Bible Study - Walking by Faith (5) - John the Baptist: A Faith That Challenges Others - Matthew 3:1-12 + JESUS being Baptised - June 29, 2025

 Bible Study – Walking by Faith (5) – John the Baptist: A Faith That Challenges Others – Matthew 3:1-12 – June 29, 2025

Faith stands unwaveringly on the truth.

Who was John the Baptist?

Let’s explore!           

Background:

Let’s read Luke 1:5-15:

Gabriel Predicts John’s Birth

⁵ In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ Both were righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. ⁷ But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.

⁸ When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹ it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. ¹¹ An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. ¹⁴ There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. 

As many times that I have read this scripture, this is the first time these words “He (John) will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb” have resonated with me. Just as GOD sent JESUS for HIS purpose, GOD sent John by human conception, to be the herald for JESUS, GOD’S promised Messiah.

GOD’S timing is always perfect.

This is a beautiful revelation of GOD’S power. John the Baptist was anointed and sealed by the Holy Spirit while in his mother’s womb. He was anointed and sealed to announce the arrival of JESUS, the promised Messiah, and open the door to salvation through faith in JESUS, GOD’S only SON.

The time in human history combined with GOD’S redemptive plan for the people of earth to transition from the Law to Grace through faith in JESUS had arrived. Such an event would take place in human time through the lives of John the Baptist, the Hearld and JESUS, The Promised Messiah. What a team ordained by GOD for all people.

In those days, a herald would go before a king or an important person to announce that this person was coming through or to that area. It was an invitation for all to come, see, greet, and welcome this person.

John the Baptist was unique in his dress, eating and the messages that he taught. We see in this scripture that John came filled with the Holy Spirit while in his mother’s womb.

GOD was establishing HIS redemptive plan for all people through faith in HIS only SON JESUS. JESUS would fulfill the law and HIS sinless life, physical death, HIS physical/eternal resurrection, physical ascension into Heaven, where HE took HIS seat at the right-hand of GOD, HIS FATHER. The passion of JESUS fulfilled GOD’S redemptive plan for all people who place their faith in JESUS.

The Law was in place and had been since Moses. Now GOD was changing from worshipers obeying the Law by going to a physical temple and making sacrifices to establishing Grace through faith in JESUS. The passion of JESUS prepared the human body to become the temple for the Holy Spirit to reside. This transition would redeem from Hell, and seal all who place their faith in JESUS to eternal life while upon earth and continuing at the death of their human bodies.

Eternal life is GOD and JESUS’ Gift to all who place their faith in JESUS and HIS passion.

Back to John, The Hearld for JESUS:

So why was John referred to as John the Baptist? Simply because he baptized those who placed their faith in GOD for the forgiveness of their sins. John was referred to as the Baptizer (Baptist) because he immersed all who placed their faith in GOD completely under water as a symbol of their sins being washed away. This was and is to show that a person of faith in GOD at that time and since the passion of JESUS, was dying to their way old life and were being raised to or resurrected to their new eternal life.

John’s baptism was a place holder until JESUS completed GOD’S redemptive plan through the Passion of JESUS. JESUS fulfilled the Law and established Grace because JESUS was and is the only perfect acceptable, eternal sacrifice to GOD for all sin for all who place their faith in JESUS.

There were over 500 witnesses (1 Corinthians 15) to the resurrection of JESUS during HIS 40-days upon earth until HIS bodily ascension into Heaven.

Once in Heaven, JESUS took HIS seat at the right-hand of GOD, HIS FATHER to intercede on behalf of all “Born-again” Christians.

What is the Passion of JESUS?

It is JESUS, GOD’S only Son, one third of the Holy Trinity, leaving HIS eternal home in Heaven and willingly coming to earth to live a 100% human, sinless life: yet GOD. JESUS was the perfect acceptable sacrifice to GOD, HIS FATHER, to atone for all sin for all who will place their faith in JESUS.

When a person seeks to be in right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS, The Holy Spirit reveals truth and opens his/her eyes to see that truth. That person then has the freedom to choose to accept or reject the miracle of Spiritual Eternal birth into GOD’S Family.

Have you made this decision in your life? If not, now is that opportunity. It is not saying the right words because GOD knows your heart. Some people simply say, “I give up, Dear JESUS forgive me for my sins and come into my heart now and make me your eternal Son/Daughter through the miracle of being “Born-again” or “Spiritual-birth.” Thank YOU for saving me from eternal Hell and making me YOUR eternal Son/Daughter through the miracle of Spiritual Birth. If you prayed such a prayer or a similar prayer, then thank JESUS for saving your soul and in HIM doing so removed the barrier of sin and opened the path to GOD through HIS shed blood. Why Blood? Because without the shedding of blood there is no redemption from sin. JESUS paid in full for the redemption of all who place their faith in HIM.

Salvation through faith in JESUS is not complicated. It took JESUS coming from Heaven to earth to show all people the way to GOD through faith in HIM (JESUS).

JESUS coming to earth to live 100% human life meant JESUS would die physically, just as all humans will die physically. JESUS had to trust GOD, HIS FATHER, to raise HIM from the physically dead and restore HIS eternal life. JESUS had to trust GOD, HIS FATHER and HE did and so do all people. JESUS gave HIS sinless life so you could have eternal life through faith in HIM and HIS passion.

All who place their faith in JESUS receive the Holy Spirit to confirm their salvation.

JESUS was born 100% human, just like all humans. HE would die physically like all humans. So, what makes JESUS different? GOD raised JESUS from the physically dead, bodily, to eternal life and was the first fruit from the dead to show all the world that faith in HIM and HIS passion results in any person placing his/her faith in JESUS, results in that person being “born-again” Spiritually. The person of faith in JESUS becomes GOD’S Son/Daughter and has eternal life.

JESUS walked upon earth for 40 days before HE ascended into Heaven to take HIS seat at the right-hand of GOD, HIS FATHER. JESUS intercedes for all Spirit-born Christians.

Why? Satan goes before GOD and accuses “born-again” Christians every time they sin. (As Christians, we all sin.) JESUS is the “Spirit-born” Christians’ advocate because their sins are covered by the shed blood of JESUS. All “born-again” Christians are eternally covered by the shed blood of JESUS.

All of this took place because of the passion of JESUS. However, a person must individually accept what JESUS did for all. Sin is personal and so is salvation.

Back to John the Baptist and JESUS beginning to reveal GOD’S redemptive plan. The transition from the Law and making sacrifices to GOD’S Grace through faith in JESUS is GOD’S redemptive plan.

GOD had a specific calling for John the Baptist in HIS redemptive plan. John was 6-months older than JESUS.

¹⁶ He (John) will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”

¹⁸ “How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

¹⁹ The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. ²⁰ Now listen. You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.

²¹ Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. ²² When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was making signs to them and remained speechless. ²³ When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.

²⁴ After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, ²⁵ “The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people.”

 In those days, it was a disgrace for a woman not to conceive and have a baby.

It is interesting that Elizabeth and Mary were cousins.

Now, onto the announcement of the conception of JESUS.

Gabriel Predicts Jesus’s Birth

²⁶ In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin engaged^[c] to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”^[d] 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. ³⁰ Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. ³³ He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”

³⁴ Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” ^[e]

Great question! Mary confirmed that she was a virgin.

³⁵ The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.”

³⁸ “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth

³⁹ In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² Then she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed!^[f] 43 How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!”

WOW!!! This is exciting. GOD’S plan is to make HIS presence known to all people. The Eternal King JESUS is coming.

The people were looking for the coming of the promised Messiah, JESUS, then and we are looking for the second coming of JESUS today.

When we read about the signs of the things taking place upon earth before the second coming of JESUS, folks it is getting closer.

This is a partial list of a few signs pointing to the second coming of JESUS. It is getting closer:

Before the second coming of Jesus, the following events will take place:

1.    A Jewish homeland will be established in Israel.

2.    The Gospel will be preached to the entire world.

3.    Worldwide communications will exist before the final two witnesses.

4.    Natural disasters will be widespread.

5.    War and violence will run rampant.

6.    A charismatic and convincing false prophet will appear.

7.    God’s people will be hunted and killed.

This is not to cause us to fear but to watch and know, but to get our Spiritual house in order. Accept JESUS as our Savior and make HIM the LORD of our lives.

The two key GOD ordained participants in establishing GOD’S redemptive plan have grown and prepared to minister – John the Baptist and JESUS. Let’s continue to explore!!!

Let’s read Matthew 3:1-17:

The Herald of the Messiah – John the Baptist is now grown and doing what GOD called him to do, which is to announce and be the Hearld for JESUS, the promised Messiah.

3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea ² and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!” ³ For he is the one spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, who said:

A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
Prepare the way for the Lord;
make his paths straight!^[a]

⁴ Now John had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were going out to him, ⁶ and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

⁷ When he (John) saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 

I wonder how many church members there would be if our ministers preached such a message? But we do read that people responded to John’s message. Repent and produce! Put into action what is being revealed to you that will benefit others journeying through life.

⁸ Therefore produce fruit consistent with^[b] repentance. ⁹ And don’t presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. ¹⁰ The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

A person’s heritage, status, wealth, intellect does not count toward salvation. There is just one way, placing your faith in JESUS and HIS passion, which includes death and HIS resurrection, which assures every person of faith eternal life.

¹¹ “I baptize you with^[c] water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove^[d] his sandals. He himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn. But the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out.”

The Baptism of Jesus

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. ¹⁴ But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”

¹⁵ Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.

Both, John, and JESUS had been ordained and called by GOD to fulfill GOD’S redemptive plan.

¹⁶ When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him,^[e] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”

GOD knew HE could count on JESUS to fulfill the law and HIS redemptive plan of Grace for all who place their faith in JESUS and HIS passion.

Why did JESUS insist that John the Baptist baptize HIM?

15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

GOD, Himself responded with JESUS’ not leaving a jot or tittle out of HIS earthly ministry.

Jesus submitted to John’s baptism to set a president for believers to follow. The Bible says that those who believe in Jesus Christ are to walk as He walked. We are to pattern our Christian experience after His life. Therefore, in obedience to Him, a person should be baptized with water when he/she makes a public profession of his/her faith in JESUS.

Thank You, JESUS!!! For there is no other way to Heaven except through faith in JESUS!

Blessings!!!