'John the Baptist' Tagged Posts
Daily Devotions
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’” vs. 13 Matthew 16:13-17 There was a lot of speculation about Jesus during his ministry. There was a heightened sense of expectation among the people, and many were wondering if God had at long last sent his messiah. John the Baptist had garnered a good bit of attention, but now that he’d been arrested and killed,…
Daily Devotions
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.” vs. 13 Matthew 14:13-14 John the Baptist had been killed while in the custody of King Herod at Machereus, a palace east of the Dead Sea, and it didn’t take long for the news to travel to where Jesus was doing ministry at the north end of the…
Daily Devotions
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” vs. 29 John 1:29-36 The gospel writer John indicates that John the Baptist also had a moment of insight and inspiration on the day that Jesus came for baptism. Though he didn’t know Jesus, the appearance of the dove convinced him that the Holy Spirit had designated Jesus as God’s Chosen One. So the very…
Daily Devotions
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’” vss. 13-14 Matthew 3:13-15 All the gospel writers were aware that Jesus had been baptized by John the Baptizer, but only Matthew includes John’s initial refusal to do so. Mark and Luke had simply written that Jesus submitted to baptism along with the rest of the…
Daily Devotions
Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” vs. 11 Matthew 11:7-11 Jesus had to be careful in talking about John the Baptist. He was a well-known radical preacher who had gained enormous popularity by speaking truth to power. Large numbers of people had become his disciples, and they had been deeply upset by his arrest and imprisonment.…
Daily Devotions
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’” vss. 2-3 Matthew 11:2-5 John had been waiting all of his life. Religion had let him down. The massive corruption of the temple leaders had driven him into the wilderness where he waited in stillness until he perceived signs that God had acted, and that…
Daily Devotions
I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” vs. 11 Matthew 3:7-12 A fire burned within John the Baptist. He knew that God was close and that change was coming. But like all prophets he likely also knew that his time was limited. He had offended too many powerful people and…
Daily Devotions
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” vss. 1-2 Matthew 3:1-6 John felt it inside first. Something new was in the wind and he knew beyond a doubt that God had broken into the world. He’d been railing against the corruption of the temple for years, and had joined the Essenes in the wilderness as a protest. In solitude he had prayed, and now God…
Daily Devotions
So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.” vs. 18 Luke 3:15-18 After recounting John’s vivid description of the brood of vipers and the burning of chaff Luke concludes by calling John’s message “good news” for the people. Now some might wonder how such harsh language could be good news for anyone, mostly because religious folks have gotten used to a less costly notion of grace. We’ve been so anxious to get to forgiveness and…
Daily Devotions
He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins…” vs. 3 Luke 3:3-6 John may not have been a member of the Essene Community at Qumran but he was undoubtedly influenced by its practice of ritual immersion for cleansing and renewal, a practice that became the central feature of his ministry. For him the baptism was a sign of repentance and was connected to the forgiveness of sins. It was…
Daily Devotions
..during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.” vs. 2 Luke 3:1-2 After a mostly poetic preface to his gospel Luke launches his third chapter by giving his best shot at describing John’s historical context. He might not have gotten all the details exactly right, but there’s no doubt about where John began his ministry. He’d left the corruption of religious Jerusalem and had probably found refuge…