JOHN THE BAPTIST, A FORERUNNER FOR CHRIST JESUS

John the Baptist was the cousin to and the forerunner for Jesus Christ. John as a forerunner was very humble in his assignment. When he perceived that men thought that he was Jesus, he answered and stated that he was not even worthy to untie the sandals of Jesus. And he further stated that he came to baptize by water but Jesus would come baptizing by Holy Ghost and fire.

Although his characteristics included humility, John the Baptist also exuded boldness in His preaching style. When the people came to him to be baptized, he actually called them a brood of vipers (den of snakes).

His preaching style was both stern and anointed and so anointed that it caused many to come, to repent of their sins, and to be baptized.

As he preached to many, John would admonish them to produce fruit worthy of and consistent with repentence and righteous living. And because he could discern the religious spirits that many of the Jews were bound by, he told them up front that they should not even think that because they were born under Abraham’s lineage that they would automatically be saved. Jesus would have to check this same religious mindset in John, chapter 5, to let them know that just because they searched the scriptures over and over, this did not automatically provide salvation.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that it is not by works lest any man show boast but through the amazing grace of Jesus Christ.

Be that as it may when John the Baptist warned those that came to listen to him that Jesus would bringing the axe to the root of the trees of those not bringing forth good fruit;

The Jews were the first to ask: What shall we do then?

John answered: Those of you with two coats, give one away to those in need. If you have food, feed somebody who is hungry.

The power and the conviction of the message of John the Baptist caused the publicans (tax collectors) to ask the same question:   what shall we do?

John responded: Stop hustling and pimping folks…stop with the extortion.

The soldiers who came to listen to John and to be baptized asked the same question: what must we do?

John answered: Stop mistreating folks and stop falsely accusing folk to the higher authorities in order to move up in rank. Stop putting your mouth on the innocent.

Now, please know that any of these three groups of people mentioned above can represent anyone of us reading this blog from the church leaders to church members and to the unsaved.

Today, we find many in the Body of Christ and those unsaved who are not always willing to share with those less fortunate. Many come fleecing, pimping, and hustling the less fortunate. As well, many come bringing false accusation of others, sometimes for no apparent reason, but sometimes to get ahead in life or because of their own insecurities and jealousies.

John the Baptist as a forerunner and as a voice of one crying in the wilderness is admonishing all to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance. And Jesus also is asking us to get our houses in order and to repent for the Kingdom of heaven is near.

Luke 3: 7-14

7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”  

10 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” 

12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”  

14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.” 

John 5:39-40 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.  

Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,   9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 

Matthew 4:17 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

PRAYER!

Father God, in heaven, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we thank You for Your darling Son, Jesus that died on the Cross for our sins. Truly, God, we want to flee the wrath to come and we wish to quickly repent (to turn all the way around for the good) so that we may have a right to the tree of Life in Jesus blessed name, Amen.

If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, and you want to accept Him now, you can click on the Menu button under PRAYER, and pray the prayer of Salvation.