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The Wilderness Man

The world wasn't worthy of them. They wandered in deserts, mountains, caves, and holes in the ground.

They were stoned to death, sawed in half, and killed with swords. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins. They were needy, oppressed, and mistreated. The world wasn't worthy of them. They wandered in deserts, mountains, caves, and holes in the ground. (Hebrews 11:37-38 ISV)

John - A Wilderness man

• Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. (Mat 3:4)– Lev 11:22 Of them you

may eat: the locust of any kind, the bald locust of any kind, the cricket of any kind, and the grasshopper of any kind.

The word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan,

proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Luke 3:2-3)

And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public

appearance to Israel. (Luke 1:80 )

As they were leaving, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. "What did you go into the desert to see? Tall grass

swaying in the wind? Really, what did you go to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Those who wear fine clothes

are in royal palaces. (Matthew 11:7-8 GW)

John's Message "Repent → Fruit"

• In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Mat 3:1-2)

• Mat 3:8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance

• Mat 3:10 Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

John's Message "Repent → Forgiveness → Fruit"

• And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Luke 3:3 )

• Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. (Luke 3:8)

for the forgiveness of sins

And the crowds asked him, "What then shall we do?" Luk 3:10

• Generosity– And he answered them,

"Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise." (Luk 3:11)

• Honesty– And he said to them, "Collect no

more than you are authorized to do." (Luk 3:13)

• Be Contend– Soldiers also asked him, "And we,

what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages." (Luk 3:14)

So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. (Luke 3:18)

John - Righteous & Fearless

• John spoke out against the ruler Herod because – Herod had married his own sister-in-law, Herodias.– He also spoke out against Herod for all the evil

things he had done.

• So Herod added one more evil to all the others; he locked John in prison. (Luke 3:19-20 GW)

John's Life

• John was a great prophet that people flocked to.– Mat 3:5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the

region about the Jordan were going out to him, • Received the Word of God• Filled with the Holy Spirit from Birth• He lived in the wilderness till his public

appearing – i.e. separate and dedicated.– Holy and Righteous

• Offered forgivness of sins• John insituted the ritual of baptism

– Mat 3:6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

• People believed in John

John was an Important Milestone in History

• Mat 11:13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,

John was significant

• John Had disciples– Mat 9:14 Then John's

disciples came to Jesus.– Mat 11:2 When John was in

prison, he heard about the things Christ had done. So he sent his disciples

• A very great Prophet– Mat 14:5 So Herod wanted to

kill John. However, he was afraid of the people because they thought John was a prophet.

– Mat 21:26 But if we say, 'from humans,' we're afraid of what the crowd might do. All those people think of John as a prophet."

John was very significant

• Many believed in John– John came to you and

showed you the way that God wants you to live, but you didn't believe him.

– The tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. But even after you had seen that, you didn't change your minds and believe him. (Mat 21:32 GW)

• A great teacher– Luk 11:1 Now Jesus was

praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples."

John's message was too powerful to resist

• Irresistible charisma & message– And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted

to put him to death. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe.

– When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. (Mark 6:19-20)

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High - Luk 1:76

and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. Luk 1:15

John's message was too powerful to resist

• When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. (Mark 6:19-20) – Herod liked to listen, but yet do

his own thing

– There is a parallel between• Ahab and Herod

• Jezebel and Heordius

• John and Elijah

• Like Other Prophets: – 'And truly you are to them like a

love song by one who has a very pleasing voice and is an expert player on an instrument: for they give ear to your words but do them not.' (Ezekiel 33:32 BBE)

A church environment does not provide auto salvation.Each Tree needs its own Good Fruits

John was a great prophet hence able to prepare the way for Jesus

• Isa 40:3 : “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

• People regarded John as a Prophet!

• They believed his word!

• So he could lead people to Jesus• I.e. 'Prepared the way by his

righteousness, message and his extreme pious life' - the Great man of God!

– The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

– He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:29, 30)

And many came to him. And they said, "John did no sign, but

everything that John said about this man was true." And many believed

in him there. (John 10:41-42)

Was John the Baptist, Elijah brought back?

• Mal 3:1 "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.

• Mal 4:5,6 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.

• And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction."

You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." (1 Kings 17:4)

Interpreting Prophecy

• ‘Baptism by Water’ was not explicitly prophesied!– The prophecy of John

was vague and a puzzle to piece.

– The prophecy of John could not be understood by the scribes and interpreters but only through the Holy Spirit.

• Luk 1:67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, "'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.' Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.

- Jesus (Mat 11:9-11)

John & Elijah - Rough Clothing & Piety

• Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist (Mat 3:4)

• They answered him, "He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist." And he said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite." (2Ki 1:8)

• Rough Clothing – Isolated from the passions of daily

life– Not 'Fine' gentlemen but

Wlderness men– Trusted in God for their

sustenance

• For Our learning:– Therefore do not be anxious,

saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Mat 6:31-33)

John & Elijah - Spirit and power of Elijah

• He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, – to turn the hearts of the fathers to

the children, and – the disobedient to the wisdom of the

just, – to make ready for the Lord a people

prepared." • Gabriel (Luk 1:17)

• Prophecy from God's perspective– for he will be great before the Lord.

And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

• Gabriel (Luke 1:15 )

• Elijah's goal was to convert people to YHWH– 1Ki 18:18 And he answered,

"I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals.

– 1Ki 18:36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.

John & Elijah - The Greats! (Righteous)

• Prophecy – for he will be great before the

Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

• Gabriel (Luke 1:15 )

• Jesus' testimony– Truly, I say to you, among those

born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Mat 11:11)

• Testimony regarding Elijah– And Elisha saw it and he cried, "My father,

my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" (2Ki 2:12)

– The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. (Jas 5:16,17)

• For Our learning:

– 1Pe 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.

– 1Jn 2:29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

– Strive to be Righteous!

John & Elijah - The Persecuted!

• Herodias – Mar 6:19 And Herodias had a

grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not,

• False prophets unbelief and confrontation– Mat 21:25 The baptism of John, from

where did it come? From heaven or from man?" And they discussed it among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

– John 1:24-25 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

• Doubting Herod

• Jezebel & prophets of Baal– 1Ki 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a

messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow."

– 1Ki 19:10 He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away."

• Doubting Ahab

Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?

• John and Elijah were great, simply because of their exceeding righteousness

• Yes! men can be righteous!• And they asked him, "Why do the

scribes say that first Elijah must come?" (Mar 9:11)– And he said to them, "Elijah does come

first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

– But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him." (Mar 9:12,13)

– And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. (Mat 11:14, 15)

• If you are willing to accept it – implying it is not obvious

• And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."

• So they said to him, "Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

• He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."

• (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)

• They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

• Joh 1:21-25

• John says he is NOT Elijah, which is true as he was not literally Elijah but only came in the spirit and power of Elijah.

The Mystery of John as Elijah

• The prophecy is a mystery and was revealed by the Angel and Holy spirit

• It was not possible for humans to fit the puzzle.• Jesus and John also showed us how to solve the puzzle

– John denied he was literally Elijah– Reading the bible, led people to believe Elijah would rise and return

to restore– The spirit and power of Elijah is not in the context of a super hero but

righteousness.– God did raise a prophet greater than Elijah that Christ may be

accepted. (Yet the leaders rejected both John and Jesus)

• For Our learning:– Be Fruitful

• Mat 3:8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. - John• Mat 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut

down and thrown into the fire. - Jesus