NT Characters: John the Baptist

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.Background information This NT podcast but could just as easily be put into the OT category, since our character appears in both testaments. He lived under the tail end of the old covenant, as the kingdom of God was dawning.Family: married? father? how distant a cousin of Jesus?Levite (Exodus-Deuteronomy) - priestly class, charged with bringing God to the people and the people to GodNazirite (Numbers 6) -- special calling and devotionThe long-awaited resumption of prophecy (Malachi 3). Explains his adoption of the dress and demeanor of Elijah.Perhaps so credible and effective because he did not stand on his position as a Levite. He certainly didn't tape into the great wealth of the priestly establishment.John is often compared unfairly to Jesus, who seems to be a cousin. Perhaps, frightened by his rough, untamed preaching, we comfort ourselves by dismissing his words as extremist.Transitional figure (Malachi 3:1-3, 4:4-6)Last O.T. prophet and Elijah figure.Herald of the Messiah (Though a man of the old covenant, Jesus exalts him (Matthew 11:2-15).Knew that to prepare people for the coming of the Lord they must first get right with their fellow men: a ministry of reconciliation.Moses received the Law for the Jewish people at Horeb (Sinai). The prophets called all back to the letter and Spirit of the Law, which entailed righteous relationships with others. See 1 John 4:19-21.What made him so great? I would like to offer four reasons.I. Profound sense of divine callingLuke 1:13-17 -- divine plan. God's plan was revealed even before John's birth.Luke 3:2 - start of ministry. John begins only once the word of God came to him.Resumption of prophecy - (see the intertestamental books of 1 & 2 Maccabees).II. Radical message delivered with radical courage Repentance, in view of God's kingdom (Matthew 3:1-12).Repentance must yield fruit (Matthew 3:8).A baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4).Not all were willing to accept his challenge (Luke 7:29-30).Yet John did not claim to have the last word.He was only preparing the way for the Messiah.John's baptism did not confer the Spirit, which was a special mark of the new covenant (John 7:38-39).John had the courage of Elijah (1 Kings 17-2 Kings 2).III. A true man of characterHe was toughFasting (Matthew 9:14; Mark 2:18; Luke 5:33)Asceticism (Luke 7:33)He was a flawed human, imperfect like the rest of us.John he had his period of doubt/struggle (Luke 7:18-23).Yet he was a truly virtuous follower of God. (Virtue vir, virtus [man, strength])He took a strong stand on personal righteousness.True virtue stands opposed to vice.Publicly challenged the illicit marriage of Herod Antipas.John did not show favoritism, nor was he impressed by religiosity.CourageSpoke truth to power, like Elijah, Jesus, Paul, and may other figures.Unwilling to back down.He was humble. Self came second.Yet strong!In this he resembled Moses (Numbers 12:3), although he especially resembled Elijah.John 3:27-30. Memory verse: "He must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30).None of Self, and All of Thee, orOh, the Bitter Pain and SorrowOh, the bitter pain and sorrow that a time could ever be, / When I proudly said to Jesus, “All of self, and none of Thee.”All of self, and none of Thee, All of self, and none of Thee, / When I proudly said to Jesus, “All of self, and none of Thee.”Yet He found me; I beheld Him bleeding on th’ accursed tree, / And my wistful heart said faintly, “Some of self, and some of Thee.”Some of self, and some of Thee, Some of self, and some of Thee, / And my wistful heart said faintly, “Some of self, and some of Thee.”Day by day His tender mercy, healing, helping, full and free, / Brought me lower while I whispered, “Less of self, and more of Thee.”Less of self, and more of Thee, less of self, and more or Thee, / Brought me lower while I whispered, “Less of self, and more of Thee.”Higher than the highest heaven, deeper than the deepest sea, / Lord, Thy love at last has conquered: “None of self, and all of Thee.”None of self, and all of Thee, None of self, and all of Thee, / Lord, Thy love at last has conquered: “None of self, and all of Thee.”IV. Faithful to deathJezebel threatened to remove Elijah 's head but this did not happen.The spite of a woman did, however, lead to John's decapitation (Matthew 14)."Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army came from God, and was a very just punishment for what he did against John called the baptist [the dipper]. For Herod had him killed, although he was a good man and had urged the Jews to exert themselves to virtue, both as to justice toward one another and reverence towards God, and having done so join together in washing. For immersion in water, it was clear to him, could not be used for the forgiveness of sins, but as a sanctification of the body, and only if the soul was already thoroughly purified by right actions. And when others massed about him, for they were very greatly moved by his words, Herod, who feared that such strong influence over the people might carry to a revolt -- for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise -- believed it much better to move now than later have it raise a rebellion and engage him in actions he would regret. And so John, out of Herod's suspiciousness, was sent in chains to Machaerus, the fort previously mentioned, and there put to death; but it was the opinion of the Jews that out of retribution for John God willed the destruction of the army so as to afflict Herod." -- Josephus, Antiquities 18.5.2 116-119Further study The podcasts on reincarnation explain further that he was not literally Elijah.You may also want to listen to the Elijah podcast.You will find a study on the Nazirite (specifically, their parents) in Principle-Centered Parenting (formerly The Quiver.)