God’s Herald

MEMORY VERSE: “For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” —Matthew 3:3

MATTHEW 3:1-12

THE “herald” whom God sent into the world to be the Forerunner of Jesus was John the Baptist. Our memory verse explains that this is the one referred to by the Prophet Isaiah, whose voice would be as “of him that crieth in the wilderness.” (Isa. 40:3) John the Baptist did lead many to repentance, but so far as the Jewish nation as a whole was concerned his “voice” was indeed crying in a “wilderness.”

John the Baptist and his ministry, in announcing Jesus, are also foretold in Malachi 3:1: “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me.” In Matthew 11:10 this is also recorded.

Jesus said concerning his forerunner, “Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matt. 11:11) This does not mean that John the Baptist is “lost,” in the sense that he will not obtain salvation and enjoy everlasting life. The expression “kingdom of heaven” as here used is a reference to the spiritual phase of the messianic kingdom. This spiritual phase of Christ’s kingdom began to be developed with his own coming and death. This preparation continued at Pentecost and throughout the age. It is not yet complete. It was this that John referred to when he said, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”—Matt. 3:2

One of the titles which the Scriptures assign to Jesus is “Bridegroom.” His faithful followers, as a group, will become his bride. (Rev. 19:7; 22:17) John the Baptist explained, “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.” (John 3:29) John recognized that he belonged to the age just ending, and that he could not be a part of the bride of Christ. But he did rejoice to be a friend of the Bridegroom.

John the Baptist will take his place in the earthly phase of Christ’s kingdom. He will be one of the foretold “princes in all the earth.” (Ps. 45:16) Jesus said that the people of all parts of the earth would “sit down”; that is, as pupils, “with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets,” in the kingdom. John the Baptist was the last of the prophets, and therefore, in the kingdom, will be one of those to be looked up to for guidance by the people generally.

Matthew 3:5,6 reads, “Then went out to him [John] Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins” These were the honest-hearted of Israel who desired to be in harmony with the Lord.

But others came also. We read that when John “saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” (Matt. 3:7,8) This was the same group of religious leaders who persecuted Jesus and, after Pentecost, the apostles. As Jesus explained, they were not really the children of Abraham [in character] but of the Devil.—John 8:44

John’s baptism was unto repentance, which restored the repentant Israelites to harmony with God through the Law Covenant. But he explained that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (Mutt. 3:11) Those who are baptized into Christ are begotten to sonship through the Holy Spirit. They become the children of God, and if faithful unto death will come forth in the “first resurrection” to live and reign with Christ for a thousand years.—Rev. 20:6

The baptism of fire came upon the unrepentant of Israel. It resulted in the destruction of their temple and their nation. The unfaithful of that time were the “chaff” of that nation, and the chaff was destroyed. The “wheat” were the faithful who were gathered into the Gospel-Age garner and given the opportunity to become a part of the great messianic company.

QUESTIONS

Who was John the Baptist, and what was his mission?

What did Jesus say of John the Baptist, and what did he mean?

What was the purpose of John’s baptism?

What was the baptism of “fire”?

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