Citywide Baptist Church

Origin story for John the Baptist
Priestly descent
* Elizabeth - Aaron, Zachariah priest of the course of Abijah
Zachariah’s important moment
* 24 divisions of priests (total of 18,000 priests)
* Zachariah served for two one-week periods per year.
* Only officiate at the sacrifice once in a lifetime. According to Josephus.
* The perpetual offering.
* Selected by lot.
* Zachariah’s job is to place the incense on the alter – this is where he sees the angel.

Elijah died over 850 years ago. Isaiah over 700 years. Ezekiel died over 550 years before.

Relationship between Elizabeth and Mary
* A few days after Mary is visited by Gabrielle, Mary goes to Elizabeth (150 miles away).
* At the sound of Mary’s voice, the baby within Elizabeth (6mths) jumps and Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit
* John was born, and when he was named ‘John’ 8 days later Zach could speak again.

John would have grown up knowing and hearing this story many times
John would have evolved into this God-Given ministry of preparing the way for the messiah.

John’s job: to usher in the Messianic age.
Isaiah 40:1-5 – John’s job description:

John Baptises Jesus which provides the moment where Jesus begins his ministry.

John is ushering in the Messianic age.

Luke 11v1 – go back and read through Luke 10. It’s some tough teaching – things are going to be tough – but keep living for God’s Kingdom.

John is in prison – Herod Antipas has him in prison for about 1yr.
In Matthew 9 John’s disciples were already concerned about the lack of fasting by Jesus disciples.
It is natural for John to experience perplexity as he languishes in prison. Things are not going as he’d envisioned.
John rightly expected the Messiah to be a judging figure, so events are not unfolding as he anticipated. The divine judgment and time of messianic blessing do not seem to have arrived as he projected. Jesus is not carrying out judgment; rather, he seems to be concentrating on healing and helping. John needs to have his understanding of the messianic program reconfirmed.”
3 possible actions:
· back out of his conviction and calling and appease Herod.
· Slump in a corner disillusioned and dejected.
· Seek clarification from Jesus.

V2: John’s disciples had travelled around 160km to ask this question.
Are you the one ‘who is to come’, or should we expect someone else?’
First time Matthew has used this title since his introduction of his book.

When in doubt – lean in.

Life with God at the centre is full of peace (despite what is going on), joy (a deep, inner joy), love (a loved child of God). Lean in.

Things in my immediate family have not gone how they should. I struggled to see God’s protection and guidance. So I leant in further.

In Fusion, I’ve lived through utter disillusionment. My wife and I had committed our lives to serving God whole-heartedly, but Fusion imploded. We had a prophecy that the Lion was prowling around the house and waiting to devour whatever he could get his hands on. Fusion disintegrated and with it my hopes of seeing a beautiful, flourishing ministry in the UK. It was utterly disillusioning – but through that time, rather than running away, or falling in a heap, I drew nearer to God – seeking clarification and direction.

John asks through his disciples: Are you the one ‘who is to come’, or should we expect someone else?’

How do you think Jesus is going to respond.
Gentle, data focused, using scripture.

Sight to the blind, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the good news is preached to the poor:
Isaiah 26:18-19, Isaiah 29:18, Isaiah 35:5-8 and 42:16—19, Isaiah 53:4, Isaiah 61:1

Jesus is showing John’s disciples that “The Messianic age of blessing has arrived”.

Then, Jesus gives dignity and respect to John.
Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of me.
“You’ll be blessed if you hold it together and keep your faith in Christ despite things not going the way you’d anticipated.”

What did you go out into the desert to see?

Not a reed swayed by the wind: John languishes in prison because of the strength of his resolve.

Not a man dressed in fine clothes. John continued to live an ascetic lifestyle in keeping with his call to repentance.

He was a prophet.

John is a transitional figure who has prepared the way for the Coming One, but John will not live to see the full arrival of the kingdom.

Jesus’ institution of the new covenant in his blood is a dividing line.

The events including the cross, resurrection, ascension, and sending of the Spirit at Pentecost brings the arrival of the kingdom’s redemptive life, by which time John was executed.

John is the greatest of those born during the Old Testament era because of his crucial role in preparing the way for the Messiah and his kingdom.

His mission was great because of the greatness of the One he introduced.
But those in the kingdom are greater because of their privilege actually to have entered it.

Jesus goes on to say that this generation are easily disappointed. Neither the ascetic nature of John, nor the partying with tax collectors will satisfy them.

So, how do we conclude. Jesus went on to say that there has been plenty of opposition to the Kingdom of God. He spent most of the previous chapter teaching his disciples that they will face persecution and opposition both from religious leaders and powerful people, but also from within their own families.

Draw near to God. Lean in. Trust Him with all your heart, soul and mind.