Character Study on John the Baptist

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the course, New Testament Orientation, NBST 521-B04, to Dr. R. Wayne Stacy

Prepared for an informal, small-group Bible study

September 30th, 2012

Introduction

Purpose/Thesis: We are going to illuminate the greatness of John in terms of how he points to the greater work and anointing of Jesus Christ.

Why John the Baptist

John the Baptist or Baptizer was very significant in God’s redemptive plan. He paved the way for Jesus Christ to be recognized as Messiah and Saviour. Thus, John is called a “precursor” or a “forerunner” to Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist has been variously depicted in religious artwork

From the physical description provided in two of the four gospels, we can derive a picture of someone who is very focused and not concerned with vanity or appearance (Mk. 1:6; Mt. 3:4). (Elsie E. Egermeier/

Providence Lithograph, Co.)

John’s appearance

John wore a camel-haired garment and a leather belt and ate raw food (locusts and honey) (Mat. 3:4).

Source: Moser 1999, 781.

What’s a “forerunner” or “precursor”?

A “forerunner” is someone who goes or runs before another or who announces the arrival of another.

In the case of John the Baptist, Jesus is prepared in his ministry through the preaching and works of John the Baptist.

All Four Gospels…

All Four gospels present John’s work as fulfilling ancient, sacred prophecy about Messiah – John is “the voice of one crying in the wilderness” (Matt. 3:3; Mk. 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23).

The Gospel of John has John the Baptist uttering the words about himself; John the Baptist himself understood the prophecy being fulfilled in himself – rather than the gospel writers “imposing” that prophetic understanding on the nature of John’s work (John 1:23).

All Four Gospels (cont.)…

Thus, all four gospels are showing that John the Baptist is an additional evidence or confirmation of the better or superior work of Christ.

In the Old Covenant law, this testimony (or additional evidence) is critical to establishing the truth of a matter (Deut. 17:6).

Testimony (evidence) of John the Baptist

Rabbinic schools had certain exploratory groups that they sent out to determine who John the Baptist was – they inquired if he was “the one” (God’s anointed Messiah) (John 1:19).

These Jews were following the Law and its procedure to evaluate evidence through more than one eyewitness (John 5:31-33; 8:17, 18; Deut. 19:15).

Testimony (evidence) of John the Baptist (cont.)

Despite these inquiries, John has no hesitation or uncertainty in affirming that he is not “the one” (Luke 3:15, 16).

He plainly points to the superiority and supremacy of Jesus as Messiah (Mark 1:7).

John the Baptist overshadowed by Christ

John the Baptist not only announces Jesus’s superiority and messiahship through his preaching but he shows it physically through public baptism and God further certifies the baptism through the Holy Spirit descending (Lk. 3:21, 22; Mk. 1:9-11; Mt. 3:16).

Confirmation of Jesus comes through both the words *and* deeds of John the Baptist.

John/Jesus Parallelism

One major feature which characterizes both John and Jesus is how both their births warrant an entirely singular angelic visit.

The angelic announcements are given to the parents regarding their sons.

The angels also testify to particulars or details of the ministry of the sons.

Scriptures: Mt. 1:20-25; Lk. 1:13-20; 26-38.

John’s Ministry

John the Baptist is immediately perceived as a prophet to Israel (Mt. 21:26).

John’s being associated with the desert probably added credibility and authenticity to his message since he became known through affiliation with the tradition of Elijah (John 1:21).

Prophet? What sort?

“Prophetes” – the Greek word from which we derive “prophet” has at least three different senses.

“Spokesperson or divinely commissioned spokesperson”

“Foreteller of the future”

“One gifted for the exposition of divine truth”

Source: (Mounce & Mounce 2008, 1179)

John and the Prophetic Role/Office

John appears to fill all three understandings of Prophet

He is divinely commissioned (birth announcement)

He interprets and applies divine truth for the situation in Israel

He actively foretells the greatness and superiority of Christ

John attracts followers

The anointing of God is evident in the life of John the Baptist (Mt. 11:11).

He knew his calling, his purpose in life and Jews of his day responded to that (Jn. 1:23).

Expectations ran high

Another factor to explain the success of John the Baptist and his ministry has to do with messianic and prophetic expectation.

When crowds heard the citation from Isaiah, this sound must have rung in their ears.

When we hear the phrase “cry” or “cry out” in “the voice of one crying…” we might think of a plaintive wail.

It rather conveys the sense of a loud, persistent warning, like a siren.

John, the holy baptizer of Jesus

Major anointing on John’s life was manifest when Jesus approached *him* for baptism (Mat. 3:13, 14)

This approach shook John to the core and must have moved the crowds as well.

Significance of Baptism

Jesus’s Baptism was substantial insofar as this case was one where John was reluctant to baptize (Mt. 3:14, 15).

Public sealing of a person for ministry is involved in this sort of pre-Christian rite, perhaps not unlike our church ordinations today.

Repentance and Baptism

The mere act of going out with this type of anointing would have “levelled” all of the cliques and class distinctions. As Edersheim (1950) puts it, “Pharisee and Sadducee, outcast publican and semi-heathen soldier, met here as on common ground” (p. 275).

Public baptism in this setting would have exceeded that previously seen in the house of Israel.

Source: Edersheim 1950, 275.

Conclusion: John speaks today!

What does John say now? He would report on the condition of our

“dead-ness” and call us to new life in Christ. Rather than baptism, John would probably

have a sort of re-dedication rite for those recommitting their lives to Christ.

Personal Note

One has to be cautious, I think, in applying the life and work of John, the Baptist. I’ve known some amazing “prophets” who called people sitting in church pews out of their apathy. I have learned from and with them. A trend that I observe is that someone will start off with an anointing and message and eventually get diverted.

Personal note (cont).

These souls can get cut off and isolated awfully quickly due to the severity of their message (and sometimes the style). I remember a powerful prophet who visited a secular college campus I was attending as a young man. He really got students’ attention but he focused so much on their immorality and the shock value of it, that I think something of the redemptive quality of his outreach was lost. We have to beware this approach and make sure to make prophets welcome in our churches.

BibliographyCruden, Alexander. Cruden's Complete Concordance with Index to Proper Names and their Meanings. Grand Rapids, MI.: Zondervan, 1967.

Davis, Richard E. One Gospel (NIV): Chronological Correlation and Dating. Beaver Dam, WI.: Davis Publishing, 1991.

Bibliography (cont.)

Duvall, J. Scott and J. Daniel Hays. Journey into God's Word: Your Guide to Understanding and Applying the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI.: Zondervan, 2008.

Edersheim, Alfred. The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids, MI.: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950.

BibliographyEgermeier, Elsie E. Picture-Story Life of Christ. Anderson, IN.: Warner Press, 1940.

Moser, Barry. The Holy Bible (KJV), Designed and Illustrated by Barry Moser. New York: Viking Studio, 1999.

Bibliography

Mounce, William D. and Robert H. Mounce. The Zondervan Greek and English Interlinear New Testament (TNIV/NLT). Grand Rapids, MI.: Zondervan, 2008.