This is Part 2 of 2 of Lesson 3: John the Baptist: Preparing the Way for Jesus. Click here to go back to the introduction to this lesson.
The Relevance of John’s Message for Today.
In the last section we spent some time talking about John’s message of repentance.
We ended with the question of whether we should be taking John’s message to the world. Jesus said the following to the men He spoke to on the road to Emmaus, after His resurrection:
Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:46,47 (NKJV)
The only question here is whether Jesus was referring only to the pastors and missionaries to come, or to all of His family? What do you think?
John the Baptist is referred to in the gospels as a type of ‘Elijah’. By this, meaning that John had a similar message to Elijah. Jesus Himself confirmed it—
“ ‘If you are willing to accept it, he [John] is the Elijah who was to come’ ” Matt. 11:14, NIV
As Adventist Christians, our primary focus is on the person of Christ, and on the good news of His love and healing salvation. But we also see a special focus on the Second Coming of Christ.
Elijah called his countrymen to repentance and a new relationship with God Similarly John turned the hearts of men to Jesus at the time of his ‘First Coming’. And consistent with this ‘Elijah’ message, so we are to take the message of Jesus’ ‘Second Coming’ to the world and have people prepare themselves for this.
“In this age, just prior to the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven, such a work as that of John is to be done. God calls for men who will prepare a people to stand in the great day of the Lord. The message preceding the public ministry of Christ was, Repent, publicans and sinners; repent, Pharisees and Sadducees; ‘repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ As a people who believe in Christ’s soon coming, we have a message to bear,—‘Prepare to meet thy God.’ ” (Amos 4:12).—Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers, p. 55.
This doesn’t mean that our methods have to be the same as John’s. We aren’t called to live ascetic lifestyles in the desert. But we should share his passion to turn men’s hearts to God.
How do you think we can do this effectively in our day and age?
Final thoughts
Jesus had lavish praise for John:
“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matt 11:11 (NKJV)
Why do you think Jesus thought him great? I can think of three reasons – you may have more. Each of these have important lessons for ourselves:
1. Because he took the important message of repentance and preparation to the world, forsaking a comfortable life.
2. Because he was so humble. Even though he had to see his own ’star’ dwindle, he showed no signs of trying to cling to the limelight. In relation to his own disciples who were worried about Jesus’ increasing influence over the people, he said:
“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. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
3. Lastly, Ellen White has this to say about the fact that he was fully focussed on following the voice of God wherever it was to lead:
“What was it that made John the Baptist great? He closed his mind to the mass of tradition presented by the teachers of the Jewish nation, and opened it to the wisdom which comes from above.”— Ellen White, Conflict and Courage, p. 276.
See you all next week.
