September 22, 2013
Evening Service

Dr. Luke has compiled an “orderly account” of the events and teaching of Jesus’ life and ministry.  We have read of healings of everything from leprosy to evil spirits, and Wednesday even the dead being resurrected to life. 

These recordings of Jesus’ ministry are written to us to build our faith, as “faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God.”  As we have seen the many wonderful miracles Jesus has done it should empower the Words He speaks to us.  With His words He has challenged us to live a life that is different from what the natural man lives.  He asks us to be poor, hungry, sorrowful and disliked.  We also learned that you can recognize a tree by its fruit.  Let’s inspect the fruit of John the Baptist’s life and see if we can learn anything from it.

John was born with a very specific ministry as explained is Luke chapter 1 by an angel.

Luke 1:15-17  For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall neither drink wine nor strong drink. And he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.  (16)  And he shall turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.  (17)  And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

• He was the first prophet to come to Israel for 400 years.  His coming was prophesied by Malachi as the angel quoted to Zacharias. His ministry would be in the “Spirit and power of Elijah.”
• John was to “Prepare the way of the Lord.”

 

Read Luke 3: 1-22

• John indeed was faithful to his calling.  He held nothing back and was fully obedient as he put God first in his life and his ministry.  He no doubt endured poverty, hunger, and sorrow and was very disliked by the religious leaders of the time.
• Notice he did not marry, have children and retire on the beach, living happily ever after.  He was cast into jail for standing up for the truth.
• The apostle John records in his gospel John’s response to a question about his ministry winding down:

 

John 3:26-30 And they came to John and said to him, Rabbi, He who was with you beyond Jordan, to whom you bore witness, behold, He baptizes, and all come to Him!  (27)  And John answered and said, A man can receive nothing unless it is given to him from Heaven.  (28)  You yourselves bear witness to me that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him.  (29)  He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Then my joy is fulfilled.  (30)  He must increase, but I must decrease.

 

 

• That statement shows John’s heart.  He knew his place and accepted it.  It was never about him, it was always about Jesus.  He was a humble faithful servant.
• We too need to come to that place in our lives.  It is natural for us to look at our circumstances and base our view of the world from there.  It is however, important for us to grasp the realization that it is not about us, but about Jesus.  We are to be faithful servants seeking to place God first in our lives at all times.  Our calling is not the same as John’s.  We are not “preparing the way of the Lord,” but we are to pointing people to the Way, the Truth and the Life.

 

Mat 28:19-20  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  (20)  teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world. Amen.

 

Let’s now look at Luke chapter 7 as John asks for confirmation from Jesus that He is the One.

 

Luke 7:19-23 And John, calling near a certain two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, Are You He that should come, or do we look for another?  (20)  And coming to Him, the men said, John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, Are You He who should come, or do we look for another?  (21)  And in the same hour He cured many of infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits. And He gave sight to many who were blind.  (22)  And answering, Jesus said to them, Go and tell John what you have seen and heard; that the blind see the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the gospel is proclaimed to the poor. (23)  And blessed is he who shall not be offended in Me.

• John, as he is locked away in prison, needs a word of confirmation. He finds himself in need of a word of encouragement.  Perhaps he saw a different ending to his ministry or was wondering why he was still in prison after being faithful to his calling.  He questions the very thing his entire life was devoted to.
• Jesus clearly answers his question and then praises John.

 

Luke 7:24-28 And when the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the people concerning John. What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?  (25)  But what did you go out to see? A man clothed with soft clothing? Behold, those in splendid clothing and being in luxury are in kings' palaces.  (26)  But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and much more than a prophet.  (27)  This is he of whom it is written, "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who shall prepare Your way before You."  (28)  For I say to you, Among those who are born of woman there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist. But he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

• Jesus pays John a wonderful compliment to John here.  He was above all other prophets in that he got to proclaim the coming of the Lord. He not only prophesied of Him, but saw Him, grew up with Him, and even baptized Him. He was faithful to his calling. When his work was finished God allowed John to be later beheaded in prison (Matthew 14).  There was not chariot of fire awaiting him as God blessed Elijah with, only the executioner.  He lived and died knowing it was not about him, but about Jesus.
• We can learn a number of lessons from studying the fruit of John’s life.
• Faithfulness and obedience
• Humility to decrease ourselves and increase our Lord.
• It is okay to ask for confirmation or to question.
• God may not always deliver us from an undesirable circumstance.
• Those who are of the kingdom of God are considered greater than he.

 

Lord may my life be an example to others of your faithfulness through the valleys and upon the mountain tops.