WHO IS JOHN?
Tuesday – October 2, 2018, Tishrei 23, 5779
Here we have Adam and Eve and one brave donkey but see the ears back, she is on high alert and ready to run. Welcome to this wonderful and powerful Bible Study from the wonderful Bible Book of John. Let’s get right to our primary text reading it aloud putting it in our eyes, our mouth, and our ears. This is God talking to us, believe the Word, become more like Him, like He originally intended. When we return to God’s original intent and walk as He intended us to walk the world will tremble.
John 1:19-23 (KJV)
19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
John the Baptist is calling people to repentance and baptizing them in water. The washing with water cleanses the natural body but washing or being immersed in the Word of God (symbolized by water) changes our thoughts, words, and ways. The people turned from their sin unto God. Much of what we read in Scripture is a type and shadow of something or someone to come. In this case John the Baptist is preparing the way for the Messiah, for Jesus to come. John the Baptist is calling people to repentance and baptizing them in water which is symbolic of the Word of God, which is Christ. What are you and I doing today? We are calling people to repentance and to be baptized into Christ Jesus preparing the way of the Lord to return and take us home. I don’t think any of you will give much push back that we are crying in the wilderness, sometimes that wilderness extends even into the Church. Elias which is Elijah was a forerunner for Elisha. Elisha did twice the miracles as Elijah which is a picture of what Jesus told us, the Church, to do in the authority of His name (John 14:12). So, to summarize, John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ, Christ prepared the way for the Church, the Church is now preparing the way for His return. To be clear, John the Baptist was not Elijah returned to the earth but he was a type of Elijah. I think you can see there are many who were and are a type of Elijah. Jesus spoke of this with His disciples.
Matthew 17:10-13 (TLB)
10 His disciples asked, “Why do the Jewish leaders insist Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?”
11 Jesus replied, “They are right. Elijah must come and set everything in order.
12 And, in fact, he has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and was badly mistreated by many. And I, the Messiah, shall also suffer at their hands.”
13 Then the disciples realized he was speaking of John the Baptist.
We have seen reference several times to the idea that Elijah was preparing the way of the Lord and setting everything in order. It would appear to me that the setting in order has to do with how to come to the Messiah. We hear the Word, the Word that there is a Messiah, a Savior, we believe and receive that and repent, and then are immersed into the Savior, the Word (water is symbolic). This is what John the Baptist did, reestablished the proper order (repentance with immersion into the Word), and we do the same to this day. As I finish for today let’s take a look at the next couple of verses as the inquisition of John the Baptist continued by the Pharisees.
John 1:26-28 (KJV)
26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Later in our text John will tell them and us all that although he baptized with water the One coming after him would baptize in fire meaning the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist continues to tell them the Messiah is at hand, He is among you but you do not yet know Him. The Messiah has come however there are many who do not yet know or recognize Him, are we doing our part to make Him visible to all by the nature of our very lives? We are here in the place of Jesus (Messiah) to reconcile people to the Father through repentance and immersion into Christ Jesus preparing the way of His return (the Rapture and Second Coming).
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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