John The Baptist "repent, Jesus Is Here!" - Matthew 3

2025.01.19. Sermon Notes. John the Baptist. Matthew 3

William Akehurst, HSWC

BIG IDEA: Just as John the Baptist prepared the way of the LORD, we too are called to do the same and give the warning to “Repent”, to change.

SCRIPTURES: Matthew 3:1-17, 2 Kings 1:7-8, Malachi 4:5, Luke 1:17, Isaiah 40:3, 2 Kings 1:7-8, Malachi 4:5, Luke 1:17, John 1:19-23, Matthew 11:10-14, Isaiah 53:12

THE PUBLIC MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

Vs 1-2 The message of John the Baptist.

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

In those days John the Baptist came:

This was the John born to a “too-old for children” couple, Zacharias and Elisabeth. The announcement of this miraculous birth along with his calling to be the forerunner of the Messiah is found in Luke 1:5-17

PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS.

What is it with GOD, the people of the Bible and the Wilderness?

POINT: Wilderness experiences, those times in our lives where we find ourselves lacking, suffering and in sorrow, in times of spiritual drought, or searching and lost.

Going through those wilderness experiences are what brings us to GOD’s Promises.

Preaching…and saying, “REPENT”

John’s message was a call to repentance.

What does it mean to Repent?

Is it feeling sorry for your sin?

To Repent is NOT about “feelings”, although feelings of guilt or sorrow may lead us to repentance.

To REPENT is an action. That begins as a change in the mind, our thinking, that leads us to a change of direction.

John was calling out that people need to change.

POINT: REPENT is not about feelings, it is an ‘action’ word

Is repentance something we must do before we can come to God? Yes and no. Repentance does not describe something we must do before we come to God; it describes what coming to God is like.

ILLUS: If you are lived in California, and I tell you to come and live in Maryland, I don’t really need to say “Leave California and come and live in Maryland.”

To come to Maryland is to leave California, and if I haven’t left California , I certainly haven’t come to Maryland.

POINT: We can’t come to the kingdom of heaven unless we leave our sin and former self or life behind.

“REPENT”, is the first word of the Gospel.

The call to repentance is important and must not be neglected.

It is entirely accurate to say that it is the first word of the gospel.

· Repent was the first word of John the Baptist’s gospel (Matthew 3:1-2).

· Repent was the first word of Jesus’ gospel (Matthew 4:17 and Mark 1:14-15).

· Repent was the first word in the preaching ministry of the twelve disciples (Mark 6:12).

· Repent was the first word in the preaching instructions Jesus gave to His disciples after His resurrection (Luke 24:46-47).

· Repent was the first word of exhortation in the first Christian sermon (Acts 2:38).

· Repent was the first word in the mouth of the Apostle Paul through his ministry (Acts 26:19-20).

For the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

John wanted people to know that the kingdom of heaven was near – as close as your hand. It wasn’t as distant or as dreamy as they had imagined.

This is why John was so urgent in his call to repentance. If the kingdom of heaven is at hand, then we must get ready now.

John’s main message wasn’t “You’re a sinner, you need to repent.”

John’s main message was “Messiah the King is coming.”

The call to repentance was the response to the news that the King and His kingdom were coming – indeed, already here in one sense.

HE WAS LITERALLY SAYING “JESUS IS COMING, HE’S ALREADY HERE,

SO STRAIGHTEN UP!”

VS 3-4 The identity of John the Baptist.

3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

Prepare the way of the LORD;

Make His paths straight.’ ”

4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Isaiah 40:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

Prepare the way of the LORD:

Matthew identifies John the Baptist as the prophesied forerunner of the Messiah.

(Isaiah 40:3)

John’s purpose was to prepare hearts for the Messiah, and to bring an awareness of sin among Israel so they could receive the salvation from sin offered by the Messiah.

Make His paths straight:

Isaiah 40:3 describes building up a great road for the arrival of a majestic king.