The prophecies in the Old Testament were very familiar to John. The Scriptures foretold that the Messiah would be the Lord Himself, the glorious King, and he would come to lay down his life for the sins of the whole world. The forerunner or messenger was actually a herald who would run ahead and prepare everyone for the king's arrival. The main prophecies about this messenger can be found in Isaiah 40:3-5 and Malachi 3:1.
"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." - Isaiah 40:3-5
"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts." - Malachi 3:1
John the Baptist Appears, John Appears Preaching in the Wilderness, Prophecies about John the Baptist, John's Physical Appearance, People Came from all Around, John's Baptism of Repentance, John Condemns the Pharisees and Sadducees, John Condemns The Priests and Levites, John's Message about the Holy Spirit
John the Baptist Appears
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." - Matthew 3:1-2
| The Beginning of John's Ministry Scriptures and Topics Covered: John Appears Preaching in the Wilderness (Mat 3:1-2; Mk 1:1; Lk 3:1-2). Prophecies About John the Baptist (Mat 3:3 Mk 1:2-3; Lk 3:4-6). John's Appearance (Mat 3:4; Mk 1:6). People Came From All Around (Mat 3:5; Mk 1:5). John's Baptism of Repentance (Mat 3:6 Mk 1:4; Lk 3:3-14). John and the Pharisees and Sadducees (Mat 3:7-10). John's Response to the Priest's and Levites (Jn 1:19-28) John's Message About The Holy Spirit (Mat 3:11-12; Mk 1:8). |
"Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness." Luke 3:1-2
John Appears Preaching in the Wilderness
John the Baptist was born about 5 BC, and now about 26 A.D. about the age of 30 he appears in the wilderness of Judea. He was preaching to everyone that they should repent and turn from wickedness and prepare themselves for the coming of the Messiah. His message was a cry for repentance, that the time was at hand for people to prepare for the coming of the King.
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