John The Baptist, Prophet Of The Highest, Part 4: John Meets The Master -- By: Kenneth C. Fleming

Journal: Emmaus Journal
Volume: EMJ 19:1 (Winter 2010)
Article: John The Baptist, Prophet Of The Highest, Part 4: John Meets The Master
Author: Kenneth C. Fleming

EMJ 19:1 (Winter 2010) p. 79

John The Baptist, Prophet Of The Highest, Part 4: John Meets The Master

Kenneth C. Fleming

A Devotional Study: Matt. 3:11-17, Mark 1:7-11, Luke 3:15-22, John 1:7-8

Ken Fleming is faculty emeritus at Emmaus Bible College. For twenty-five years he was a missionary in South Africa among the Zulu people. From 1977 to 2002 he was head of the Missions department at Emmaus. He continues an active ministry of preaching and writing.

Introduction

John the Baptist had been preaching in the Jordan valley for perhaps two months. He boldly challenged the people to prepare for the coming of Messiah by repenting from their sinful ways, by bringing forth fruits in keeping with repentance, by confessing sins, and by being baptized to declare their readiness for the kingdom of God on earth under the rule of God’s Chosen One. John also boldly confronted the religious leaders and warned them of coming judgment.

John’s Testimony To The Coming Messiah

Was John The Messiah? (Luke 3:15)

Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not…

EMJ 19:1 (Winter 2010) p. 80

The impact of John’s preaching stirred the entire country, so it should be no surprise to read in Luke 3:15 that the people wondered whether John himself might be the promised Christ. We have to remember that they didn’t know anything about Mary, or the shepherds, or the wise men, or the killing of infants by King Herod almost thirty years before. They knew nothing of the Carpenter in Nazareth. Even though John was announcing the kingdom of heaven, he did not yet know when the King would come and reveal who he was. So with all John’s popularity it’s not surprising that some of the waiting people wondered if he might possibly be the Christ.

The Superiority Of The Messiah To John (Matt. 3:11-12)

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”