Great Bible Truths Podcast Episode 154
Lessons from their lives, talk 20 – John the Baptist
Welcome to talk 20 in our series, Lessons from their lives. Today our subject is John the Baptist.
Jesus said he was the greatest man who ever lived!
Filled with the Spirit from his mother’s womb…
…he had been chosen by God to prepare the way of the Lord.
He preached that people should repent – and they did!
All Jerusalem and all Judea went out to be baptised by John in the Jordan.
No wonder Jesus said he was the greatest… (11)
And yet…
THE GREATEST OF THE PROPHETS IS OVERWHELMED WITH DOUBT!
Let’s read Matthew 11:2-11
2 When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples
3 to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:
5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
6 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”
7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?
8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.
9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
10 This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’
11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
So John was questioning whether Jesus really was the one he had devoted his life to proclaiming. Are you the one? (v.3)
Let’s consider:
The nature of his doubt, the cause of his doubt, the remedy for doubt.
The Nature of his Doubt. He was doubting:
His own testimony – one mightier than I – the Lamb of God…
The testimony of Scripture (Isa. 61) – The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…
The testimony of God himself (Jesus’ baptism) – This is my beloved Son
The Cause of his Doubt
Circumstances – he was in prison v.2, the victim of injustice. Why?
Lack of fellowship
The apparent non-fulfilment of a promise (‘set the prisoner free’). Why not?
The Remedy for Doubt – 5 things
Talking to Jesus about it
John sent a message to Jesus
Hearing from God afresh
Jesus had an answer for John
Recognising the need for fellowship
v4 ‘GO, and show…’
Emphasising the promises that HAVE been fulfilled (v.5)
In this connection we need:
Patience – not all God’s promises are fulfilled at the same time.
Right understanding of Scripture (spiritual fulfilment)
Submitting to the will of God (v.6)
We must not be offended by God’s will for our lives. When John did that, deliverance came! He was set free from the prison – but not as he had expected!
Some promises – especially with regard to the body – will not reach final fulfilment until the redemption of the body at the resurrection.
Is God cheating us in this way? By no means. We have no grounds for resentment. See Hebrews 11:35
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain A BETTER RESURRECTION.