It was predicted by the ancient prophet Isaiah that there would be one who would proceed Jesus in order to make Jesus' paths straight. That man was John the Baptist. What message was it that John proclaimed? What message made the paths straight for Jesus?
Matthew 3:1-6 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" 4 Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
John has grown up since I first wrote about his conception, and birth. He is not your average bear. He dresses weird; he looks weird; he eats weird stuff. And John has a message for the world.... the Kingdom of God was near - something of cosmic importance was about to happen - God was about to break into human history and reverse humanity's self destruction offering us the way to be reconciled to God.
John invited the people to change the direction they were going (repent) and be baptized. The word repent doesn't mean "feel sorry for" - it means to "change direction." It doesn't mean that one just changes their mind, but that one changes. Your mind, heart, and actions all change direction. We will find out later (Matt 3:7-14) that John is particularly upset with the religious leaders of the day who have misled their people burdening them with religion run amok. They would have to change direction from a religion that knew the right rules to follow, knew the right theology to believe, and knew the right good works to do, but had no relationship with God. This was their sin. It is the sin of many religious people - including Christians today. Religion is what we often need to repent from so that we can recognize and follow Jesus. Their baptisms were a symbol that they had changed from following religion and were ready to follow the Messiah.
Follow Jesus - not religion. Religions seek to control God - to capture God's blessings. Following Jesus is different. One stops trying to control God and isntead says, "Thy will be done." Jesus offers you a direct relationship with God. Embrace it!
*****
John's story recorded in the other gospels...
Mark 1:2-6 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'" 4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
Luke 3:1-6 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"
John 1:19-23 19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." 21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." 22 Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23 He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said.
Matthew 3:1-6 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" 4 Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
John has grown up since I first wrote about his conception, and birth. He is not your average bear. He dresses weird; he looks weird; he eats weird stuff. And John has a message for the world.... the Kingdom of God was near - something of cosmic importance was about to happen - God was about to break into human history and reverse humanity's self destruction offering us the way to be reconciled to God.
John invited the people to change the direction they were going (repent) and be baptized. The word repent doesn't mean "feel sorry for" - it means to "change direction." It doesn't mean that one just changes their mind, but that one changes. Your mind, heart, and actions all change direction. We will find out later (Matt 3:7-14) that John is particularly upset with the religious leaders of the day who have misled their people burdening them with religion run amok. They would have to change direction from a religion that knew the right rules to follow, knew the right theology to believe, and knew the right good works to do, but had no relationship with God. This was their sin. It is the sin of many religious people - including Christians today. Religion is what we often need to repent from so that we can recognize and follow Jesus. Their baptisms were a symbol that they had changed from following religion and were ready to follow the Messiah.
Follow Jesus - not religion. Religions seek to control God - to capture God's blessings. Following Jesus is different. One stops trying to control God and isntead says, "Thy will be done." Jesus offers you a direct relationship with God. Embrace it!
*****
John's story recorded in the other gospels...
Mark 1:2-6 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'" 4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
Luke 3:1-6 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"
John 1:19-23 19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." 21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." 22 Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23 He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said.
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