The King’s Introduction—the wild man and the Real Man John 3
I. Vs 1&3 Even the “forerunner” was prophesied!! Enter the wild man!
A. Mark 1:1-4 Verse 2 comes from Malachi 3:1, significantly, this is from the last book in the OT. Matthew 3:3 & Mark 1:3 come from Isaiah 40:3, one of the bright spots in Isaiahs' dark prophesies to a rebellious nation.
B. Vs 4 His appearance and manner appearing like Elijah is no accident!!! Compare Malachi 4:1-6 (esp. vs 5) with our Lord’s interpretation of John’s ministry in Matthew 11:7-15
C. Vs 2 John’s message—“Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” He is declaring that the Kingdom of Daniel 2:44; Isaiah 56:1 is here!!!
D. Vs 5-10 His baptism was unto repentance, confessing their sins. It was similar to the sacrifices of the old covenant, (Hebrews 10:1-4) in which there was a reminder of their sins every year. Their sins were ever before them. 1. Vs 11-12 Notice John’s own words of contrast between his and the Christ’s baptism. His=water unto repentance; Christ’s=Holy Spirit and fire. Malachi 3:1-3
II. Vs 13-17 The Baptism!!!
A. Vs 13-14 The last prophet of the Old Covenant meets the Embodiment of the New Covenant face to Face!!! Daniel 9:24; Isaiah 42:6, Isaiah 49:8--The Son IS the New Covenant of Righteousness that the O.C. only “dreamed” of, lived in anticipation of.
B. Vs 15 Jesus’ Baptism wasn’t unto repentance, unto the reminder and sorrow of sin heavy on the conscience. It was unto the fulfillment of “all righteousness.”
1. In His baptism, He is prefiguring His actual “Baptism” into death, burial, and resurrection as the Righteousness for His people.
2. Remember the conscience, consciousness connection! The bodies of bulls and goats could not clear the conscience, but instead inflamed it with constant reminders. Jesus is here presenting His Body as the only Body that clears the conscience from sin and is the key to a clean and clear conscience before God. This is the truth taught in Hebrews 10:5-17, and the anti-type of our baptism of which Peter speaks in I Peter 3:18-22. (“The answer of a good conscience toward God.”)
Our baptism is our testimony of our union with and dependence upon the Righteousness which He fulfilled for us in His death, burial, and resurrection for us, the truth that Paul beautifully lays before us in Romans 6:1-14.
C. Vs 16-17 The Heavens opened!!! (Hebrews 10:19-22, 4:14-16)
Our unrighteousness has separated is from any communion and real communication with the Most High God, except in judgment. The heavens are silent. But here, the Righteous One, the Man Whom God has chosen, arises from the watery grave and is greeted with a twofold Testimony, in which it is impossible for God to lie: (Hebrews 6:17-18)
1. The Spirit of God descends upon Him like a dove. Remember Noah? Genesis 8:1-12. Here, the Dove has found His resting place upon the Righteous Son, the Lord over all creation. HAVE YOU AGREED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT??? IS YOUR RESTING PLACE, YOUR PEACE, IN THE SON OF GOD’S LOVE??? Mt 11:25-30
2. “This is MY BELOVED SON in Whom I am well pleased.” The Father’s Declaration should be all we ever need, for Jesus is the Fullness of the Godhead bodily and we are complete in Him. HAVE YOU AGREED WITH THE FATHER, HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR PLEASURE IS HIS BELOVED SON??? Hebrews 1:1-3
I. Vs 1&3 Even the “forerunner” was prophesied!! Enter the wild man!
A. Mark 1:1-4 Verse 2 comes from Malachi 3:1, significantly, this is from the last book in the OT. Matthew 3:3 & Mark 1:3 come from Isaiah 40:3, one of the bright spots in Isaiahs' dark prophesies to a rebellious nation.
B. Vs 4 His appearance and manner appearing like Elijah is no accident!!! Compare Malachi 4:1-6 (esp. vs 5) with our Lord’s interpretation of John’s ministry in Matthew 11:7-15
C. Vs 2 John’s message—“Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” He is declaring that the Kingdom of Daniel 2:44; Isaiah 56:1 is here!!!
D. Vs 5-10 His baptism was unto repentance, confessing their sins. It was similar to the sacrifices of the old covenant, (Hebrews 10:1-4) in which there was a reminder of their sins every year. Their sins were ever before them. 1. Vs 11-12 Notice John’s own words of contrast between his and the Christ’s baptism. His=water unto repentance; Christ’s=Holy Spirit and fire. Malachi 3:1-3
II. Vs 13-17 The Baptism!!!
A. Vs 13-14 The last prophet of the Old Covenant meets the Embodiment of the New Covenant face to Face!!! Daniel 9:24; Isaiah 42:6, Isaiah 49:8--The Son IS the New Covenant of Righteousness that the O.C. only “dreamed” of, lived in anticipation of.
B. Vs 15 Jesus’ Baptism wasn’t unto repentance, unto the reminder and sorrow of sin heavy on the conscience. It was unto the fulfillment of “all righteousness.”
1. In His baptism, He is prefiguring His actual “Baptism” into death, burial, and resurrection as the Righteousness for His people.
2. Remember the conscience, consciousness connection! The bodies of bulls and goats could not clear the conscience, but instead inflamed it with constant reminders. Jesus is here presenting His Body as the only Body that clears the conscience from sin and is the key to a clean and clear conscience before God. This is the truth taught in Hebrews 10:5-17, and the anti-type of our baptism of which Peter speaks in I Peter 3:18-22. (“The answer of a good conscience toward God.”)
Our baptism is our testimony of our union with and dependence upon the Righteousness which He fulfilled for us in His death, burial, and resurrection for us, the truth that Paul beautifully lays before us in Romans 6:1-14.
C. Vs 16-17 The Heavens opened!!! (Hebrews 10:19-22, 4:14-16)
Our unrighteousness has separated is from any communion and real communication with the Most High God, except in judgment. The heavens are silent. But here, the Righteous One, the Man Whom God has chosen, arises from the watery grave and is greeted with a twofold Testimony, in which it is impossible for God to lie: (Hebrews 6:17-18)
1. The Spirit of God descends upon Him like a dove. Remember Noah? Genesis 8:1-12. Here, the Dove has found His resting place upon the Righteous Son, the Lord over all creation. HAVE YOU AGREED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT??? IS YOUR RESTING PLACE, YOUR PEACE, IN THE SON OF GOD’S LOVE??? Mt 11:25-30
2. “This is MY BELOVED SON in Whom I am well pleased.” The Father’s Declaration should be all we ever need, for Jesus is the Fullness of the Godhead bodily and we are complete in Him. HAVE YOU AGREED WITH THE FATHER, HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR PLEASURE IS HIS BELOVED SON??? Hebrews 1:1-3