2. John the Baptist

3. Prophecies Messenger, preparer (Mal. 3:1-2; 4:5-6) 430 BC
Voice crying out in the wilderness (Isa. 40:3-5) 730 BC
(Luke 3:4-6; Matt. 3:3; Mark 1:2-3; John 1:23)
Messenger, preparer (Mal. 3:1-2; 4:5-6) 430 BC
(Luke 1:16-17; Mark 1:2)
Elijah (II Kings 1:8; Matt. 3:4) 860 BC
John (Luke 1:13-17) 3 BC

4. Birth & Early Life Parents – priest, barren woman (Luke 1:5-7)
Angel’s instructions (Luke 1:11-17)
Lived in the desert (Luke 1:80; Matt. 11:18)

5. Ministry Repentance & baptism (Luke 3:3) Coming judgment (Luke 3:7-17)
Fruits of repentance (Luke 3:8), not genealogy
Not baptism into Christ (Acts 19:1-5)
Transition period (Luke 16:16; Matt. 11:13)
Coming judgment (Luke 3:7-17)
“Wrath to come” (7)
“Ax is laid to the root of the trees” (9)
“He will baptize you with… fire” (16)
“His winnowing fork is in his hand” (17)

6. Ministry Messiah & kingdom near (Matt. 3:2; John 1:26-27)
“Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:29, 35)
Baptism of Jesus (Matt. 3:13-17)
John’s witness (John 1:6-8, 32-34)
Imprisoned by Herod (Mark 6:17-29)
Sent messengers to Jesus (Matt. 11:2-6)
Executed

7. Character Accepted his role (Luke 3:2-3) Humility (John 3:25-30)
Courage & boldness (Luke 3:19-20)

8. John the Baptist EVIDENCE CHARACTER MESSAGE
As it is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness” ~Luke 3:4
CHARACTER
The word of God came to John, and he went ~Luke 3:2-3
“He must increase, but I must decrease” ~John 3:30
Herod had been reproved by him for his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done ~Luke 3:19
MESSAGE
“Bear fruit in keeping with repentance” ~Luke 3:8