THE HERALD OF THE KING - Mark 1.1-8; Matt 3.1-12; Luke 3.1-18

 

The message to John, circa 26 AD in Luke 3.2: “The word of the Lord came to John in the wilderness“, not to the religious leaders of the day. It was the Rhema--a spoken word, a segment of Logos as Logos includes written, spoken, and incarnate words.

The message by John: The Messiah as the ideal servant of Jehovah is come. The message is repentance--a back to God movement. It is kingdom centered--the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! Those who respond will undergo a baptism of repentance--baptism was a common practice in Judaism. (Any convert to Judaism was required to be baptized.) John dresses like Elijah and gets lots of attention. Many come out to hear him--the kingdom is at hand--prepare the way.


THE INVESTIGATION BY THE SANHEDRIN
This investigation would take two stages and was to be done whenever a Messianic messenger arose.

STAGE OF OBSERVATION

1. Observe only what was being said

2. No questions are to be asked--only observe

3. No objections are to be raised

4. Nothing could be verbalized. Only watch what is being said and done. Is this a movement of God or not?

STAGE OF INTERROGATION

1. Questions are now asked

2. Objections are raised.

3. They would look for a basis to either accept or reject all claims.
John’s message had Messianic overtones and was directed at the nation. When he sees these leaders coming, not to be baptized, but to critically observe, he calls them vipers, and tells them to repent. The common Messianic teaching of the day was that the entire nation would be saved when the Messiah came. John was exposing that lie--repentance was required by God. He told the people give that extra coat--don’t hoard. Tax collector--don’t extort. Soldier--don’t use your position to become wealthy on the spoils of conflict. John was exhorting the people not to take advantage of the perks their office in life provided--but to give and share. To live out the law in a practical way. The leaders were misapplying the law to their own advantage.

JOHN’S PROMISE - Mark 1.7-8; Matt 3.11-12; Luke3.15-18
He is baptizing by water, but the one coming will baptize by fire and the Holy Spirit. There is no middle ground--the word will divide the true from the false. Fire = chaff or unbelief--results in the Lake of Fire. Holy Spirit = wheat or belief--results in gathering into the barn. With a focus on the coming Messiah King, this was John’s message.

 
Notes from: The Life of Messiah from a Jewish Perspective by Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum