John, Preacher of Repentance

LUKE 3:7-20

JESUS said concerning John the Baptist that none greater had ever been born; nevertheless, the Master explained, “He that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matt. 11:11) John was the last of the prophets, and his ministry belonged to the closing days of the Jewish age. He was put to death before the “high calling” of this Gospel age was opened up to the followers of the Master. John, therefore, did not have a heavenly hope, a hope of sharing in the heavenly, or spiritual phase of the messianic kingdom. Great though he was, therefore, the least to attain a position on the divine plane with Jesus will be greater than he.

John’s mission was to preach repentance to Israel, and thus to prepare the people to accept Jesus as their Messiah. Prophetically, this attempt had been described as one of turning “the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers.” (Mal. 4:6) So far as the majority of the Israelites were concerned, John failed to accomplish this work of the antitypical Elijah, hence he disclaimed being the Elijah. However, Jesus explained that to those who could receive it, John was the Elijah, meaning that he had accomplished an Elijah work on their behalf.—Matt. 11:14

When asked if he were the Christ, John replied that he was not, that he was scarcely worthy to loose the shoe lachet of that great One of promise, the One for whom he was preparing the way. John explained that while he baptized with water, the Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Then he added, “Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

These two thoughts evidently belong together—the baptism of the Holy Spirit being the divine method of gathering the wheat of the Jewish-age harvest into the garner of the Gospel age; and the baptism of fire descriptive of the manner in which the chaff of that harvest was to be burned with unquenchable fire. The baptism of the Holy Spirit took place at Pentecost, when in one day three thousand Jews were brought into the Gospel garner—the church of this Gospel age. (Acts 2:41) The baptism of fire came upon the nation in A.D. 70-73, when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed and the people driven out of Palestine to become wanderers among the nations, and tormented throughout the entire age.

In Malachi’s prophecy concerning the coming Elijah and his work, it is stated that in the event the reformation effort would fail the Lord would smite the earth with a curse. Evidently John the Baptist had this in mind when he foretold the baptism of fire that was to come upon Israel. While many came to him in the spirit of repentance, he realized that the nation as a whole was rejecting his message, hence that the foretold “curse” would fall upon Israel, as it did.

And what was true of that one little nation of Israel at the close of the Jewish age is true of all Christendom at the close of this Gospel age. The message of repentance proclaimed by the church throughout the age has gone largely unheeded. Unbelief and unrighteousness have increased, and the only remedy is the “fire” of the great “time of trouble” which is already bringing this present evil world to an end. This time the prophetic “curse” falls, not upon one nation only, but upon all nations—upon the whole symbolic earth.

Whether or not John acted under instructions from the Lord in rebuking Herod, the Scriptures do not indicate. In any event, we know that he acted conscientiously, and the Lord overruled it as the means by which his ministry was terminated. Once imprisoned, John was not released, but was finally put to death.

Thus John was faithful unto death, but unlike the church of the Gospel age, he will not receive the “crown of life,” that is, immortality, but instead a “better resurrection.” Together with the other ancient worthies he will be made one of the “princes in all the earth”—one of the human representatives of the divine Christ.—Heb. 11:35; Psalm 45:16

It has been suggested that Herod’s illicit relationship with his brother’s wife might represent the harlot-like union of church and state, and that in this end of the age those who call attention to this illicit union may suffer martyrdom as John did. We know that all who will be worthy to reign with Christ must be willing to suffer and die with him; and while we should not purposely endeavor to bring persecution upon ourselves, no true follower of the Master will refrain from proclaiming the truth in order to keep out of trouble. So, then, let us strive to be faithful in the use of all our privileges, and in doing this we can safely leave ourselves to the care of Him who is able to bring us off conquerors, yea more than conquerors, through Christ, our Redeemer and Savior.

QUESTIONS

What position will John the Baptist occupy in the kingdom of Christ?

Was John the antitypical Elijah? Explain.

In what sense did Jesus baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire?

Are the closing experiences of John’s life illustrative of the manner in which the church at this end of the Gospel age may be persecuted?

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