Text: 1:5 - 13. AMP
“In the days of Herod [the Great], king of Judea, there was a certain priest whose name was Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron [the first high priest of Israel], and her name was Elizabeth. They both were righteous (approved) in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. But they were childless, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both far advanced in years. Now it happened while Zacharias was serving as priest before God in the appointed order of his priestly division, as was the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter [the sanctuary of] the temple of the Lord and burn incense [on the altar of incense]. And all the congregation was praying outside [in the court of the temple] at the hour of the incense offering. And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your petition [in prayer] was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.”
??LUK“In the days of Herod [the Great], king of Judea, there was a certain priest whose name was Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron [the first high priest of Israel], and her name was Elizabeth. They both were righteous (approved) in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. But they were childless, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both far advanced in years. Now it happened while Zacharias was serving as priest before God in the appointed order of his priestly division, as was the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter [the sanctuary of] the temple of the Lord and burn incense [on the altar of incense]. And all the congregation was praying outside [in the court of the temple] at the hour of the incense offering. And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your petition [in prayer] was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.”
OTHERS TEXT.
LUKE 3:1 - 22. AMP
“Now in the fifteenth year of [Emperor] Tiberius Caesar’s reign--when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod [Antipas] was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene-- in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas [his son-in-law], the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin; as it is written and forever remains written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “T HE VOICE OF ONE SHOUTING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘P REPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD, M AKE H IS PATHS STRAIGHT. ‘E VERY RAVINE SHALL BE FILLED UP, A ND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL SHALL BE LEVELED; A ND THE CROOKED [places] SHALL BE MADE STRAIGHT, A ND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH; AND ALL MANKIND SHALL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.’” So he began saying to the crowds who were coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath [of God that is] to come? Therefore produce fruit that is worthy of [and consistent with your] repentance [that is, live changed lives, turn from sin and seek God and His righteousness]. And do not even begin to say to yourselves [as a defense], ‘We have Abraham for our father [and so our heritage assures us of salvation]’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children (descendants) for Abraham [for God can replace the unrepentant, regardless of their heritage, with those who are obedient]. Even now the axe [of God’s judgment] is swinging toward the root of the trees; so every tree that does not produce good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire.” The crowds asked him, “Then what are we to do?” And John replied, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do the same.” Even some tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked, “Teacher, what are we to do?” And he told them, “Collect no more than the fixed amount you have been ordered to [collect].” Some soldiers asked him, “And what about us, what are we to do?” And he replied to them, “Do not extort money from anyone or harass or blackmail anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” Now the people were in a state of expectation, and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). John answered them all by saying, “As for me, I baptize you [only] with water; but One who is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I is coming, and I am not fit to untie the strap of His sandals [even as His slave]. He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit and [you who remain unrepentant] with fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat (believers) into His barn (kingdom); but He will burn up the chaff (the unrepentant) with unquenchable fire.” So with many other appeals and various admonitions John preached the good news (gospel) to the people. But when Herod [Antipas] the tetrarch was repeatedly reprimanded [and convicted by John’s disapproval] for having Herodias, his brother’s wife [as his own], and for all the wicked things that Herod had done, he also added this to them all: he locked up John in prison. Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, the [visible] heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, “You are My Son, My Beloved, in You I am well-pleased and delighted!””
LUKE 7: 18 - 28. AMP
“John’s disciples brought word to him [in prison] of all these things. John called two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Expected One (the Messiah), or should we look for someone else?” So the men came to Jesus and said, “John the Baptist sent us to You to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One (the Messiah), or should we look for someone else?’” At that very hour Jesus healed many people of sicknesses and infirmities and evil spirits; and He gave [the gracious gift of] sight to many who were blind. So He replied to them, “Go and tell John about everything you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOOD NEWS (gospel) PREACHED TO THEM. Blessed [joyful, spiritually favored] is he who does not take offense at Me.” When John’s messengers left, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John: “What did you go out to the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing [entirely unsuited for the harsh wilderness]? Those who wear splendid clothing and live in luxury are in royal palaces! But what did you [really] go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one far more [eminent and remarkable] than a prophet [who foretells the future]. This is the one of whom it is written [by the prophet Malachi], ‘ B EHOLD, I SEND M Y MESSENGER AHEAD OF Y OU, W HO WILL PREPARE Y OUR WAY BEFORE Y OU.’ I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater [in privilege] than he.””
INTRODUCTION
A. The Countdown to Christmas.
B. The Other Countdown
(1) The world had awaited a Saviour for centuries
(2) The prophets had spoken of a miracle birth.
(a) The saviour was to be born. Of a virgin (Isa. 7:14)
(b) The eternal One was to enter time at Bethlehem.
C. The Prophecy of Another Miracle Birth
(1) One was to be born who would prepare for the coming of the Saviour (Isa. 40)
(2)John the Baptist was not born of a virgin , but his birth was a miracle (Luke 1:5-13)
Body
A. The Parents of John the Baptist (vs. 5-13)
1. Zacharias and Elizabeth had no children and were up in years.
(a) Zacharias was a priest during the reign of Herod
(b) Elizabeth was a descendent of Aaron.
2. The announcement came in the temple
(a) Gabriel came to Zacharias while he was serving in the temple
(b) God meets us while we're serving ; satan meets us when we're idle.
3. Zacharias was afraid and had trouble believing the angel's message (vs. 12)
4. The father of "the voice " lost his voice because of his unbelief
5. John was born as Gabriel promised and was Spirit filled from birth.
B. The Preaching of John the Baptist (3:1-22)
1. John came to prepare the way of the Lord (Isa. 40:3-8).
2. This preparation meant preaching repentance (Luke3:3-9)
(a) John boldly named sins and confronted evil
(b) We must face our sins, or we will not flee to Christ for forgiveness.
3. John pointed to Christ as the sin bearer , "the Lamb of God" (John 1:29)
4. John called Christ the bridegroom (John 3:29)
5.John humbled himself and exalted Christ (Luke 3:16)
6. John ' s plain preaching cost him freedom (Luke 3:17-20)
(a) He warned his hearers of judgment to come
(b) He played no favourites, rebuking even Herod for immorality.
C. Our Lord's Praise of John the Baptist (7: 19-28)
.
1. John 's surprising question: "Art thou he that should come ?"
(a) He asked this quest from prison with his life in jeopardy
(b) Depression drives us to foolish quest and conclusions.
2. Our Lord's faith-building answer: His miracles proved His deity (vs. 22)
3. Jesus affirmed that John was God's messenger (vs. 24-30)
(a) Vance Havner writes,When John. Said his worst , Jesus said His best about John"
(b) "There is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist"
CONCLUSION
A. John 's Message Still Prepares the Way of the Lord
B. Hear the Call of John the Baptist: "Repent!"
C.Heed the Call of Jesus : "Come unto Me ... I Will Give You Rest"
