Reference: John the Baptist
Easton
the "forerunner of our Lord." We have but fragmentary and imperfect accounts of him in the Gospels. He was of priestly descent. His father, Zacharias, was a priest of the course of Abia (1Ch 24:10), and his mother, Elisabeth, was of the daughters of Aaron (Lu 1:5). The mission of John was the subject of prophecy (Mt 3:3; Isa 40:3; Mal 3:1). His birth, which took place six months before that of Jesus, was foretold by an angel. Zacharias, deprived of the power of speech as a token of God's truth and a reproof of his own incredulity with reference to the birth of his son, had the power of speech restored to him on the occasion of his circumcision (Lu 1:64). After this no more is recorded of him for thirty years than what is mentioned in Lu 1:80. John was a Nazarite from his birth (Lu 1:15; Nu 6:1-12). He spent his early years in the mountainous tract of Judah lying between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea (Mt 3:1-12).
At length he came forth into public life, and great multitudes from "every quarter" were attracted to him. The sum of his preaching was the necessity of repentance. He denounced the Sadducees and Pharisees as a "generation of vipers," and warned them of the folly of trusting to external privileges (Lu 3:8). "As a preacher, John was eminently practical and discriminating. Self-love and covetousness were the prevalent sins of the people at large. On them, therefore, he enjoined charity and consideration for others. The publicans he cautioned against extortion, the soldiers against crime and plunder." His doctrine and manner of life roused the entire south of Palestine, and the people from all parts flocked to the place where he was, on the banks of the Jordan. There he baptized thousands unto repentance.
The fame of John reached the ears of Jesus in Nazareth (Mt 3:5), and he came from Galilee to Jordan to be baptized of John, on the special ground that it became him to "fulfil all righteousness" (Mt 3:15). John's special office ceased with the baptism of Jesus, who must now "increase" as the King come to his kingdom. He continued, however, for a while to bear testimony to the Messiahship of Jesus. He pointed him out to his disciples, saying, "Behold the Lamb of God." His public ministry was suddenly (after about six months probably) brought to a close by his being cast into prison by Herod, whom he had reproved for the sin of having taken to himself the wife of his brother Philip (Lu 3:19). He was shut up in the castle of Machaerus (q.v.), a fortress on the southern extremity of Peraea, 9 miles east of the Dead Sea, and here he was beheaded. His disciples, having consigned the headless body to the grave, went and told Jesus all that had occurred (Mt 14:3-12). John's death occurred apparently just before the third Passover of our Lord's ministry. Our Lord himself testified regarding him that he was a "burning and a shining light" (Joh 5:35).
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In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea; "Repent," said he, "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." read more. This John it was of whom it was said through Isaiah, the prophet, The voice of one who cries aloud in the desert, "Prepare a way for the Lord, Make the paths straight for him."
This John it was of whom it was said through Isaiah, the prophet, The voice of one who cries aloud in the desert, "Prepare a way for the Lord, Make the paths straight for him." This John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. read more. Then Jerusalem began to go out to him, and all Judea, and the whole neighborhood of the Jordan,
Then Jerusalem began to go out to him, and all Judea, and the whole neighborhood of the Jordan, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. read more. But when John saw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming for baptism, he said: "O brood of vipers! Who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Then bring forth fruit worthy of repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'?? tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise up descendants for Abraham. And already the axe is lying at the roots of the trees. Any tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. I indeed am baptizing you in water, unto repentance; but One is coming after me, mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse the threshing-floor. He will store his wheat in the granary, but will burn up the chaff in unquenchable fire."
But Jesus answered, "Permit it now, for so it is fitting for us to fulfill every religious duty."
For Herod had apprehended John, shackled him, and thrust him into prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because John kept telling him, "It is not right for you to have her." read more. And although he wished to kill John, he feared the people, for they considered John a prophet. But when Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and so pleased Herod that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked for. So, prompted by her mother, the girl said, "Give me at once, upon a dish, the head of John the Baptist." The king was displeased because of this, but because of his oaths and his guests he ordered it to be given her. He sent and beheaded John in prison; the head was brought on a dish, and given to the young girl, who took it to her mother. Then John's disciples went and removed his body, and came and told Jesus.
In the reign of Herod, King of Judea, there was a certain priest, named Zachariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife named Elizabeth,
"For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, "He shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, "He shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from the hour of his birth,
Every one was surprised, and at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.
And the child grew, and became strong in the Spirit, and remained in the desert till the day of his showing to Israel.
Then bring forth fruit befitting your penitence, and do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." I tell you that God is able to raise up sons to Abraham out of these stones.
but Herod, the Tetrarch, when reproved by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the wicked deeds that he had done,
"That man was the Lamp-burning and shining??nd you were willing for a time rejoice in his light.
Fausets
Son of Zacharias (of the course of Abijah, 1Ch 24:10) and Elisabeth (of the daughters of Aaron), who both "walked in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." Elisabeth was related to the Virgin Mary; but Scripture does not state the exact relationship; the Greek in Lu 1:36 (sungenees), which our Bible renders "cousin," means any "relation" or "kinswoman," whether by marriage or birth. It is noteworthy that Jesus, of the Melchizedek order of priesthood, was related to but not descended from the Aaronic priests. Zacharias was old, and Elisabeth barren, when, as he was burning incense at the golden altar, Gabriel announced the answer to his prayers (not directly for a son, but, as Israel's representative, for Messiah the Hope of Israel) in the coming birth of a son, the appointed forerunner of Messiah; John (Jehovah's gift) was to he his name, because his supernatural birth was a pledge of the Lord's grace, long looked for, now visiting again His people to their joy (Luke 1).
John was to be "great in the sight of the Lord" (contrast Baruch, Jer 45:5). He should be in himself a pattern of that self denial which accords best with his subject of preaching, legal repentance, "drinking no strong drink, but filled with the Holy Spirit (see the same contrast, Eph 5:18, the minister's enthusiasm ought to be not from artificial stimulant but from the Spirit's unction) from the mother's womb," a Nazarite (Nu 6:1-21). Like the great prophet reformer (compare 1Ki 18:36-37) Elijah in "spirit. and power" of preaching, though not in miracles (Joh 10:41), he should turn the degenerate "children to the Lord and to" their righteous "fathers, and the heart of the fathers to the children," their past mutual alienation being due to the children's apostasy; fulfilling Mal 4:4-6; bringing "Moses' law" to their remembrance, "lest Jehovah at His coming should smite the earth with a curse." Thus John should "make ready a people for the Lord." Zacharias for unbelief in withholding credit without a sign was punished with dumbness as the sign until the event came to pass.
In the hill country, where Elisabeth had retired, her cousin Mary saluted her, and the babe leaped in Elisabeth's womb. His birth was six months before our Lord's. At his circumcision on the eighth day Zacharias gave his name John; and his returning faith was rewarded with returning speech, of which his first use was to pour forth a thanksgiving hymn, in which he makes it his son's chief honour that he should be "prophet of the Highest, going before the Lord's face to prepare His ways" as His harbinger. John had the special honour of being the subject off prophecy ages before, and of being associated in close juxtaposition with Messiah Himself. John "waxed strong in spirit and was in the deserts until the day of his showing unto Israel" (Lu 1:80). Meanwhile God's interposition in the wonders of his birth caused "all the people to be in expectation, musing in their hearts whether he were the Christ" (Lu 3:15). The thinly-populated region adjoining the hill country of Judea was his haunt; there communion alone with God prepared him for his work.
At 30, when "the word of God came to" him (Lu 3:2), he went forth, his very appearance a sign of the unworldliness and legal repentance. which he preached; his raiment a camel's hair garment secured with leather girdle (2Ki 1:8) as Elijah's; his food that supplied by the desert, locusts (Le 11:22) and wild honey (Ps 81:16). All classes, Pharisees, Sadducees, the people, publicans, and soldiers, flocked to him from every quarter, Jerusalem, Judea, and the, region round Jordan (Mt 3:5; Luke 3). The leading sects he denounced as a "generation of vipers" (compare Ge 3:15, the serpent's "seed"), warning them that descent from Abraham would not avail with out doing Abraham's works (compare Joh 8:39), and telling all practically and discriminatingly that the repentance needed required a renunciation of their several besetting sins; and that whereas, on their confession, he baptized with water baptism, the Mightier One would come baptizing with the Holy Spirit and fire (Mt 3:11-12). (See BAPTISM.)
When the ecclesiastical authorities sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask, Who art thou? John replied, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord" (Joh 1:19-23). The natural wilderness symbolized the moral (Isa 32:15), wherein was no highway for the Lord and for righteousness. The hills of pride and the valleys of degradation must be brought to the one holy level before the Lord (Isaiah 40). John was the forerunner of the reigning Messiah (Mt 3:2; Mal 3:1), but through the nation's rejection of Him that reign was deferred (compare Nu 14:34 with Mt 23:37-39). John baptized Jesus and though knowing Him before as a man and his kinsman, yet then first knew His divine Messiahship by the Spirit's visible descent (Joh 1:30-34). (See JESUS; BAPTISM.) John thence forth witnessed to Jesus, desiring to "decrease that He might increase." By his testimony at Bethany (so oldest manuscripts for Bethabara) beyond Jordan, "Behold the Lamb of God," he led two of his disciples to Him, Andrew and John the apostle and evangelist (Joh 1:35 ff; Joh 3:23-36; 4:1-2; Ac 19:3).
Yet John never formally joined Jesus; for he was one of the greatest among the Old Testament prophets, but not strictly in the New Testament kingdom, the least in which, as to spiritual privileges, was greater than he (Lu 7:28). His standing was the last of Old Testament prophets, preparatory to the gospel. He taught fasting and prayers, rather in the spirit and therefore with the forms of, the old dispensation which the new would supersede, its new spirit creating its appropriate new forms (Lu 5:33-38; 11:1). Herod Antipas beheaded him in the fortress Machaerus E. of the Dead Sea, to gratify Herodias' spite for John's faithfulness in denouncing her adultery, and in slavish adherence to his reckless oath to give Herodias' daughter Salome, for dancing on his birthday, whatever she might ask. (See HEROD ANTIPAS.)
From the prison John had sent two (the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus manuscripts read Mt 11:2 "by," dia, for duo, two) disciples to Jesus to elicit from Himself a profession of His Messiahship, for their confirmation in the faith. (See JESUS.) Jesus at once confirmed them and comforted John himself (who probably had expected to see Jesus more openly vindicating righteousness, as foretold Mal 3:2-5; 4:1-3), by an appeal to His miracles and preaching, the very credentials promised in Isa 35:5; 61:1. Jesus at the same time attested John's unshaken firmness, appealing to His hearers' own knowledge of him (Matthew 11). No reed shaken by the wind, no courtier in soft raiment, was John. But whether it was the ascetical forerunner, or the social Lord Himself, that preached, that generation was dissatisfied, with John because he was too self denying, with Jesus because He would not commend their self-righteous fastings: "we have piped unto you (unto John) and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you (unto Jesus) and ye have not lamented."
Of John as of Jesus they said, he hath a devil. John fell just before the third Passover of Christ's ministry; his disciples buried him Self denial, humility, wherewith he disclaimed Messiahship and said he was not worthy to unloose His shoes' latchet, zeal for the Lord's honour, and holy faithfulness at all costs, were his prominent graces. (On the "Elias who shall yet come," see ELIJAH, end.) John's ministry extended at its close into Peraea at the S.E. end of the lake of Galilee. When the herald was silenced the Master took up the message (Mr 1:14) in the same quarter. John's labours there so impressed Herod that, "he feared and observed him, and when he heard him did many things, and heard him gladly"; but would not do the one thing needed, give up his adulterous paramour, his brother Philip's wife.
Elijah was translated in a chariot of fire; but John died a felon's death, for the forerunner was to be as his Lord. The worthless Ahab reappears in Herod with similar germs of good struggling with evil. Herodias answers to the cruel Jezebel. As Ahab
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"Repent," said he, "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Then Jerusalem began to go out to him, and all Judea, and the whole neighborhood of the Jordan,
I indeed am baptizing you in water, unto repentance; but One is coming after me, mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse the threshing-floor. He will store his wheat in the granary, but will burn up the chaff in unquenchable fire."
But when John heard, in the prison, what the Christ was doing, he sent by some of his disciples to ask him,
So when Jesus knew it, he withdrew from that place, and numbers of people followed him. He cured them all; but he strictly forbade them to blaze abroad his doings, read more. that the word spoken through Isaiah, the prophet, might be fulfilled. Behold my servant whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom my soul delights; I will breathe my spirit upon him, and he shall announce justice to the Gentiles. He will not strive nor cry aloud, Nor shall anyone hear is voice in the streets. The bruised reed will not break; The dimly burning wick will not quench; Till he has led justice on to victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles hope.
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, murdering the prophets, and stoning those who have been sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not! "Behold, your house is left to you desolate! read more. "For I tell you that never shall you see me again until you say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." "nor did they know until the deluge came and swept them away; so will be the coming of the Son of man.
After John had been thrown into prison Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of God.
"And behold your kinswoman, Elizabeth, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this was the sixth month with her that was called barren.
And the child grew, and became strong in the Spirit, and remained in the desert till the day of his showing to Israel.
during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zachariah, in the Desert.
And while the people were in expectation, and all men were debating in their hearts about John,
Again they said unto him. "Why do the disciples of John fast frequently, and make supplications, as also do the disciples of the Pharisees, but your disciples are eating and drinking?" "Can you make the bridal party fast," he asked, while the bridegroom is still with them? read more. "But there is coming a day when the Bridegroom will have been taken away from them; then at that time they will fast." He also told them a parable. "No one," he said, "tears a piece from a new garment, and patches it upon an old one; otherwise he will tear the new garment, and the patch from the new will not mend the old. "Nor does any one pour new wine into old wine-skins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins, and will itself be spilled, and the skins be destroyed "But new wine must be put into fresh wine-skins
"I tell you that among all that are born of women not one is greater than John; yet he that is little in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
It happened he was praying in a certain place, and when he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, "Master, teach us how to pray, just as John taught his disciples."
Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent some priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He acknowledged??e did not deny it??ut acknowledged, "I am not the Christ." read more. "What then?" they questioned; "Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" "No," he replied. Then said they to him. "Who are you? That we may give some answer to those who sent us. What account do you give of yourself?" He said, "I am a voice of one who cries aloud in the desert, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as said the prophet Isaiah."
This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes One who has been put before me, for he was before me.' I myself did not recognize him; I only came baptizing in water, in order that he might be openly shown to Israel." read more. John also bore this testimony, saying. "I saw the Spirit like a dove descend from heaven and rest upon him. And I did not recognize him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and resting upon him, is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' This I have seen, and I am become a witness to the fact that he is the Son of God." Next day again, John was standing with two of his disciples.
John also was baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there were many streams there, and people kept coming to receive baptism. (For John had not yet been thrown into prison.) read more. Then some of John's disciples got into a controversy with a Jew in regard to purification; so they came to John and said to him. "Rabbi, see! The man who was with you on the other side of Jordan, and to whom you yourself have borne testimony, is now baptizing, and everybody is coming to him." In reply John said: "A man cannot obtain anything unless it has been granted to him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but have been sent before him.' He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. So then this joy of mine has now complete fulfilment. He must increase, but I must decrease. "He that comes from above is above all; but one who is of the earth, of the earth he is, and of the earth he speaks. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears testimony to what he has heard and seen, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever does receive it has set his seal that God is true. For he whom God sent utters the words of God; for God does not give the Spirit sparingly. the Father loves the Son and has committed everything into his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who disobeys the Son shall not see life, but he who disobeys the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him."
Accordingly when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard it said, "Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than John," (though Jesus himself was not accustomed to baptize, but his disciples),
"Abraham is our father," they answered. "If you are indeed Abraham's children," said Jesus "do the deeds of Abraham.
Many who came to him said, "John did not perform any signs, but everything he said about this man was true."
"Into what, then, were you baptized?" he asked. And they said, "Into the baptism of John."
Do not be drunk with wine, in which is riotous living, but drink deep in the Spirit,
Hastings
The single narrative of John's birth and circumcision (Lu 1) states that, as the child of promise (Lu 1:13), he was born in 'a city of Judah' (Lu 1:39), when his parents were old (Lu 1:7). They were both of priestly descent (Lu 1:5), and his mother was a kinswoman of the mother of Jesus (Lu 1:36). John was a Nazirite from his birth (Lu 1:15); he developed self-reliance in his lonely home, and learnt the secret of spiritual strength as he communed with God in the solitudes of the desert (Lu 1:80). In the Jud
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In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea; "Repent," said he, "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
"Repent," said he, "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." This John it was of whom it was said through Isaiah, the prophet, The voice of one who cries aloud in the desert, "Prepare a way for the Lord, Make the paths straight for him." read more. This John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
This John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem began to go out to him, and all Judea, and the whole neighborhood of the Jordan,
Then Jerusalem began to go out to him, and all Judea, and the whole neighborhood of the Jordan, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when John saw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming for baptism, he said: "O brood of vipers! Who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? read more. Then bring forth fruit worthy of repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'?? tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise up descendants for Abraham.
And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'?? tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise up descendants for Abraham. And already the axe is lying at the roots of the trees. Any tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. read more. I indeed am baptizing you in water, unto repentance; but One is coming after me, mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse the threshing-floor. He will store his wheat in the granary, but will burn up the chaff in unquenchable fire." At that very time Jesus was on his way from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him.
But Jesus answered, "Permit it now, for so it is fitting for us to fulfill every religious duty."
"Are you the Coming One, or are we to look for someone else?"
"and, if you are willing to receive it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
"If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'From men,' we are afraid of the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet."
Beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; even as it is written in the prophet Isaiah, Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face to prepare your way. read more. The voice of one crying aloud. In the desert make ready a road for the Lord. Make his paths straight. In the desert came John who baptized, and preached a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
In the desert came John who baptized, and preached a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; and all the land of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem, kept going out to him, and were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins. read more. And John was clothed with camel's hair, and he had a leather girdle round his loins, and he ate locusts, and "honey of the wood." He made proclamation. "There is One mightier than I coming after me, and I am not worthy to stoop down and unfasten his sandal strap; I have baptized you in water, but he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit."
I have baptized you in water, but he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit." It was at that time that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan;
King Herod heard it, for the name of Jesus had become well known, People were saying, "John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and on that account these powers are working in him."
For John had often told Herod, "It is not right for you to live with your brother's wife."
"Elijah indeed has already come," he added, "and they have done to him whatever they pleased, even as it is written of him."
On the other hand, if we say, 'From men'!" They were afraid, however, of the people, for every one held that John had been really a prophet.
In the reign of Herod, King of Judea, there was a certain priest, named Zachariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife named Elizabeth,
Now they had no child, for Elizabeth was barren, and both were far advanced in years.
But the Angel said to him. "Do not be afraid, Zachariah, because your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.
"For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, "He shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, "He shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from the hour of his birth,
"He shall go before Him in the wisdom and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and so to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him."
"And behold your kinswoman, Elizabeth, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this was the sixth month with her that was called barren.
Soon after this Mary set out and hastened unto the hill-country to a town in Judah;
And the child grew, and became strong in the Spirit, and remained in the desert till the day of his showing to Israel.
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip, tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias, tetrarch of Abilene; during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zachariah, in the Desert.
during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zachariah, in the Desert. And John went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
And John went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. As it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah. The voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare the way for God, make straight paths for him. read more. Every ravine shall be filled up, Every hill and mountain shall be laid low, The crooked shall be made straight, And the rough roads smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. So John used to say to the crowd of those who were going out to be baptized by him. "You breed of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Then bring forth fruit befitting your penitence, and do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." I tell you that God is able to raise up sons to Abraham out of these stones.
Then bring forth fruit befitting your penitence, and do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." I tell you that God is able to raise up sons to Abraham out of these stones.
Then bring forth fruit befitting your penitence, and do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." I tell you that God is able to raise up sons to Abraham out of these stones. And now truly the axe is already laid at the root of the trees. So every tree which is not bearing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
And now truly the axe is already laid at the root of the trees. So every tree which is not bearing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." And the crowd began to ask him questions. "What shall we do then?" they asked. In reply he said to them. read more. "If you have two shirts share with him who has none; and let him who has food do the same." There came to him publicans also to be baptized, and they said to him, "Master, what must we do?" And he said to them, "Exact no more than the sum allowed you." The soldiers also repeatedly questioned him, saying, "And we, what shall we do?" "Do not intimidate any one," he replied, "nor lay false charges, and be content with your pay." And while the people were in expectation, and all men were debating in their hearts about John, whether perhaps he were the Christ, John answered, saying to all of them. "I indeed am baptizing you in water, but One is coming after me, mightier than I, whose shoe-latchet I am not worthy to unloose. He shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and in fire. He has his fan in his hand to cleanse his threshing-floor thoroughly, and to gather the wheat into his storehouse, but the chaff will he burn with unquenchable fire."
He has his fan in his hand to cleanse his threshing-floor thoroughly, and to gather the wheat into his storehouse, but the chaff will he burn with unquenchable fire." With many other exhortations then John declared the gospel to the people; read more. but Herod, the Tetrarch, when reproved by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the wicked deeds that he had done, added yet this above them all that he shut up John in prison. Now after all the people had been baptized, and Jesus himself had been baptized and was praying,
"And if we say, 'From man,' all the people will stone us, for they were persuaded that John was a prophet."
He came as a witness, that he might bear testimony concerning the Light??o that all men might believe through him.
John bore witness concerning him, and cried aloud, saying, "This is he of whom I said, 'He who is coming after me has been put before me, for he was before me.'" For out of his fulness we have all received, yes, grace upon grace. read more. For the Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No man has ever seen God; God, only begotten, who is in the bosom of the Father??e has interpreted him. Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent some priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He acknowledged??e did not deny it??ut acknowledged, "I am not the Christ." "What then?" they questioned; "Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" "No," he replied.
"What then?" they questioned; "Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" "No," he replied. Then said they to him. "Who are you? That we may give some answer to those who sent us. What account do you give of yourself?" read more. He said, "I am a voice of one who cries aloud in the desert, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as said the prophet Isaiah."
He said, "I am a voice of one who cries aloud in the desert, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as said the prophet Isaiah." Now it was some of the Pharisees who had been sent to him; read more. so they questioned him, saying, "Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"
so they questioned him, saying, "Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" "I indeed am baptizing in water," John said in reply, "but in your midst stands One whom you do not recognize, read more. One who is to come after me, whose sandal-strap I am not worthy to untie." This happened in Bethany, beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said: "Behold, that is God's Lamb, who takes and bears away the sin of the world.
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said: "Behold, that is God's Lamb, who takes and bears away the sin of the world.
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said: "Behold, that is God's Lamb, who takes and bears away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes One who has been put before me, for he was before me.' read more. I myself did not recognize him; I only came baptizing in water, in order that he might be openly shown to Israel." John also bore this testimony, saying. "I saw the Spirit like a dove descend from heaven and rest upon him. And I did not recognize him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and resting upon him, is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' This I have seen, and I am become a witness to the fact that he is the Son of God."
He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. So then this joy of mine has now complete fulfilment.
and went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained.
He had been instructed in the ways of the Lord, and being full of zeal, he used to speak and to teach accurately the facts about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John.
"Into what, then, were you baptized?" he asked. And they said, "Into the baptism of John."
This is why righteousness is of faith, that it may be a free gift; so that the promise stands firm to all Abraham's posterity; not to his children of his faith. For in the sight of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead, and calls into being that which is not, Abraham is the father of us all both Jews and Gentiles,
they are not all children of Abraham because they are Abraham's descendants. The promise was, In Isaac shall thy posterity be called.
But you, brothers, are like Isaac, children of the promise;
Morish
Son of Zacharias, priest of the order of Abia, or Abijah (1Ch 24:10), and of Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron, born when they were both old. The conception was foretold by the angel Gabriel, who announced that John was to be a Nazarite, and should be filled with the Holy Ghost from his birth. His mission was also foretold: in the spirit and power of Elias he would be the forerunner of Christ, and would call the people to repentance, according to the prophecy in Isa 40:3. All that is recorded of his early life is "the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel." Lu 1:80.
When he began his ministry he is described as having on "raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey." He preached in the wilderness, calling on the people to repent, for the kingdom of heaven was at hand. The people went out to him, and were baptised of him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. Mt 3:1-6. A godly remnant morally apart from the nation was thus prepared in spirit for the Lord. With these (the excellent in the earth, Ps. 16) the Lord Jesus identified Himself.
To the Pharisees and the Sadducees he was especially severe, calling them a 'generation of vipers' (Mt 3:7), but in Luke the multitude are so designated, for all must flee from the wrath to come, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance. The axe was laid to the root of the tree. There was One coming with the winnowing fan, who would divide the wheat from the chaff.
When the religious authorities at Jerusalem sent to John to ask who he was, he declared that he was not the Christ, nor Elias, nor 'that prophet.' De 18:15,18. He was "the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord," as Isaiah had prophesied. Joh 1:19-23. The Lord, in speaking of John, said, "Elias is indeed come," Mr 9:13, which seems to clash with Joh 1:21; another passage however explains it: "If ye will receive it, this is Elias which was for to come." Mt 11:14. He had come in the spirit and power of Elias, as foretold by Gabriel; and he was Elias to those who received him and who afterwards followed the Lord, as Andrew and another in Joh 1:40.
So far we have considered John's official place as the forerunner of Christ, but in John's gospel the Baptist's testimony is given to the Lamb of God. He also adds, "I knew him not," but he had been told that He upon whom he saw the Holy Spirit descend and remain was the Baptiser with the Holy Ghost; and he adds, "I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God." He may have known Jesus in a natural way, but his knowing Him as Son of God was by a divinely-given testimony. John proclaimed Jesus as "the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world;" and in the hearing of two of his own disciples he said, "Behold the Lamb of God." Jesus was to be the object of their hearts, and they followed Him. Afterwards, when John was told that Jesus was baptising, and that all the people were going to Him, he gave a remarkable answer: "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. He must increase, but I must decrease." John was the friend of the bridegroom. The Lord said that among those born of women no one was greater than John; but the least in the kingdom of heaven was greater than he, because the latter was in a new dispensation, John being connected with the law and the prophets of the old dispensation. Mt 11:11-13.
While in prison John's faith or patience seems in measure to have failed him, and he sent two of his disciples to the Lord with the question, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" He evidently had not apprehended the humiliation and rejection of the Messiah, and expected to have been delivered from prison by the power which he knew had been exercised in grace by the Lord. The Lord wrought various miracles while John's disciples were there, and bade them tell him what they had seen and heard, adding, "Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." Lu 7:19-23.
It was because of John's faithfulness in reproving the sins of Herod Antipas that he had been by him cast into prison. This led to his death through Salome and her guilty mother. John's work was done; he was faithful unto death. Mr 6:14-29.
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In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea; "Repent," said he, "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." read more. This John it was of whom it was said through Isaiah, the prophet, The voice of one who cries aloud in the desert, "Prepare a way for the Lord, Make the paths straight for him." This John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem began to go out to him, and all Judea, and the whole neighborhood of the Jordan, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when John saw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming for baptism, he said: "O brood of vipers! Who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
"In solemn truth I tell you that there has not arisen among those born of women a greater than John the Baptist; yet one of the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by storm. read more. "For the prophets and the Law prophesied until John; "and, if you are willing to receive it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
King Herod heard it, for the name of Jesus had become well known, People were saying, "John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and on that account these powers are working in him." "He is Elijah," said others. And still others were saying, "He is a prophet, like one of the old prophets." read more. But when Herod heard, he said, "That John whom I beheaded has come back to life." Now this Herod had sent and arrested John, and bound him in prison, for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. For John had often told Herod, "It is not right for you to live with your brother's wife." So Herodias hated him, and wished to put him to death; but she could not, for Herod was afraid of John because he knew that he was a just and holy man. So he kept him safe. When he listened to John he was much exercised, yet he found pleasure in listening to him. Then came a convenient day, when Herod on his birthday held a feast for his lords and generals and the leading men of Galilee, at which the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced. She charmed Herod and his guests. "Ask me whatever you want," said the king to the young girl, "and I will give it to you." He even swore to her that whatever she asked, he would give it to her, up to half his kingdom. So she came out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" "The head of John the Baptist," she replied. So she at once hurried in to the king and made her request, "I want you," she said, "to give me, without delay, the head of John the Baptist on a charger." Then the king was exceedingly sorry; yet on account of his oaths and his guests he was unwilling to disappoint her. So he sent at once a soldier of the guard with orders to bring his head. And he went and beheaded John in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young girl, and she gave it to her mother. When John's disciples heard of this, they came, and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
"Elijah indeed has already come," he added, "and they have done to him whatever they pleased, even as it is written of him."
And the child grew, and became strong in the Spirit, and remained in the desert till the day of his showing to Israel.
and, calling a certain two disciples to him, he sent them to Jesus, to say, "Are you 'the coming one,' or if we are to expect another?" So the men came to Jesus and said, "John the Baptist has sent us to ask you if you are the coming one, or if we are to expect another." read more. At that moment Jesus was healing many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and to many that were blind he was freely giving their sight. So he answered them. "Go your way, tell John what you have seen and heard. How the blind are seeing, the lame are walking, the lepers are being cleansed, the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised, and the poor are hearing the proclamations of glad tidings. "And blessed is he who finds no cause of stumbling in me."
Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent some priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He acknowledged??e did not deny it??ut acknowledged, "I am not the Christ." read more. "What then?" they questioned; "Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" "No," he replied.
"What then?" they questioned; "Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" "No," he replied. Then said they to him. "Who are you? That we may give some answer to those who sent us. What account do you give of yourself?" read more. He said, "I am a voice of one who cries aloud in the desert, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as said the prophet Isaiah."
One of the two men who heard what John said and followed Jesus, was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter.
Smith
was of the priestly race by both parents, for his father, Zacharias, was himself a priest of the course of Abia or Abijah,
and Elisabeth was of the daughters of Aaron.
Lu 1:5
His birth was foretold by an angel sent from God, and is related at length in Luke 1. The birth of John preceded by six months that of our Lord. John was ordained to be a Nazarite from his birth.
Lu 1:15
Dwelling by himself in the wild and thinly-peopled region westward of the Dead Sea, he prepared himself for the wonderful office to which he had been divinely called. His dress was that of the old prophets --a garment woven of camel's hair,
attached to the body by a leathern girdle. His food was such as the desert afforded --locusts,
and wild honey.
And now the long-secluded hermit came forth to the discharge of his office. His supernatural birth, his life, and the general expectation that some great one was about to appear, were sufficient to attract to him a great multitude from "every quarter."
Many of every class pressed forward to confess their sins and to be baptized. Jesus himself came from Galilee to Jordan to be baptized of John. [JESUS] From incidental notices we learn that John and his disciples continued to baptize some time after our Lord entered upon his ministry. See
See Jesus Christ
Joh 3:23; 4:1; Ac 19:3
We gather also that John instructed his disciples in certain moral and religious duties, as fasting,
Mt 9:14; Lu 5:33
and prayer.
Lu 11:1
But shortly after he had given his testimony to the Messiah, John's public ministry was brought to a close. In daring disregard of the divine laws, Herod Antipas had taken to himself Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip; and when John reproved him for this, as well as for other sins,
Lu 3:19
Herod cast him into prison. (March, A.D. 28.) The place of his confinement was the castle of Machaerus, a fortress on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. It was here that reports reached him of the miracles which our Lord was working in Judea. Nothing but the death of the Baptist would satisfy the resentment of Herodias. A court festival was kept at Machaerus in honor of the king's birthday. After supper the daughter of Herodias came in and danced the king by her grace that he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she should ask. Salome, prompted by her abandoned mother, demanded the head of John the Baptist. Herod gave instructions to an officer of his guard, who went and executed John in the prison, and his head was brought to feast the eyes of the adulteress whose sins he had denounced. His death is supposed to have occurred just before the third passover, in the course of the Lord's ministry. (March, A.D. 29.)
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Then Jerusalem began to go out to him, and all Judea, and the whole neighborhood of the Jordan,
At that time the disciples of John came and asked him, "Why are we and the Pharisees always fasting, while your disciples are not?"
In the reign of Herod, King of Judea, there was a certain priest, named Zachariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife named Elizabeth,
"For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, "He shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, "He shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from the hour of his birth,
but Herod, the Tetrarch, when reproved by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the wicked deeds that he had done,
Again they said unto him. "Why do the disciples of John fast frequently, and make supplications, as also do the disciples of the Pharisees, but your disciples are eating and drinking?"
It happened he was praying in a certain place, and when he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, "Master, teach us how to pray, just as John taught his disciples."
John also was baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there were many streams there, and people kept coming to receive baptism.
Accordingly when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard it said, "Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than John,"
"Into what, then, were you baptized?" he asked. And they said, "Into the baptism of John."
Watsons
JOHN THE BAPTIST, the forerunner of the Messiah, was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, and was born about six months before our Saviour. His birth was foretold by an angel, sent purposely to deliver this joyful message, when his mother Elizabeth was barren, and both his parents far advanced in years. The same divine messenger foretold that he should be great in the sight of the Lord: that he should be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb; that he should prepare the way of the Lord by turning many of the Jews to the knowledge of God; and that he should be the greatest of all the prophets, Lu 1:5-15. Of the early part of the Baptist's life we have but little information. It is only observed that "he grew and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel," Lu 1:80. Though consecrated from the womb to the ministerial office, John did not enter upon it in the heat of youth, but after several years spent in solitude and a course of self-denial.
The prophetical descriptions of the Baptist in the Old Testament are various and striking. That by Isaiah is: "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God," Isa 40:3. Malachi has the following prediction: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse," Mal 4:5. That this was meant of the Baptist, we have the testimony of our Lord himself, who declared, "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias who was to come," Mt 11:14. The appearance and manners of the Baptist, when he first came out into the world, excited general attention. His clothing was of camel's hair, bound round him with a leathern girdle, and his food consisted of locusts and wild honey, Mt 3:4. The message which he declared was authoritative: "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand;" and the impression produced by his faithful reproofs and admonitions was powerful and extensive, and in a great number of instances lasting. Most of the first followers of our Lord appear to have been awakened to seriousness and religious inquiry by John's ministry. His character was so eminent, that many of the Jews thought him to be the Messiah; but he plainly declared that he was not that honoured person. Nevertheless, he was at first unacquainted with the person of Jesus Christ; only the Holy Ghost had told him that he on whom he should see the Holy Spirit descend and rest was the Messiah. When Jesus Christ presented himself to receive baptism from him, this sign was vouchsafed; and from that time he bore his testimony to Jesus, as the Christ.
Herod Antipas, having married his brother Philip's wife while Philip was still living, occasioned great scandal. John the Baptist, with his usual liberty and vigour, reproved Herod to his face; and told him that it was not lawful for him to have his brother's wife, while his brother was yet alive. Herod, incensed at this freedom, ordered him into custody, in the castle of Machoerus; and he was ultimately put to death. (See Antipas.) Thus fell this honoured prophet, a martyr to ministerial faithfulness. Other prophets testified of Christ; he pointed to him as already come. Others saw him afar off; he beheld the advancing glories of his ministry eclipsing his own, and rejoiced to "decrease" while his Master "increased." His ministry stands as a type of the true character of evangelical repentance: it goes before Christ and prepares his way; it is humbling, but not despairing; for it points to "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world." The Jews had such an opinion of this prophet's sanctity, that they ascribed the overthrow of Herod's army, which he had sent against his father-in- law, Aretas, to the just judgment of God for putting John the Baptist to death. The death of John the Baptist happened, as is believed, about the end of the thirty-first year of the vulgar era, or in the beginning of the thirty-second.
The baptism of John was much more perfect than that of the Jews, but less perfect than that of Jesus Christ. "It was," says St. Chrysostom, "as it were, a bridge, which, from the baptism of the Jews, made a way to that of our Saviour, and was more exalted than the first, but inferior to the second. That of St. John promised what that of Jesus Christ executed. Notwithstanding St. John did not enjoin his disciples to continue the baptism of repentance, which was of his institution, after his death, because, after the manifestation of the Messiah, and the establishment of the Holy Ghost, it became of no use; yet there were many of his followers who still administered it, and several years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, did not so much as know that there was any other baptism than that of John. Of this number was Apollos, a learned and zealous man, who was of Alexandria, and came to Ephesus twenty years after the resurrection of our Saviour, Ac 18:25. And when St. Paul came after Apollos to the same city, there were still many Ephesians who had received no other baptism, and were not yet informed that the Holy Ghost was received by baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, Ac 19:1. The Jews are said by the Apostle Paul to have been "baptized unto Moses," at the time when they followed him through the Red Sea, as the servant of God sent to be their leader. Those who went out to John "were baptized unto John's baptism;" that is, into the expectation of the person whom John announced, and into repentance of those sins which John condemned. Christians are "baptized into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost," because in this expression is implied that whole system of truth which the disciples of Christ believe; into the name of the Father, the one true and living God whom Christians profess to serve; of the Son, that divine person revealed in the New Testament whom the Father sent to be the Saviour of the world; of the Holy Ghost, the divine person also revealed there as the Comforter, the Sanctifier, and the Guide of Christians.
JOHN THE EVANGELIST was a native of Bethsaida, in Galilee, son of Zebedee and Salome, by profession a fisherman. Some have thought that he was a disciple of John the Baptist before he attended Jesus Christ. He was brother to James the greater. It is believed that St. John was the youngest of the Apostles. Tillemont is of opinion that he was twenty-five or twenty-six years of age when he began to follow Jesus. Our Saviour had a particular friendship for him; and he describes himself by the name of "that disciple whom Jesus loved." St. John was one of the four Apostles to whom our Lord delivered his predictions relative to the destruction of Jerusalem, and the approaching calamities of the Jewish nation, Mr 13:3. St. Peter, St. James, and St. John were chosen to accompany our Saviour on several occasions, when the other Apostles were not permitted to be present. When Christ restored the daughter of Jairus to life, Mr 5:37; Lu 8:51; when he was transfigured on the mount, Mt 17:1-2; Mr 9:2; Lu 9:28; and when he endured his agony in the garden, Mt 26:36-37; Mr 14:32-33; St. Peter, St. James, and St. John were his only attendants. That St. John was treated by Christ with greater familiarity than the other Apostles, is evident from St. Peter desiring him to ask Christ who should betray him, when he himself did not dare to propose the question, Joh 13:24. He seems to have been the only Apostle present at the crucifixion, and to him Jesus, just as he was expiring upon the cross, gave the strongest proof of his confidence and regard, by consigning to him the care of his mother, Joh 19:26-27. As St. John had been witness to the death of our Saviour, by seeing the blood and water issue from his side, which a soldier had pierced, Joh 19:34-35, so he was one of the first made acquainted with his resurrection. Without any hesitation, he believed this great event, though "as
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This John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
"and, if you are willing to receive it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
Six days later Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John, and led them up a high mountain, by themselves apart. Here he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, "Sit down here, while I go and pray yonder." And he took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him, and began to be in anguish and sore distress,
He would not permit any one to go with him, except Peter and James and John, the brother of James.
Six days later Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and brought them by themselves up a high mountain apart from the rest.
When he had seated himself on the Mount of Olives, facing the Temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
So they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit down here while I pray." Then he took Peter and James and John with him, and began to be full of terror and distress;
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
In the reign of Herod, King of Judea, there was a certain priest, named Zachariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant of Aaron. They were both righteous in the sight of the Lord, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the law, blameless. read more. Now they had no child, for Elizabeth was barren, and both were far advanced in years. Now while Zachariah was acting as priest before God in the due course of his class, it fell to his lot, according to the custom of priesthood, to enter into the sanctuary of the Lord and to burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were without, praying at the hour of incense. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And as he saw him Zachariah was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the Angel said to him. "Do not be afraid, Zachariah, because your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. "And he shall be to you a joy and an exultation, and many shall rejoice over his birth. "For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, "He shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, "He shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from the hour of his birth,
And the child grew, and became strong in the Spirit, and remained in the desert till the day of his showing to Israel.
So he came to the house, and would not permit anyone to go in with him except Peter and John and James, and the father and Mother of the little girl.
About eight days after this it happened that Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and went up on the mountain to pray.
And it happened that while he was blessing them, that he parted from them and was carried into heaven.
So Simon Peter beckoned to him, saying, "Ask who it is about whom he is speaking."
When Jesus saw his mother, and standing near her the disciple whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman behold your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her to his home.
One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a lance, and immediately blood and water flowed out. And he who saw it has borne testimony, and his testimony is trustworthy, and he knows that he is telling the truth in order that you may believe.
For not yet had they understood the Scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
While they were addressing the people the priests, the commander of the Temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,
This aroused bitter indignation among the high priest and his followers who were of the sect of the Sadducees, and they apprehended the apostles, and threw them into the public prison.
The apostle at Jerusalem, when they heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, sent to them Peter and John. Who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
He had been instructed in the ways of the Lord, and being full of zeal, he used to speak and to teach accurately the facts about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John.
Now it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul, after passing through the hinterland, came to Ephesus, where he found a few disciples.
and the truth is not in him; bit if any man obey his word, in him truly is the love of God made perfect. By this we come to know that we are in him.
Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, nay, and old commandment, which you have had from the beginning. That old commandment is the message to which you have listened.
He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now. But he who loves his brother is abiding in the light, and in it there is no cause of stumbling. read more. But he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and is spending his life in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Behold what manner of love the Father has given us in allowing us to be called "Children of God!" And that is what we are. For this reason the world does not recognize us, because it did not know him.
For this is the message that you have listened to from the beginning, "WE ARE TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER." We are not to be like Cain, who belonged to the Evil One, and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? It was because his own deeds were evil, and his brother's, righteous.
We know that we have migrated, out of death into life, because we love our brothers. He who has no love is abiding in death. Every one who is hating his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. read more. By this we learn to know love, because he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. But whoever has this world's goods, and beholds his brother in need, and shuts up his heart against him, how can the love of God continue to abide in him? My children, let us not love in word nor in talk, but in deed and in truth.
His commandment is this, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as he has commanded us to do.
Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loves us a child of God. He who does not love, does not know God; for God is love. read more. In this was the love of God clearly shown toward us, by his sending his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins.
No man has ever gazed on God; but if we love one another, God ever abides in us, and his love is perfected in us.
And we do know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love; and he who is abiding in love is abiding in God, and God is abiding in him. In this is love made perfect with us, so that we may have cheerful confidence in the Day of Judgment, because we are living in this world as He lives. read more. Fear does not exist in love; but love, when it is perfect, drives out fear. For fear has always torment, and he who has fear is not yet perfected in love. We love because He loved us first. If any one says, "I love God," and yet hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot possibly love God, whom he has not seen. And we have this command from God: HE WHO LOVES GOD IS TO LOVE HIS BROTHER ALSO.
Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God; and every one who loves the Father, loves him also who is the Father's Child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. read more. For love to God means obeying his commandments; and his commandments are not irksome.
I am greatly rejoiced to find some of your children leading their lives in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.
The children of your elect sister send you greeting.
For I was glad when brothers came and bore testimony to your truth, as indeed you are passing your life in truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are passing their lives in the truth. read more. You are acting faithfully, beloved, in whatever you are doing for the brothers and the strangers. They have borne testimony to your love before the church. You will do well to speed them on their way worthily of God; since for the sake of the Name they have started out, taking nothing from the Gentiles. Hence we ought to support such, so that we may become fellow workers for the truth. I have written somewhat to the church; but Diotrephes, who love to take the lead among them, does not receive me.
All men bear testimony to Demetrius, and so does the truth itself. I also bear testimony to him; and you know that my testimony is true. I have a great deal to write to you, but I do not want to write you with pen and ink. read more. I am hoping soon to see you, and then we shall talk face to face. Peace be to you! The friends send their salutation. Salute the friends by name.
I am hoping soon to see you, and then we shall talk face to face. Peace be to you! The friends send their salutation. Salute the friends by name.
I, John, who am your brother and who share with you in the woes and kingdom and stedfastness of Jesus, found myself in the island called Patmos, for the sake of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.