Key persons/groups/terms found in the Gospels (cont'd)

Parables – A story lesson which conveys spiritual truth from everyday life. It was a popular teaching method used by Jesus. For examples see Luke 15 and Luke 18:9-14. Luke 10:25-37 – the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Some parables Jesus would explain to the people what they meant while with other parables He would not. Many people, even His disciples, would walk away from Jesus’ parables scratching their head trying to figure it out. Only people who listened with their hearts and not their ears fully understood many of Jesus’ parables. Unfortunately, the people’s hearts had been hardened/dulled by the teachings of the Pharisees who emphasized an external form of godliness rather than an inward form.

John the Baptist – Read Luke 3:1-2, Mark 1:6 (camel’s hair is very coarse. Itchy. Very uncomfortable; locust – common delicacy in desert communities), Luke 3:3-6

All four gospels cite Isaiah 40:3 when introducing John the Baptist.

Role of John the Baptist – Prepare humanity for the coming of God’s salvation – the Messiah. Prepare the people for the coming of Jesus. John was to set the table. He was the Prologue, the opening act. John was not to be subtle/subdued in preparing the way for Jesus. Reading Isaiah 40:3-5 quoted by Luke, what imagery do you see? John the Baptist was to be a bulldozer tearing down religious tradition that had burdened the people. He was to tear down the religious establishment responsible for creating this tradition, i.e. Pharisees and Sadducees. They were more concerned with attaining and sustaining power/influence over the people. They used religion as a tool to attain and sustain power/influence over the people. Rather than guiding people to a true relationship with God, the Pharisees and Sadducees made straight paths to God crooked. They deepened the valleys and built tall mountains. They made it difficult fr people to see God/know His salvation. John’s job was to be the bulldozer to make the path between God and humanity straight and level NOT so that humanity could go to God for salvation but so that God could bring salvation to man.

How John the Baptist carried out his role. Read Luke 3:3, 7-14. (Point out that reference to brood of vipers is directed at the Pharisees and Sadducees in the crowd. Read Matthew’s account of John the Baptist’s ministry.) 1) John prepared the people for Jesus’ message – repentance for forgiveness of sins. Looking at John’s sermon found in all four Gospels, there are three similar parts. a) Confess sins; b) Turn away from path of sin. No longer are you to walk in it. Go in the opposite direction. c) Show evidence of this new direction in your everyday life. As John says in verse 8, “produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Don’t just say it, live it. Otherwise you are hypocrite. John lists examples in verses 11-14. John preached that one’s salvation is not based on genetics (being a Jew) or on tradition. Read verses 8-9. John’s message of salvation through repentance was continued by Jesus. He built upon John’s message. Took it to a higher level. How? Jesus Himself would be the source of salvation.
Hundreds of people came from many miles to see and hear John the Baptist. Why? Was it because of his physical appearance? Long haired wild man wearing camel’s hair and eating locusts. At first that may have been the reason people came to see John. What kept the people there; what got their attention was his message of repentance. It was new, different from the theology of the religious establishment (Pharisees and Sadducees.) John’s message focused on an inward change that produced an external change. The religious establishment focused on external change (rules, laws, tradition) that made no impact the heart. The boldness/courage in which he preached his message attracted many people. John the Baptist taught as one with authority. He did not preach a feel good/Kum Bah Yah sermon. John was straightforward/tell it like it is/honest/direct. He was not politically correct. John called a sin sin and made no apologies for it. John the Baptist was afraid to step on anybody’s toes whether you were a pauper or a king or a Pharisee or Sadducee. John was equal opportunity fire and brimstone. Read Luke 3:8, 19-20. John got in people’s faces and called them sinners. He told them to repent or they would go to Hell. John shook people up. You walked away from one of John the Baptist’s sermons either saved or angry. John had to be that way. He was the coming Messiah’s bulldozer.