Season 4 Podcast 20 “The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew Chapter Three: Behold, The Lamb of God”

Season 4 Podcast 20 “The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew Chapter Three: Behold, the Lamb of God”One of the greatest witnesses of Christ is John the Baptist who is six months older than Christ. John’s divine mission was to bear witness of the coming of Christ. He spoke in parables. Matthew 3: 1-21 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.We have the great meeting between Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, but there is no evidence that John had ever met Christ until the day of Christ’s baptism in the river Jordan. John was humble. He drew a clear distinction between his mission and the mission of Jesus Christ.Matthew 3: 11-1211 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.In preparing for the kingdom of heaven, John teaches two necessary ordinances. First is baptism by water. John, who was given the Aaronic priesthood by his father, Zacharias, the priest, has the authority to baptize “with water unto repentance.” Water is a symbolic cleansing to prepare one for a greater cleansing which only Christ can give the authority to do, “he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” In the early days of the church the Holy Ghost was given by the laying on of hands by the apostles. In Paul’s letter to Timothy, we are told1 Timothy 4: 1414 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.Presbytery come from the Greek word ‘Presbyteros” meaning elder. Following baptism, elders or apostles of the early Christian Church gave the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.Acts 8: 18-2018 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.Both baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost are necessary requirements for entering the kingdom of heaven. Peter, who clearly had the words of John the Baptist in mind, teaches the same principle. Perquisite to receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is baptism.Acts 2: 3838 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.Both water and fire are symbolic of total cleansing suggesting that to enter the kingdom of heaven one must be cleansed of all sins by the power of Christ. Christ went a long way out of his way to be baptized by John because at that time John was the only one with the priesthood authority to perform that sacred ordinance. Speaking to the Pharisees and Sadducees, John establishes conditions for baptism.