John the Baptist began his ministry preaching repentance and baptizing people in the River Jordan. Jesus began his ministry after John and was baptized by him in the Jordan River, where he saw the Holy Spirit descend on him in the form of a dove and heard God declare him to be his beloved Son. Jesus was then led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he fasted for 40 days and was tempted three times by the devil, quoting scripture each time to resist temptation.

1. The Beginning of
Ministry
John the Baptist
Baptism
Temptation

2. John the Baptist (JTB)
Jesus began his ministry sometime
soon after that of JTB.
JTB was from a priestly family -
possibly better off than his
carpenter cousins family
Although Mary and Elizabeth had
met before their children were
born JTB and Jesus seem to have
very little knowledge of each other.
John has been associated by many
with the Essenes - it appears likely
he met them but he is more
dissimilar than similar.
Mark 1: 4-8
And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching
a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The
whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem
went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptised by
him in the River Jordan. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s
hair, with a leather belt round his waist, and he ate locusts and
wild honey. 7 And this was his message:‘After me comes the
one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am
not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptise you with
water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.’

3. John the Baptist (JTB)
Jesus began his ministry sometime
soon after that of JTB.
JTB was from a priestly family -
possibly better off than his
carpenter cousins family
Although Mary and Elizabeth had
met before their children were
born JTB and Jesus seem to have
very little knowledge of each other.
John has been associated by many
with the Essenes - it appears likely
he met them but he is more
dissimilar than similar.

4. Similarities:
1. Location - in the Judean
wilderness near the Dead Sea
2. Belief in the fulfillment of Isa
40:3
3.Ascetic lifestyle - repentance,
purity
4. Baptism / immersion
5. Prophecy about baptism
with/in Spirit and fire in relation
to coming salvation / judgement
However,
JTB appears to have baptised in
other places, Jn 1:28, 3:2
Ascetic:
characterized by
severe self-discipline
and abstention from
all forms of
indulgence, typically
for religious reasons

5. Similarities:
1. Location - in the Judean
wilderness near the Dead Sea
2. Belief in the fulfillment of Isa
40:3
3.Ascetic lifestyle - repentance,
purity
4. Baptism / immersion
5. Prophecy about baptism
with/in Spirit and fire in relation
to coming salvation / judgement
However,
JTB appears to have baptised in
other places, Jn 1:28, 3:2

6. He was more prophet than priest
with similar clothing / message to
Elijah - denial of being Ej was
probably about being a literal figure
(Mal 3:1, 4:5,6).
Luke 1:17 And he will go on before the
Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of the parents to
their children and the disobedient to
the wisdom of the righteous – to make
ready a people prepared for the Lord.’
Mark 9:13But I tell you, Elijah has
come...”
Symbolism of baptism in the Jordan
- cf. entry of the people into the PL
by going through the Jordan

7. The Message of JTB
Mark 1:2-6, Luke 3:17-18, John
1:19-51- Mark 1:4 = best summary
- Jews might have already had
some idea about baptism (for
initiation etc.)
- JTB calling for a once for all
repentance (metanoia) was unique
for Jews - the equivalent Hebrew
word shuv also indicated a
dramatic change of action too
- the baptism can be thought of as
“baptism produced by repentance”
or “baptism characterised by
repentance”
Steps leading down to the Mikvah,
or ritual bath, at the settlement of
Qumran at the northwestern edge
of the Dead Sea in the JordanValley.

8. - forgiveness of sins - Greek eis =
for - Blomberg suggests this means
“directed towards” or “with
reference to” - rather than the
baptism granting forgiveness
- JTB recognised one coming after
him who he was not worthy of and
who would baptise with the Spirit
Additional comments from Matt/Lk
- a comment warning the Jewish
leaders who had come for baptism
to “produce fruit in keeping with
repentance”
- additionally the baptism will be
with fire as well as Spirit

9. John’s gospel
- JTB is a witness to Jesus
- emphasis on who JTB is not
- Andrew and another disciple transfer from JTB to
Jesus - Peter, Philip and Nathanael (Bartholomew) are
also mentioned
- Jesus is called, Lamb of God (29), Rabbi (38), Messiah
(41), Son of God (34) and King of Israel (49) one
written about in the Law and prophets (45)
- Jesus sees Nathanael under a fig tree - a promise of
future blessing (1 Kings 4:25, Zech 3:10)
- heaven open, angels ascend/descend on the Son of
Man - see Gen 28 - meaning is uncertain

10. A few final things:
JTB and Jesus overlapped in ministry at some time - Jn
3:22-23
Jesus started to overtake JTB who was gracious (acting as a
bestman) - Jn 3:30
- John was imprisoned (in a fort at Machaerus)for criticising
Antipas for lying with his brothers (Philip) ex-wife Herodias

11. - Matt 11:2-19 JTB sends messengers (from prison) to Jesus, he
had some form of doubts (possibly influenced by the way things
were happening) - Jesus refers to his miracles to reassure JTB
and affirms JTB’s ministry using high praise
- JTB is put to death at the request of Herodias / Salome Mk
6:14 - even in death JTB prefigures Christ’s death

12. Jesus’ Baptism
Mark 1:9-11
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth
in Galilee and was baptised by John in
the Jordan.10 Just as Jesus was coming
up out of the water, he saw heaven
being torn open and the Spirit
descending on him like a dove.11 And a
voice came from heaven:‘You are my
Son, whom I love; with you I am well
pleased.’

13. Jesus’ Baptism

14. Jesus’ Baptism

15. This is the key commissioning
event for the ministry of Jesus
- Matthew is clear in declaring it
was not for sin, in fact stating JTB
tried to stop Jesus and asking to be
baptised by him (3:14ff)
- completion and fulfill here might
indicate approval of what JTB was
doing
- also an identification with the
failings of Israel as a whole and
therefore repenting for them
- Jn 1:29 indicates Jesus then as the
one offering atonement for sin for
the whole of humanity

16. - something like a dove appears Matt 3:16,17
he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming
to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said,“This is
my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
- doves symbolised peace, love, divinity, but most
probably here the Spirit of God at creation, Gen 1:2
- God speaks, Ps 2:7, Isa 42:1- son and servant both
messianic names - God declares Jesus the Messiah
- the Trinity is involved here - God speaks, Spirit
descends, Jesus is the man

17. Jesus’ Temptation
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the
devil. 2 After fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter
came to him and said,‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become
bread.’
4 Jesus answered,‘It is written:“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every
word that comes from the mouth of God.”[b]’
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the highest point of
the temple. 6 ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said,‘throw yourself down. For it is
written:
‘“He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their
hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”[c]’
7 Jesus answered him,‘It is also written:“Do not put the Lord your God to the
test.”[d]’
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the
kingdoms of the world and their splendour. 9 ‘All this I will give you,’ he said,‘if
you will bow down and worship me.’
10 Jesus said to him,‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written:“Worship the Lord
your God, and serve him only.”[e]’
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

18. Baptism does not launch Jesus into an
immediately successful and powerful
ministry - instead a time of testing
follows immediately
Matt and Luke have long accounts, Mark
is short but includes the wild beasts
Angels served him - which means?
40 days - similar to Moses before
receiving the Law, and the 40 years
wandering in the wilderness
God’s Spirit initiates the test - the devil
is the agent through whom temptation
comes
God tempts no one (Jas 1:13) and is not
evil - yet He can see his sovereign
purposes fulfilled through temptation

19. 3 temptations:
1.Turn stones into bread
2. Be supernaturally rescued from death after leaping from
the temple
3. Receive all the kingdoms of the world in return for
worshipping satan
There are parallels with Eden and 1 Jn 2:16
Heb 4:15 sums it up
Jesus Adam & Eve 1 Jn 2:16
Stones to bread Tree good - food Lust of flesh
All kingdoms Pleasing to eye Lust of eyes
Spectacular life
saving
Desirable for
gaining wisdom
Pride of life

20. - the devil recognises Jesus’
sonship - Blomberg suggests a
better translation is,“since you
are the Son of God”
- the devil is trying to seduce
Jesus into taking the easy route
- Jesus uses scripture to defeat
the devil - Dt 8:3, 6:16, 13
- satan uses scripture too, Ps
91:11-12, but misapplies it
- no mount of temptation is
recorded
- we do not know if the
temptations were physical or
mental

21. - we do know for the temptation
to be real Jesus had to be capable
of sinning, yet he resisted and
remained sinless
- just as his temptation was like
ours so his atonement could be
for substitutionary and vicarious
for us

22. TTFN
Ta Ta
For Now