Dictionary of Bible Themes The forerunner of Jesus Christ, born to elderly parents of the Aaronic line. His public ministry began in the Judean wilderness with a call to repentance and baptism. His ministry is seen as a fulfilment of OT prophecy, in preparation for the ministry of Jesus Christ. He was executed by Herod. Luke 1:57-60John's birth and early years See also His birth and naming Luke 1:5-13,61-66Luke 1:14-17 See also Prophetic words over his life Luke 1:76-79Luke 1:36 He was related to Jesus Christ Luke 1:80His early years Matthew 3:4John's ministry His simple lifestyle Matthew 11:18pp Mk 1:6 Luke 7:24-25pp Lk 7:33 Luke 3:3His call for repentance pp Mt 3:1 Matthew 3:3pp Mk 1:4 He fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy pp Mk 1:2-3 See also pp Lk 3:4-6 Isaiah 40:3Just as roads were improved in the ancient world in preparation for the visit of a king, so John calls for people to prepare spiritually and morally for the imminent coming of the Messiah. John 1:23Mark 1:4-5 His practice of baptism See also John 3:23; 10:40pp Mt 3:5-6 Matthew 3:7-10His challenge to established religion See also Luke 3:10-14pp Lk 3:7-9 Luke 3:15-17The contrast of his own baptism with that which the Messiah would bring pp Mt 3:11-12 John 1:15pp Mk 1:7-8 See also His testimony to Jesus Christ John 1:6-8,21-27; 10:41John 3:27-30 He recognises that his own ministry must decrease, while that of Jesus Christ will increase See also John's baptising of Jesus Christ Matthew 3:13-15pp Mk 1:9 John 1:29-34pp Lk 3:21 John's reluctance to baptise Jesus Christ lay in his recognition of who Jesus was and the apparent inappropriateness of such a baptism John 1:35-37; 3:25; 4:1John and his disciples John had disciples Luke 11:1He taught them to pray John 3:25-26His disciples become envious of Jesus Christ Matthew 11:2-6He sends his disciples to question Jesus Christ pp Lk 7:18-23 Acts 18:24-19:7Locked up in prison, John needed reassurance that his expectations about Jesus Christ had been well-founded. John's disciples and the first Christians Luke 3:19-20John's imprisonment and death See also His confrontation with Herod leads to his imprisonment Matthew 14:3-5Matthew 14:6-12 pp Mk 6:17-20 His execution pp Mk 6:21-29 Mark 8:27-28Some thought Jesus Christ to be John risen from the dead See also Matthew 14:1-2pp Mt 16:13-14 pp Mk 6:14-16 pp Lk 9:7-9 Matthew 11:11Jesus Christ's estimation of John Jesus Christ honours him Luke 16:16pp Lk 7:28 See also Jesus Christ sees him as marking the end of the old covenant and the arrival of the kingdom Matthew 11:12-13Matthew 11:14 Jesus Christ sees him as the promised Elijah See also Matthew 11:10On the basis of Malachi's prophecy (Mal 4:5), it was widely accepted that Elijah must come before the Messiah could appear. This identification would have been reinforced by John dressing like Elijah (see 2Ki 1:8). Malachi 3:1Matthew 17:11-13 See also pp Mk 9:11-13 Elijah 1010 God, nature and qualities of1427 prophecy 2510 Jesus Christ, baptism of 3242 Holy Spirit, baptism with 4236 fountain 5225 barrenness 7772 prophets 7903 baptism |
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