least citizen of the Kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Response to John the Baptist
Matthew 11:12
“From the time John the Baptist began preaching and baptizing until now, ardent multitudes have been crowding towards the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Luke 7:29-30
“All who heard John preach – even the most wicked of them – agreed that God’s requirements were right, and they were baptized by him. All, that is, except the Pharisees and the teachers of Moses’ Law. They rejected God’s plan for them and refused John’s baptism.”
Matthew 11:13-15
“For all the laws and prophets looked forward (to the Messiah). Then John appeared, and if you are willing to understand what I mean, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come (at the time the Kingdom begins). If ever you were willing to listen, listen now!”

Jesus and John the Baptist
Matthew 11:16-19
(Jesus said) “What shall I say about this nation? These people are like children playing, who say to their little friends, ‘we played weddings and you weren’t happy, so we played funerals, but you weren’t sad.’ For John the Baptist doesn’t even drink wine and often goes without food, and you say, ‘He’s crazy.’ And I the Son of Mankind, feast and drink, and you complain that I am ‘a glutton and a drinking man, and hang around with the worst sort of sinners!’ But brilliant men like you can justify your every inconsistency!”
Luke 7:31-35
“What can I say about such men?” Jesus asked. “With what shall I compare them? They are like a group of children who complain to their friends, ‘You don’t like it if we play “weddings” and you don’t like it if we play “funerals”’! For John the Baptist used to go without food and never touched a drop of alcohol all his life, and you said, ‘He must be crazy!’ But I eat my food and drink my wine, and you say, “What a glutton Jesus is! And he drinks! And has the lowest sort of friends! But I am sure you can always justify your inconsistencies.”
Matthew 11:1
When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went off preaching in the cities where they were scheduled to go.

King Herod, John the Baptist and Jesus’ miracles
Matthew 14:1-2
When King Herod heard about Jesus, he said to his men, “This must be John the Baptist, come back to life again. That is why he can do these miracles.”
Mark 6:14-16
King Herod soon heard about Jesus, for his miracles were talked about everywhere. The king thought Jesus was John the Baptist come back to life again. So the people were saying, “No wonder he can do such miracles.” Others thought Jesus was Elijah the ancient prophet, now returned to life again; still others claimed he was a new prophet like the great ones of the past. “No,” Herod said, “it is John, the man I beheaded. He has come back from the dead.”
Luke 9:7-9
When reports of Jesus’ miracles reached Herod, the governor, he was worried and puzzled, for some were saying, “This is John the Baptist come back to life again”; and others said, “It is Elijah or some other ancient prophet risen from the dead.” These rumours were circulating all over the land. “I beheaded John,” Herod said, “so who is this man about whom I hear such strange stories?” And he tried to see him.

John’s arrest
Matthew 14:3-5
Herod had arrested John and chained him in prison at the demand of his wife Herodias, his Brother Philip’s ex-wife; because John had told him it was wrong for him to marry her. He would have killed John but was afraid of a riot, for all the people believed John was a prophet.
Mark 6:17-20
For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John because he kept saying it was wrong for the king to marry Herodias, his Brother Philip’s wife. Herodias wanted John killed in revenge, but without Herod’s approval she was powerless. And Herod respected John, knowing that he was a good and holy man, and so he kept him under his protection. Herod was disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so he liked to listen to him.
Matthew 14:6-7
At a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’ daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, so he vowed to give her anything she wanted.
Mark 6:21-24
Herodias’ chance finally came. It was Herod’s birthday and he gave a party for his palace aides, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee. Then Herodias’ daughter came in and danced before them and greatly pleased them all. “Ask me for anything you like,” the king vowed, “even half of my kingdom, and I will give it to you.” She went out and consulted her mother, who told her, “Ask for John the Baptist’s head!”

John the Baptist beheaded
Matthew 14:8-12
Consequently, at her mother’s urging, the girl asked for John the Baptist’s head on a tray. The king was grieved, but because of his oath, and because he didn’t want to back down in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders. So John was beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. Then John’s disciples came for his body and buried it, and came to tell Jesus what had happened.
Mark 6:25-30
She hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist – right now – on a tray.” Then the king was sorry, but he was embarrassed to break his oath in front of his guests. So he sent one of his bodyguards to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier killed John in the prison, and brought back his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl and she took it to her mother.
When the disciples heard what had happened, they came for his body and buried it in a tomb.
The apostles now returned to Jesus from their tour and told him all they had done and what they had said to the people they visited.
Luke 9:10
After the apostles returned to Jesus and reported what they had done, he slipped quietly away with them to the city of Bethsaida.