P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS John the Baptizer: An Old- NT Prophet with an Old- New Message Mark 1:1-8

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Mark 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger [prophet] before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Isaiah and Malachi

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS What kind of messenger is John? Jesus said:

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Jesus Said Luke 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist:

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Question: Why did God send the John the Baptist before Jesus?

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Answer: To prepare the way of the Lord!

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Mark 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Turn back to Isaiah 40:3-5

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Commentary The preaching of God’s Word is the equivalent of leveling the ground, filling in potholes, removing obstacles, and preparing the unregenerate heart for the truth of the gospel and the need for a Lord and Savior.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Mark 1:4 and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. John is a legitimate son of a priest, Zacharias, with all the rights to be performing priestly duties in Jerusalem.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS What does the fact that John is baptizing in the wilderness say about the religious establishment?

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Notice How John is dressed in verse 6

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Question: What do prophets, like John, do?

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Deuteronomy 18:20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I [God] have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Prophets Spoke for God God’s Messenger

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS 2 Peter 1:21 The Apostle Peter understood: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved [carried along] by the Holy Ghost.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Hebrews 1:1-2 No More Prophets God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS The Silent Years For 400 yrs from Malachi to Matthew, no prophet spoke to Israel.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Question: What single word best describes John the Baptist’s message?

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Matthew 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Repent or Repentance “Repent” is an authoritative demand that individuals change their mind about God (Jesus), sin, and themselves as prompted and enabled by the Holy Spirit according to God’s Word.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Repentance Words Change Turn Return Respond Hearken Believe (as a command)

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Repentance is a Gift of God Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Repentance is a Gift of God Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent :

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS The call to repent began in the Garden of Eden Turn to Genesis 3:9

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Notice, Even the Religious Must Repent Matthew 3:7-12

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Mark 1:4 and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Notice 1.A symbolic representation of personal repentance. 2.The reality that I have sins that need to be forgiven.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS John was not content to hear a confession of repentance. He insisted that Jews show their repentance through the act of being baptized.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission [forgiveness] of sins. This looks like baptism remits sin— Is this the message?

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Is baptism the way sins are forgiven? Look at John 1:29

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS According to the Torah Leviticus 4:32 And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Abraham the Prophet Said Genesis 22:7–8 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering:

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Question: What are the people doing when they get baptized?

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Mark 1:5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS The Fact Is: If Israel does not see themselves as sinners, they will not need a Savior.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS What kind of sins did John confront? Luke 3:10ff

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Luke 3:10-11 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Luke 3:12-13 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Luke 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, – Do violence to no man, – neither accuse any falsely; and – be content with your wages.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Luke 3:18 And many other things in his exhortation preached [euaggelizō] he unto the people.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Luke 3:19-20 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS John’s Message 1.Repent (Turn Back to God) 2.Be baptized as a sign of that repentance 3.Do right 4.The King is coming – Look at verse 7 & 8

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Mark 1:7 one mightier than I after me And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. Here is the faith component!

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS A Better Baptism Mark 1:8 (AV) I indeed have baptized you with water: but he [the One coming] shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. This is New Covenant Language.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Faithful Jews were wondering if these were the days to come?

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS Ezekiel 36:26-27 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

P ASTOR S EAN H ARRIS John’s Message Prepare the Way includes: Turn to God from sin Seek forgiveness Pledge to do right Confess sin Believe in the Promise All that is different is our baptism.