John the Baptist came as forerunner of Christ, preparing the way before Him by calling men to repent and turn their hearts to God. No other prophet or preacher held the unique position that John had at that time in history. His mission in life was to introduce Christ to the world.
QUESTIONS
- John was not a part of the accepted religious hierarchy of the day. By whom and under what condition was John commissioned to preach the Gospel?
- What might have attracted the people to come to see John and hear his message?
- In early days it was customary for kings, when on journeys, to send some men before them to command the inhabitants to clear the way. In rough countries this was a necessary precaution, for there were no public roads. Verse 4 of our text refers to this in John’s message to “Prepare ye the way of the Lord . … ” How can Christians “prepare the way”?
- What is the meaning of John’s admonition, “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance”? What is the difference between believing in Christ and obeying His Word?
- John’s message was a message of judgment for those who would not repent. How did he explain this judgment?
- How did Isaiah describe the personage of John the Baptist, and what was the implication regarding John’s importance? See Isaiah 40:3.
- Cite an example in John’s life, proving that he was not one to compromise his message. See Matthew 14:3-10.
- In what words did John express his unworthiness?
- What was Jesus’ appraisal of John? See Matthew 11:9-11.
THEME THOUGHTS
Webster’s dictionary tells us that one meaning of the word profile is, “a short, vivid biography, briefly outlining the most outstanding characteristics of the subject.” It is not difficult to go through the Bible and compile an extensive list of individuals who displayed some “outstanding characteristics” and from whom we can learn valuable lessons. Would a lesson on the dangers of refusing to obey the commands of God be profitable? Where could we find a better example to illustrate that point than in the story of Jonah—a man who spent three days in the belly of the whale because he declined to follow the instruction of the Lord? Would you like to know the secret of leading a triumphant life anointed by the Holy Spirit? Learn a lesson from the prophet Elisha—a man who performed a greater number of miracles than any other prophet except Moses. Do you see among your associates a tendency toward becoming involved in the things of this world? Looking at what happened to Lot’s wife, because she couldn’t give up the entanglements of Sodom, could prove to be a very beneficial study. In this quarter, we have chosen twelve Bible characters from whom we can learn some valuable lessons. They are not all “heroes of the faith.” In fact, some are the exact opposites! But there is something that can be learned from each of them. The final lesson in this quarter will be an overview of the preceding weeks, summing up the importance of learning from the lives of those who live on in the pages of Bible history.