Jesus needed not only witnesses to follow him and testify to
what he had done, but also a witness who should precede him,
who should bring men to a sense of their need of him and
announce his coming. What the apostles did for Jesus after his
work was done, John did for him before that work began.
A verse by verse commentary on John chapter 8 dealing with Jesus and the woman caught in adultery, and the Pharisees challenging the witness of Jesus. It goes on to deal with the issue of who are the true children of Abraham and who are the children of the devil. it finishes with the claims of Jesus about Himself.
There are lots of theories out there about 'pre-tribulation or post-tribulation', but this should not be a basis for dividing true believers; as ultimately, the most important thing is that we are in a relationship with God, that we are walking closely with God and that we are ready for whatever comes in the end times.
EPISODE 24: FROM JERUSALEM TO THE WORLDbibleheroes
The life and times of the followers of the Way in the earliest Christian community as recorded by the Acts of the Apostles. Visit www.bibleheroes.net for more information.
A verse by verse commentary on John chapter 8 dealing with Jesus and the woman caught in adultery, and the Pharisees challenging the witness of Jesus. It goes on to deal with the issue of who are the true children of Abraham and who are the children of the devil. it finishes with the claims of Jesus about Himself.
There are lots of theories out there about 'pre-tribulation or post-tribulation', but this should not be a basis for dividing true believers; as ultimately, the most important thing is that we are in a relationship with God, that we are walking closely with God and that we are ready for whatever comes in the end times.
EPISODE 24: FROM JERUSALEM TO THE WORLDbibleheroes
The life and times of the followers of the Way in the earliest Christian community as recorded by the Acts of the Apostles. Visit www.bibleheroes.net for more information.
This article contains, ''What About The Rapture'' ''Is It Scripturally Correct'' ''The True Rapture Is Every Man In His Own Order'' ''It Has Always Been In God's Plan To Have Forerunners'' ''Using The Three Hundred Or The Minority Group'' ''Ascending In The Cloud'' ''All Mysteries To Be Made Known'' ''Heaven Bound Creatures''
This slide deck study on the seven churches of the Book of Revelation is one in a series designed for conscientious teachers who lead a Bible study or Sunday School class but are too busy to research and prepare well for the task. Access a quality series of 4 or more lessons that is engaging and challenging and do so even at the last moment, as it were, “to go”. More are in the works. Check back in the weeks ahead, Search using keyword "lessonstogo".
The bible ,the quran & sciencee :
The Holy Scriptures Examined In The Light Of Modern Knowledge.
Each of the three monotheistic religions possess its own collection of Scriptures. For
the faithful-be they Jews, Christians or Muslims-these documents constitute the
foundation of their belief. For them they are the material transcription of a divine
Revelation; directly, as in the case of Abraham and Moses, who received the
commandments from God Himself, or indirectly, as in the case of Jesus and
Muhammad, the first of whom stated that he was speaking in the name of the Father,
and the second of whom transmitted to men the Revelation imparted to him by
Archangel Gabriel.
If we take into consideration the objective facts of religious history, we must place the
Old Testament, the Gospels and the Qur'an on the same level as being collections of
written Revelation. Although this attitude is in principle held by Muslims, the faithful
in the West under the predominantly Judeo-Christian influence refuse to ascribe to the
Qur'an the character of a book of Revelation.
Such an attitude may be explained by the position each religious community adopts
towards the other two with regard to the Scriptures.
Judaism has as its holy book the Hebraic Bible. This differs from the Old Testament
of the Christians in that the latter have included several books which did not exist in
Hebrew. In practice, this divergence hardly makes any difference to the doctrine.
Judaism does not however admit any revelation subsequent to its own.
Christianity has taken the Hebraic Bible for itself and added a few supplements to it.
It has not however accepted all the published writings destined to make known to men
the Mission of Jesus. The Church has made incisive cuts in the profusion of books
relating the life and teachings of Jesus. It has only preserved a limited number of
writings in the New Testament, the most important of which are the four Canonic
Gospels. Christianity takes no account of any revelation subsequent to Jesus and his
Apostles. It therefore rules out the Qur'an.
This is a study of Jesus being baptized, and the question is why? Why would a sinless Savior need to go through the cleansing of the common sinner? This is the question answered in these studies.
A verse by verse commentary on Matthew chapter 3 dealing with the preaching and baptism of John the Baptist. Jesus came to John for baptism, but he resisted. Jesus convinced him to allow it, and when Jesus came up out of the water the Spirit of God descended like a dove on him, and God spoke His approval upon His Son.
This article contains, ''What About The Rapture'' ''Is It Scripturally Correct'' ''The True Rapture Is Every Man In His Own Order'' ''It Has Always Been In God's Plan To Have Forerunners'' ''Using The Three Hundred Or The Minority Group'' ''Ascending In The Cloud'' ''All Mysteries To Be Made Known'' ''Heaven Bound Creatures''
This slide deck study on the seven churches of the Book of Revelation is one in a series designed for conscientious teachers who lead a Bible study or Sunday School class but are too busy to research and prepare well for the task. Access a quality series of 4 or more lessons that is engaging and challenging and do so even at the last moment, as it were, “to go”. More are in the works. Check back in the weeks ahead, Search using keyword "lessonstogo".
The bible ,the quran & sciencee :
The Holy Scriptures Examined In The Light Of Modern Knowledge.
Each of the three monotheistic religions possess its own collection of Scriptures. For
the faithful-be they Jews, Christians or Muslims-these documents constitute the
foundation of their belief. For them they are the material transcription of a divine
Revelation; directly, as in the case of Abraham and Moses, who received the
commandments from God Himself, or indirectly, as in the case of Jesus and
Muhammad, the first of whom stated that he was speaking in the name of the Father,
and the second of whom transmitted to men the Revelation imparted to him by
Archangel Gabriel.
If we take into consideration the objective facts of religious history, we must place the
Old Testament, the Gospels and the Qur'an on the same level as being collections of
written Revelation. Although this attitude is in principle held by Muslims, the faithful
in the West under the predominantly Judeo-Christian influence refuse to ascribe to the
Qur'an the character of a book of Revelation.
Such an attitude may be explained by the position each religious community adopts
towards the other two with regard to the Scriptures.
Judaism has as its holy book the Hebraic Bible. This differs from the Old Testament
of the Christians in that the latter have included several books which did not exist in
Hebrew. In practice, this divergence hardly makes any difference to the doctrine.
Judaism does not however admit any revelation subsequent to its own.
Christianity has taken the Hebraic Bible for itself and added a few supplements to it.
It has not however accepted all the published writings destined to make known to men
the Mission of Jesus. The Church has made incisive cuts in the profusion of books
relating the life and teachings of Jesus. It has only preserved a limited number of
writings in the New Testament, the most important of which are the four Canonic
Gospels. Christianity takes no account of any revelation subsequent to Jesus and his
Apostles. It therefore rules out the Qur'an.
This is a study of Jesus being baptized, and the question is why? Why would a sinless Savior need to go through the cleansing of the common sinner? This is the question answered in these studies.
A verse by verse commentary on Matthew chapter 3 dealing with the preaching and baptism of John the Baptist. Jesus came to John for baptism, but he resisted. Jesus convinced him to allow it, and when Jesus came up out of the water the Spirit of God descended like a dove on him, and God spoke His approval upon His Son.
Session 03 New Testament Overview - Introduction to the GospelsJohn Brooks
Session 03 New Testament Survey Class
Introduction to the Gospels
Based on material from:
Capitol Hill Baptist Church
525 A Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
This is a study of the gospel Jesus preached, and you may be surprised when you discover what His message was, for it was before the cross and resurrection.
This is a study of Jesus approving of retreat. He told Paul to hurry and get out of town because the people were not open to his testimony of faith in Christ. Sometimes you just have to back off and go another route.
An analysis of the Graeco-Roman historical and cultural background of the Christian Gospel. The restructuring of the Roman Empire by Augustus and the reign of Herod the Great are examined as the context of the coming of Christ.
One of the most precious gifts heaven be-
stows on the earth is a man with a message for
his fellows. A man sent to deliver tidings of
great joy, to accjuaint us with God's thoughts
and purposes about us, to pour light into our
darkness, and to fill the heart with a song of
gladness — what greater boon could be ours,
or should be more acceptable? Such a gift
ranks above every earthly good, ranks next to
God 's ' ' unspeakable gift ' ' with which indeed
it is closely associated. And such men do now
and then appear; genuine messengers from
God, envoys extraordinary from the court of
heaven.
THE SUPERIORITY OF CHRIST
His Superior Purpose (1:1-3)
His Superior Personality (1:4)
His Superior Position (1:5-6)
His Superior Power (1:7-8)
His Superior Purity (1:9)
His Superior Perfection (1:10-14)
A verse by verse commentary on LUKE chapter 9 dealing with Jesus sending out the twelve, and then His feeding of the five thousand. Then come Peter's confession of Christ followed by the Transfiguration of Jesus. Jesus goes on to heal the boy with an evil spirit. Jesus then teaches about who is the greatest and about the cost of following Him.
This is a study of Jesus declaring John the Baptist to be Elijah. He fulfilled an Old Testament prophecy and Jesus said He was the Elijah who was to come.
This is a study of Jesus scaring His disciples by telling them to listen carefully to what He said, and then they could not figure out what He was saying and were afraid to ask.
Jesus was urging us to pray and never give upGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus urging us to pray and never give up. He uses a widow who kept coming to a judge for help and she was so persistent he had to give her the justice she sought. God will do the same for us if we never give up but keep on praying.
This is a study of Jesus being questioned about fasting. His disciples were not doing it like John's disciples and the Pharisees. Jesus gives His answer that gets Him into the time of celebration with new wineskins that do away with the old ones. Jesus says we do not fast at a party and a celebration.
This is a study of Jesus being scoffed at by the Pharisees. Jesus told a parable about loving money more than God, and it hit them hard. They in anger just turned up their noses and made fun of His foolish teaching.
Jesus was clear you cannot serve two mastersGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus being clear on the issue, you cannot serve two masters. You cannot serve God and money at the same time because you will love one and hate the other. You have to make a choice and a commitment.
Jesus was saying what the kingdom is likeGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus saying what the kingdom is like. He does so by telling the Parable of the growing seed. It just grows by itself by nature and man just harvests it when ripe. There is mystery here.
Jesus was telling a story of good fish and badGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus telling a story of good fish and bad fish. He illustrates the final separation of true believers from false believers by the way fishermen separate good and bad fish.
Jesus was comparing the kingdom of god to yeastGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus comparing the kingdom of God to yeast. A little can go a long way, and the yeast fills the whole of the large dough, and so the kingdom of God will fill all nations of the earth.
This is a study of Jesus telling a shocking parable. It has some terrible words at the end, but it is all about being faithful with what our Lord has given us. We need to make whatever has been given us to count for our Lord.
Jesus was telling the parable of the talentsGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus telling the parable of the talents, There are a variety of talents given and whatever the talent we get we are to do our best for the Master, for He requires fruit or judgment.
Jesus was explaining the parable of the sowerGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus explaining the parable of the sower. It is all about the seed and the soil and the fruitfulness of the combination. The Word is the seed and we need it in our lives to bear fruit for God.
This is a study of Jesus warning against covetousness. Greed actually will lead to spiritual poverty, so Jesus says do not live to get, but develop a spirit of giving instead,
Jesus was explaining the parable of the weedsGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus explaining the parable of the weeds. The disciples did not understand the parable and so Jesus gave them a clear commentary to help them grasp what it was saying.
This is a study of Jesus being radical. He was radical in His claims, and in His teaching, and in the language He used, and in His actions. He was clearly radical.
This is a study of Jesus laughing in time and in eternity. He promised we would laugh with Him in heaven, and most agree that Jesus often laughed with His followers in His earthly ministry. Jesus was a laugher by nature being He was God, and God did laugh, and being man, who by nature does laugh. Look at the masses of little babies that laugh on the internet. It is natural to being human.
This is a study of Jesus as our protector. He will strengthen and protect from the evil one. We need His protection for we are not always aware of the snares of the evil one.
This is a study of Jesus not being a self pleaser. He looked to helping and pleasing others and was an example for all believers to look to others need and not focus on self.
This is a study of Jesus being the clothing we are to wear. To be clothed in Jesus is to be like Jesus in the way we look and how our life is to appear before the world.
This is a study of Jesus being our liberator. By His death He set us free from the law of sin and death. We are under no condemnation when we trust Him as our Savior and Liberator.
A Comprehensive Look at Generative AI in Retail App Testing.pdfkalichargn70th171
Traditional software testing methods are being challenged in retail, where customer expectations and technological advancements continually shape the landscape. Enter generative AI—a transformative subset of artificial intelligence technologies poised to revolutionize software testing.
Check out the webinar slides to learn more about how XfilesPro transforms Salesforce document management by leveraging its world-class applications. For more details, please connect with sales@xfilespro.com
If you want to watch the on-demand webinar, please click here: https://www.xfilespro.com/webinars/salesforce-document-management-2-0-smarter-faster-better/
May Marketo Masterclass, London MUG May 22 2024.pdfAdele Miller
Can't make Adobe Summit in Vegas? No sweat because the EMEA Marketo Engage Champions are coming to London to share their Summit sessions, insights and more!
This is a MUG with a twist you don't want to miss.
TROUBLESHOOTING 9 TYPES OF OUTOFMEMORYERRORTier1 app
Even though at surface level ‘java.lang.OutOfMemoryError’ appears as one single error; underlyingly there are 9 types of OutOfMemoryError. Each type of OutOfMemoryError has different causes, diagnosis approaches and solutions. This session equips you with the knowledge, tools, and techniques needed to troubleshoot and conquer OutOfMemoryError in all its forms, ensuring smoother, more efficient Java applications.
Developing Distributed High-performance Computing Capabilities of an Open Sci...Globus
COVID-19 had an unprecedented impact on scientific collaboration. The pandemic and its broad response from the scientific community has forged new relationships among public health practitioners, mathematical modelers, and scientific computing specialists, while revealing critical gaps in exploiting advanced computing systems to support urgent decision making. Informed by our team’s work in applying high-performance computing in support of public health decision makers during the COVID-19 pandemic, we present how Globus technologies are enabling the development of an open science platform for robust epidemic analysis, with the goal of collaborative, secure, distributed, on-demand, and fast time-to-solution analyses to support public health.
Quarkus Hidden and Forbidden ExtensionsMax Andersen
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Come join this talk to see some tips and tricks for using Quarkus and some of the lesser known features, extensions and development techniques.
Into the Box Keynote Day 2: Unveiling amazing updates and announcements for modern CFML developers! Get ready for exciting releases and updates on Ortus tools and products. Stay tuned for cutting-edge innovations designed to boost your productivity.
How Recreation Management Software Can Streamline Your Operations.pptxwottaspaceseo
Recreation management software streamlines operations by automating key tasks such as scheduling, registration, and payment processing, reducing manual workload and errors. It provides centralized management of facilities, classes, and events, ensuring efficient resource allocation and facility usage. The software offers user-friendly online portals for easy access to bookings and program information, enhancing customer experience. Real-time reporting and data analytics deliver insights into attendance and preferences, aiding in strategic decision-making. Additionally, effective communication tools keep participants and staff informed with timely updates. Overall, recreation management software enhances efficiency, improves service delivery, and boosts customer satisfaction.
OpenFOAM solver for Helmholtz equation, helmholtzFoam / helmholtzBubbleFoamtakuyayamamoto1800
In this slide, we show the simulation example and the way to compile this solver.
In this solver, the Helmholtz equation can be solved by helmholtzFoam. Also, the Helmholtz equation with uniformly dispersed bubbles can be simulated by helmholtzBubbleFoam.
Experience our free, in-depth three-part Tendenci Platform Corporate Membership Management workshop series! In Session 1 on May 14th, 2024, we began with an Introduction and Setup, mastering the configuration of your Corporate Membership Module settings to establish membership types, applications, and more. Then, on May 16th, 2024, in Session 2, we focused on binding individual members to a Corporate Membership and Corporate Reps, teaching you how to add individual members and assign Corporate Representatives to manage dues, renewals, and associated members. Finally, on May 28th, 2024, in Session 3, we covered questions and concerns, addressing any queries or issues you may have.
For more Tendenci AMS events, check out www.tendenci.com/events
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The Earth System Grid Federation (ESGF) is a global network of data servers that archives and distributes the planet’s largest collection of Earth system model output for thousands of climate and environmental scientists worldwide. Many of these petabyte-scale data archives are located in proximity to large high-performance computing (HPC) or cloud computing resources, but the primary workflow for data users consists of transferring data, and applying computations on a different system. As a part of the ESGF 2.0 US project (funded by the United States Department of Energy Office of Science), we developed pre-defined data workflows, which can be run on-demand, capable of applying many data reduction and data analysis to the large ESGF data archives, transferring only the resultant analysis (ex. visualizations, smaller data files). In this talk, we will showcase a few of these workflows, highlighting how Globus Flows can be used for petabyte-scale climate analysis.
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The place of john the baptist in gospel history.
1. THE PLACE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST IN GOSPEL HISTORY.
By Professor A. C. Zenos, D.D.,
McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago.
Three of the four evangelists begin their gospels with an
account of John the Baptist. 1 Mark, with characteristic brevity
and abruptness, passes into his report of the Forerunner's work
immediately after announcing the title and subject of his writing
as, "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of
God." Luke allows only a short preface to precede; and John
gives a glimpse of the preexistent Word in his glory before
introducing the Baptist to the reader. Matthew alone postpones
the account of John's appearance until after he has described
the birth and infancy of the Savior. If these facts mean any-
thing, they mean that a knowledge of the place and work of John
was considered by the men of the apostolic age as of the highest
importance, if not, indeed, absolutely necessary, before entering
into the study of the life and ministry of Jesus.
Jesus needed not only witnesses to follow him and testify to
what he had done, but also a witness who should precede him,
who should bring men to a sense of their need of him and
announce his coming. What the apostles did for Jesus after his
work was done, John did for him before that work began. How
1
2. he came to know what that work was to be is a question we need
not stop to answer. The facts of John's life, properly scrutinized
1 The gospel passages which serve as sources for our knowledge of John the Baptist
are: Matt. 3:1-12; 4:3-17; 11:1-19; 14:1-12; Mark 1:1-11; 6:14-29; Luke
1 : 1-80 ; 3 : 1-36 ; 7 : 19-35 5 9 : 7-9 ; John I : 19-37 ; 3 : 25-36. Cf. also Josf.phus,
Antiq., XVIII, v, 2. The literature of the subject is abundant and widely scattered in
commentaries and histories of the life and times of Jesus. The following, however,
are the principal monographs accessible to the English reader : H. R. Reynolds
John the Baptist; The Congregational Union Lectures for 1874; R. C. Houghton,
John the Baptist, the Forerunner (New York, 1887); A. M. Symington, John the
Baptist (London, 1882); J. Feather, The Last of the Prophets (Edinburgh, 1894);
James Stalker, The Two St. Johns (New York, 1895).
1 2 THE BIBLICAL WORLD
and understood, answer the question sufficiently. He certainly
had a great task to perform in anticipation of and preparation
for the Christ.
And yet, as if out of a sense of the relative insignificance of
the work of the Forerunner in comparison with that of the Lord
2
3. himself, the account of John's work is but a sketch. It consists
of a few grand and bold strokes of the pencil, throwing before us
a figure, vivid enough, but lacking fulness and finish in details.
The servant here as elsewhere must not be given the place which
belongs to the master.
The few events of his personal life recorded in the gospels
are easily told. His birth was accompanied by strange, mir-
aculous occurrences, which touched and quickened the hearts of
his parents and kinsfolk. Like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, he was of
priestly descent, though destined to serve God and his people, not
as a priest, but as a prophet — a member, that is to say, of that
guild or profession which modern criticism puts in sharp contrast,
if not constant opposition, to the priesthood throughout the past
history of Israel.
How he spent the years of his infancy and boyhood we are
compelled to infer from general archaeology. When he reached
the age at which it was customary for the sons of priests to take
upon themselves the duties of active life, he deliberately chose
to withdraw himself from the world and spend some time — how
long we know not — in solitary meditation and discipline. Why
did he adopt this course ? Did he foresee that he would thus be
equipped for a unique prophetic mission ? or was it his design to
3
4. spend his whole life in the wilderness, aiming by a life of self-
denial to avoid the sin that is in the world and in the flesh ?
Whatever his motive, his plan of life was rigidly ascetic. He
was a Nazirite. In some particulars he seemed to conform to the
customs of the sect known as Essenes. There is enough origi-
nality, however, in his mode of life to make it as a whole entirely
a thought of his own. It is summed up in the statement : John
"had his raiment of camel's hair and a leathern girdle about his
loins, and his food was locusts and wild honey." He reduced
his wants to the lowest limit. He allowed himself the barest
JOHN THE BAPTIST IN GOSPEL HISTORY 1 3
and simplest necessities in order to "keep under the body" and
have as few points of contact with the world as possible. Thus,
freed from care and labor for the sustenance of the bodily life,
he could devote as much time and energy as possible to the
building up of the inner man.
Some men's spiritual life can only be made to glow and burn
in contact with that of others. Theirs is the fire of lumps of
hard coal that cannot burn singly and alone. Others, like torches
4
5. to which the flame has been communicated from above, burn and
shine best when isolated. They would lose their distinctive color
and beauty if thrown into a heap. John the Baptist belonged to
the latter class. In the world of men, no matter what the fervor
and brilliancy of his light, he would have failed to shed it upon
the particular path along which the King was coming. In the
wilderness, through the discipline of solitude, meditation, and
direct contact with the source of all inspiration, he not only
received life for himself, but also a special message and mission
of supreme importance to the world.
By what stages of growth the conviction of his prophetic
mission reached its climax of intensity in his heart we do not
know. Whether, like Moses and Jeremiah, he first resisted the
divine call and was only led to heed it after severe experiences,
or, like Isaiah, upon hearing the call he promptly exclaimed,
" Here I am, send me," we are not informed. In any case, there
was no hesitating tremor in his voice when he made his appear-
ance as a prophet. From this point on his work may be said to
consist of four parts or stages. These he took up successively,
being led from one to the other rapidly by the providential
unfolding of events. First, he announced the coming of the
kingdom. Second, he enthroned the king. Third, he testified to
Jesus. Fourth, he rebuked Herod.
5
6. I. The announcement of the coming kingdom was joined
with a call to prepare for it. The message was simple and clear :
" Repent 2 ye : for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Both the
a For the sake of its familiarity we give the word as found in both of the English
versions. It is now generally conceded that it does not convey the exact idea of the
Greek word for which it stands. That word is more comprehensive and denotes a
change of the whole man, rather than mere sorrow for sin.
14 THE BIBLICAL WORLD
manner of the preacher and the content of his message were
startling. The impression produced was profound. Men began
to think of the promises of God given through the older
prophets. They said, "It is Elijah!" remembering the words
of Malachi, " Behold, I will send Elijah the prophet before the
great and terrible day of the Lord come." But John, thinking
of a literal interpretation and application of the old prophecy,
denied that he was Elijah ; while Jesus himself, somewhat latter,
having reference to the essence and spirit of the same utterance,
declared that it was fulfilled in John. They asked John : "Who,
6
7. then, art thou?" He answered, referring to another prophecy
of a more generic import, "I am the voice of one crying in the
wilderness, 'Prepare ye the way of the Lord,'" and went on
preaching his message. Those who heard him were seized by
the contagion of his fiery earnestness. The crowds that flocked
to him daily increased. Soon the movement assumed irre-
sistible force, sweeping into his presence men of all classes and
conditions of society. Pharisees and Sadducees, publicans and
soldiers, found themselves borne along on the swelling tide.
The appearance of the men of prouder ranks furnished John with
the occasion not only of rebuking in stinging words their hypoc-
risy, but also of inculcating the lesson that in the coming king-
dom righteousness should be the first law in all the relations of
men. To the men of each class represented before him he made
a special application of this law. He admonished the publicans
not to exact more than was just. To the soldiers he said : "Do
violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content
with your wages." To the people at large he pointed out the
necessity of generosity and compassion: "He that hath two
coats, let him impart to him that hath none ; and he that hath
food, let him do likewise."
To enforce this teaching and give it a new meaning, and at
the same time to establish a distinction between those who
7
8. accepted his message and those who did not, John adopted an
already existing custom — the beautiful one of ceremonial cleans-
ing through washing with water. Choosing, it is to be presumed,
convenient places along the Jordan, he baptized the crowds that
JOHN THE BAPTIST IN GOSPEL HISTORY I 5
flocked to hear him. Thus the work, progressing from day to
day, opened the way for the Messiah.
2. But the chief mission of the Baptist was not that of
preaching and baptizing. He was to identify the new King and,
figuratively speaking, to usher him into his office. The oppor-
tunity to perform this part of his task came to him when one day
he recognized among the crowds who came to be baptized the
figure of his kinsman Jesus. This was the King! And yet how
out of order the ceremony seemed at the very moment when
it must be gone through ! " I have need to be baptized of
thee," said he, "and comest thou to me?" It was only as Jesus
insisted on it as needful that he consented to perform the bap-
tism. Why was it needful ? it has been asked quite pertinently.
It was not certainly because Jesus had a sinful past behind him
8
9. and must repent. Nor was it, as some have poetically said,
because, " while the water cleansed others, he must cleanse the
water." It was rather that as a representative and head of the
people he must take his place before them by a solemn act of
dedication. Baptism was not merely the sign of the putting
away of the past, but also the sign of the putting on of some grace
or dignity for the future. In Jesus it must be regarded as the
sign of the consecration of one who all along had realized that
there was before him a great work to be done.
Something like the above explanation, though not explicit in
the narrative, is hinted at by the miraculous occurrences on the
occasion. "Jesus also having been baptized and praying, the
heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily
form, as a dove, upon him, and a voice came out of heaven,
'Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.'"
3. John's testimony to Jesus was manifold. It was involved
partly in his preaching of repentance and preparation for the king-
dom. It took a special form when, in anticipation of his taking up
his work, John described him as "mightier" than himself ; "whose
shoes he was not worthy to bear ; who would baptize with the
Holy Spirit and with fire ; whose fan is in his hand, and he will
thoroughly purge his floor." But it became more clear and con-
9
10. sistent when after the baptism he called Jesus the Son of God,
1 6 THE BIBLICAL WORLD
the Lamb of God, and the Bridegroom. Our space will not per-
mit of our examining the full meaning of each of these titles
separately. Taken together they show that John, though
naturally not possessing that full knowledge of what the Christ
was to be and to do which could only come after the events, was
nevertheless far in advance of the men of his generation as to
the true character of the Messiah. Having given his testimony
to the people and to his own disciples, John was ready to with-
draw into the background. He was satisfied to see him who
was greater than himself increase while he decreased.
4. But John was not to retire until he had performed one
signal act of service in the kingdom of righteousness which he
had announced and ushered in. His conception of the nature of
this kingdom put its authority far above that of the reigning
Herod. In the light of its law, Herod was a criminal. It was for
him, therefore, the servant of the great King, to denounce Herod.
As long as the husband of Herodias was living it was adultery for
10
11. Herod to have her as his own wife, and John must call him to
repentance for the sin. Without shrinking from the task, and
knowing fully what the consequences must be to him personally,
he fixed his face toward the castle at Machserus and firmly
walked into the very presence of the king and delivered his plain
and unwelcome message.
He was seized, cast into the dungeon, and there allowed to
languish and suffer. The night when no man can work had
come for him, a night whose darkness was only relieved by the
consciousness of duty done. Doubtless, also, the fact that Jesus
was at work must have filled John's heart with some hope for the
world. Yet there were times when the course of events took a
very different turn from that of his own expectations. Ques-
tions arose in his mind. Was it, after all, the Messiah whom he
had baptized on the banks of the Jordan? Why did not the
kingdom appear in outward might and glory? John sent two of
his disciples directly to Jesus with the question : "Art thou he
that should come, or do we look for another?" We are not told
whether the answer of Jesus was satisfactory. In the absence of
evidence to the contrary, we may assume that it was. John said
11
12. JOHN THE BAPTIST IN GOSPEL HISTORY I 7
nothing more. His work was done. We may imagine that he
prayed in the spirit, if not the words, of Simeon's prayer : " Lord,
now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace."
The manner of his departure brought into full view the black-
ness of the sinful hearts he had rebuked. On the birthday of
Herod, the daughter of Herodias so thoroughly inflamed the
lustful mind of her stepfather by dancing at his banquet that he
made her the rash offer of anything she might wish, even to the
half of his kingdom. Hastening to her mother for directions as
to what she should ask, she returned with the astonishing demand
for the head of John the Baptist. Herod was staggered, not
merely by the malice and cruelty shown in the request, but by
the peril involved in granting it. John's popularity with the
Jewish people was known to him, and it had thus far, perhaps in
conjunction with superstitious fears, deterred him from putting
John to death. This demand swept away these reasons. He
must fulfil the promise given under oath. He must save his
honor at the expense of his honor. John was beheaded, and
Herodias was avenged.
And thus the earthly career of the last of the Old Testament
12
13. saints came to an end. None of those who have been deemed
worthy of special mention in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews —
" the Westminster Abbey of Old Testament worthies" — better
deserves a place there than John the Baptist. He is omitted
from that list because of his unique position as one belonging
exclusively neither to the Old nor to the New Testament, but
partially to both. He was preeminently a transitional personage,
and his work consisted in linking the Old Dispensation to the
New. He was the embodiment of the letter of the old law, and
yet his message was the first blast of the new gospel. He was
less than the least of those within the kingdom of God, and vet
" among them that are born of women there hath not risen a
greajter than John the Baptist."
13