Message: “Preach On, Brother John”
Text: “And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Luke 3:3).
Who was John the Baptist?
Why did John preach baptism of repentance for the remission of sins?
Who gave John the authority to preach this message?
1. Who was preacher John?
John was the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth. They were two very dear and dedicated Godly people who prayed daily to have a child. The angel Gabriel informed Zacharias that he and Elizabeth would have a child and this child’s name would be John. John would bring joy and happiness to the parents and to all their friends and relatives.
John was in the Lord’s favor. He did not drink wine or any other strong drink. He was filled with the Holy Spirit long before he was born. How many of our preachers today were filled with the Holy Spirit before they were born? He was not concerned about worldly possessions. Do we have anyone today who is not concerned about worldly possessions? People of today need two cars, at least one house (some have two or more), computer (in most case more than one), telephone, pager, recreational vehicle, and the list goes on and on and on. Having herds of sheep, goats, or donkeys was not a priority for John. He had the Spirit of God in his heart.
John was not interested in fine clothing and sandals.
Scripture says that he was “clothed in camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist” (Matthew 3:4). Have you seen any people lately walking around clothed in camel’s hair and wearing a leather belt around their waist? No! People of this day and age need the best.
Just go to some of our churches, our malls, our restaurants, or just observe people walking along anywhere. People today pay $50.00 to $80.00 for a pair “holy” jeans with someone’s name written across the seat or in the waist band. Look at some of your popular preachers in the pulpit. Their suits are not from Sears or J.C. Penny. The preachers on TV wear tailor-made suits costing in the thousands of dollars. They forget the Lord is looking at their heart and not what they are wearing. I am not judging them, but my question is: Would they be preaching God’s Word if they only had a meager wardrobe?
John was not impressed with living in a castle or extravagant house. John lived in the wilderness or the desert. Scripture says, “And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel” (Luke 1:80).
Modern-day people like nice houses, beautiful furnishings, nicely landscaped yards, and gated communities. Once again, I don’t have anything against these people as to where they live, how they live, or what they preferences are, but hopefully God comes before any of these things.
God is more concerned about the soul than worldly possessions, because the soul is what lives on when the person exits this earthly world. Material possessions stay for the family or friends to fight over. John was more concerned about heavenly possessions than worldly possessions. He wanted people to give up their earthly habits and sinful nature so they could spend eternity in God’s kingdom.
John didn’t want the finest gourmet foods of the time. He was more concerned about eating and digesting the Word of God. His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey. Has anyone eaten any locusts lately?
Scripture says that locusts are all right to eat. “All flying insects that walk on all four are to be detestable to you. There are, however, some winged creatures that walk on all four that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground. Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper. But all other winged creatures that have four legs you are to detest” (Leviticus 11:20-23).
Those of you who like to join me for a special sampler dinner of boiled locusts, broiled katydids, fried crickets, and for desert, chocolate covered grasshoppers, please sign the reservation sheet that is being passed around. “Just Kidding”
Have any of you eaten any honey, wild or processed, in the last couple of days? Most of us have eaten honey at some time or another. I get the impression John ate honey quite regularly because there is nothing else mentioned except locusts.
2. Why did John preach baptism of repentance for the remission of sins?
John’s appointment to preach came from heaven and was spoken by the prophet Isaiah saying:
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken’” (Isaiah 40:3).
The Word of God came to John while he was in the wilderness (Luke 3:2). The Word came to John just as it did to other prophets like Jeremiah and Isaiah. John was indeed a prophet whom God called out of the wilderness. He was to go throughout the country telling people to leave their sins and focus their eyes upon God.
John’s message of repentance was good news to those people who would listen and look to God for forgiveness of their sins. On the other hand, John’s message was terribly destructive to those people who did not want to listen. Those who ignored the message lost sight of hope.
John came out of the wilderness preaching a message that had never been heard before. He was preaching a new baptism. The Jews had a ceremony of washing with water to make one clean, so John’s baptism with water was somewhat similar. John’s baptism was repentance for the remission or sins. He wanted the people to be truly sorry for their sins and to make good on what they promised. If they would confess their sins and repent of their sins, God would forgive them. God would not only forgive them but he would give them a new heart and a new life. John was preparing the way for Jesus.
We need to follow the preaching of John. We are sinful. We need to confess our sins, repent of our sins, accept the Lord Jesus as our own personal Lord and Savior and in doing so, our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. We will spend eternity in the Kingdom of God in the presence of the One who said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25).
3. Who gave John the authority to preach this message?
God gave John the authority to preach his message of baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Scripture says, God gave John the Word while he was in the wilderness (Luke 3:2). In fact, God called him out of the wilderness to preach the Word to the people.
When John began to preach he attracted multitudes of people. Some of the people who came to hear John were Pharisees and Sadducees. John did not water down his message for anyone.
Then John said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Luke 3:6). That is pretty strong language. What would you think of me if I started my message by calling you a “brood of vipers?”
John said to the multitude, which included the Pharisees and Sadducees, “You are all in the same boat. You are all guilty, corrupt, and poisonous like snakes. You only praise God for your own benefit. You are jealous, envious, and hateful, yet you come here to be baptized so you can escape the punishment you deserve.”
Many people fall into this same category. Too many people are living the way of the world instead of God’s way. Worldly possessions seem to be a top priority. Taking advantage of others seems to be acceptable to society. Do whatever feels good. Look out for yourself because no one else cares about you.
If you want it, buy it using your credit card because you don’t have to pay until next year. If you want what someone else has and they won’t give it to you, figure out a way to get it from them. It doesn’t make any difference who you step on or who you hurt in order to get where you want to be. What we seem to forget is that there is a payday for all these sinful deeds that we do.
Confess your sins and repent for that is the only way you can flee from the wrath or anger that is to come. In addition to this “bear fruits worthy of repentance”. There are two parts to repentance; turning from your sin and turning toward your God. There will be evidence of a change in your heart and a change in your life. The old will vanish and the new will appear.
“And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Luke 3:9).
Confession of sin and a changed life go together. The Pharisees and Sadducees really did not want to change the thinking or their ways. They thought change was for others and not for them. These religious leaders thought they had it made because Abraham was their father. This is like saying that we do not have to repent and give our lives to Christ because our earthly father did and that should cover us. It just does not work that way.
The Kingdom of Heaven is near and if we do not confess, repent, and bear fruit, it may be too late and we will be cast into the fire.
The people asked, “What shall we do then?”
John said, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise” (Luke 3:11).
Those of us who have clothes handing in the closet need to get them out and give them to individuals or to organizations like the Salvation Army, Goodwill, or the Rescue Mission. There are so many people who have a need for wearing apparel. Good shoes that we no longer want or wear should be given to those who are barefooted. Games, books, knickknacks, bedding, and other things we no longer use need to be given to those who could use them.
This wealthy United States in which we live has many people who are hungry, homeless, and lonely. It really makes me sad when I go into a restaurant and see the amount of food that is wasted because it cannot be given to someone else. It breaks my heart to see homeless people, God’s children; living on the streets and eating out of the garbage cans and trash bins. There are many people in living facilities who have no visitors, either because they have no family or the family has chosen to forget them.
John told the people, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise” (Luke 3:11). We need to be giving instead of being greedy. We need to show our faith by our actions.
The tax collectors asked, “What shall we do?”
John said, “Collect no more that what is appointed for you” (Luke 3:13).
Dishonesty and cheating has become a way of life for some people. There are many who cheat on the income tax returns. Many workers cheat their employer by wasting time. Many small car sales lots sell cars for much more than they are worth. Builders charge high prices for houses, but use inferior materials or cheap products in the construction process.
John said, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you” (Luke 3:13).
The soldiers asked, “And what shall we do?”
Jesus said, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14).
When some people are given a title, position, and/or authority, something happens to their thinking. These people tend to take advantage of other people. For example, police officers have been known to use their authority against people of a different race, color, or creed. Instructors have been known to intimidate their students. Parents have accused their children before finding out the real truth. Intimidations and accusations occur in all organizations, including the United States Government Offices located in Washington, D.C...
Most people complain about their wages. In their opinion, they are always worth more than they are being paid. When people are discontent with their wages, they feel oppressed and this oppression can lead to injury to themselves or their families and friends. People need to remember that God is still in control. He will give them the wisdom to make the best out of what they have.
Conclusion:
John was a prophet sent by God to announce the coming of the Messiah. Some people thought he might be the Messiah, but John said, “I am not the Christ” (John 1:20). John said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Make straight the way of the LORD’” (John 1:23). John preached, “A baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Luke 3:3).
John indicated that all were sinners, including the Pharisees and the Sadducees. He said there was no way to escape the wrath of God to come except by repentance. Repentance comes by the confession of sins and turning toward the ways of God.
Repentance brings about new fruit in the form of changed ways and changed mind. Paul said, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 2:17). Our new creation, our new life is evident to those around us.
Salvation comes by the confession of sins, repentance of sins, and accepting the Lord Jesus as our own personal Lord and Savior.
Amen.
