Dear Explorer,
Read John 1:19-23
John the Baptizer said that he was not the Messiah. What is a messiah?
Someone who rescues or saves someone, for example: “The firefighter was a welcome messiah for the group trapped in the burning building.” But this wasn't a messiah, this was The Messiah. The Messiah, or Savior, or Christ, or Rescuer was promised to the Jewish people by God during the time of Abraham. But the earliest mention of Him was in Genesis 3:15 in the Garden of Eden.
The Jewish Scriptures (our Old Testament) contain over 300 prophecies concerning the Messiah. The people at the time thought that John the Baptizer might be the Messiah.
Their second guess was a good one and showed that they knew the prophecies well.
Read Malachi 4:5-6
Who was supposed to come and prepare the people for the Day of the Lord?
Read Matthew 11:11-14
Jesus says that John the Baptizer was the prophet Elijah (Elias). I don't know whether He was saying He was a prophet like Elijah or whether He was saying that John the Baptizer was Elijah re-incarnated. I personally believe that He was saying that John the Baptizer was like the prophet Elijah in his obedience and behavior. But I don't know. It's one of those mysteries we'll have to wait and ask in Heaven.
Re-read John 1:19-23
Why do you think that John the Baptizer said that he was not the prophet?
There are scholars who feel that John the Baptizer didn't want people to confuse him with Elijah because this prophecy from Malachi was actually referring to Elijah coming before the Day of the Lord – which would be at Jesus' 2nd Coming. So possibly to avoid confusion he claimed to not be the prophet. Others believe he was just being modest. Another topic for discussion in Heaven because we won't know for sure until then.
What was the description that John the Baptizer gave of himself?
What was John the Baptizer's message to the people?
I think John the Baptizer was called to be like a herald – a person who ran ahead of the King and announced His arrival so that people could get ready and be prepared to receive the King.
Part of his assignment was to make the people aware of their sins and, therefore, their need for a Savior. I believe that John the Baptizer was part of the cocoon that was preparing the people for a Messiah. (see Day 5)
John stayed focused to what he was called to do. He didn't get distracted by the attention of the crowds or the religious leaders. He did well what he was called to do, and Jesus had high words of praise for him later.
We'll continue this discussion tomorrow.
In His service, dale
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