2. CONSIDERING JOHN Matthew 3:1-12

3. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. (Matthew 3:5-6, ESV) Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. Matthew 4:11-12, ESV)

4. John’s Purpose? To Fulfill Prophecy For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” (Matthew 3:3, ESV) Isaiah 40:3))

5. John’s Purpose? To Fulfill Prophecy “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the L ORD 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.” (Malachi 4:5-6, ESV)

6. John’s Purpose? To Fulfill Prophecy And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and 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.” (Luke 1:16-17, ESV) Would speak to families and to the disobedient Two fold message- fulfilling prophecies and preparation

7. Consider John’s Message He prepared the people for Jesus’ message “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2, ESV) Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (Matthew 38) Repent – a change of mind prompting one to change his action, his course, his direction.

8. Consider John’s Message He prepared the people for Jesus’ message Jesus called for the same thing From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17, ESV)

9. Consider John’s Message He prepared the people for Jesus’ message Jesus called for the same thing Taught His apostles to do the same “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. (Luke 24:46-47, ESV)

10. Consider John’s Message He prepared the people for Jesus’ message Jesus called for the same thing Taught His apostles to do the same Was the message from the beginning And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receivethe gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38, ESV)

11. The message was not/is not about changing churches, but about CHANGE Repentance has fruits.

12. And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” (Luke 3:10-11, ESV) Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” (Luke 3:12-13, ESV) 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.” (Luke 3:14, ESV)

13. Consider John’s Message He prepared the people for Jesus’ message He prepared people for the kingdom The same message as Jesus From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17, ESV)

14. Consider John’s Message He prepared the people for Jesus’ message He prepared people for the kingdom The same message as Jesus Same message as the 12 w/limited commission …but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ (Matthew 10:6-7, ESV)

15. Consider John’s Message He prepared the people for Jesus’ message He prepared people for the kingdom The same message as Jesus Same message as the 12 w/limited commission After Acts 2, the kingdom was a fact He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us tothe kingdom of his beloved Son, (Colossians 1:13, ESV)

16. Consider John’s Message He prepared the people for Jesus’ message He prepared people for the kingdom Prepared them for Jesus’ work with HS In John 14- 16, Jesus promises the Spirit 5x’s, and His direct help

17. Consider John’s Message He prepared the people for Jesus’ message He prepared people for the kingdom Prepared them for Jesus’ work with HS Prepared them for Jesus’ work of separation Separated people with His parables This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. (Matthew 13:13, ESV)

18. Consider John’s Message He prepared the people for Jesus’ message He prepared people for the kingdom Prepared them for Jesus’ work with HS Prepared them for Jesus’ work of separation Separated people with His parables Would separate families “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother- in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:34-37)

19. Consider John’s Message He prepared the people for Jesus’ message He prepared people for the kingdom Prepared them for Jesus’ work with HS Prepared them for Jesus’ work of separation Separated people with His parables Would separate families Would separate righteous from unrighteous Jesus “the separator” is unknown to many today!

20. John’s Message Was a Forerunner of Jesus’ Gospel John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Mark 1:4, ESV) “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (Matthew 3:2, 8, ESV) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (Matthew 3:7-8, ESV)

21. “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? (Luke 6:46, ESV)