Hi Ted and Doves,
I am extremely thankful for the John Tng hosting the five doves website where we can freely share our thoughts on the scriptures and discuss them with one another. This sharing of our thoughts on the scriptures or iron sharpening iron is important for the body of Christ if we desire to grow and mature in the Lord.
Pro 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
Since everyones knowledge of scripture is imperfect or incomplete, we need to share our thoughts with one another in meekness and humility because no one has complete and perfect understanding of all scripture.
1Co 13:9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
1Co 13:10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
1Co 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.With this in mind I would like to share a few of my thoughts on John the Baptist as we all seek a more perfect knowledge and understanding of Jesus and his Word.
Two different aspects of the coming Messiah
John the Baptist introduces Jesus as "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," (John 1:29). This is an important point that is often missed by most.
Joh 1:28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Joh 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Joh 1:30 This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.'
Joh 1:31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel."
Joh 1:32 And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.The scriptures spoke about two different aspects or types for Israel's coming Messiah. One aspect or type for the coming Messiah was the suffering servant as pictured by Joseph who was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery in Egypt. It was through Joseph that Israel and all in Egypt who came to Joseph was saved from the 7 years of famine.
The second type for the Messiah was the King that would come and deliver Israel from their enemies, The Kingly Messiah was revealed through David who defeated the enemies of Israel.
Even though Israel knew about the two different types for their coming Messiah, their knowledge of the Messiah was partial and incomplete. Israel did not know if one person would come as the suffering servant Messiah and another would come as the Kingly Messiah, or if both aspects of their coming Messiah would be fulfilled by the same person in two different comings. With this thought in mind I would like to take a closer look at what John the Baptist knew and did not know about Jesus.
In John 1:29, John the Baptist introduced Jesus to the people of Israel as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." John knew Jesus was Israel's suffering Messiah, the the Passover Lamb of God by revelation from the Holy Spirit.
But what John did not know was if someone else was to come as the Kingly Messiah or if Jesus would come again as Israel's Kingly Messiah. If you look closely at John's question for Jesus in Mat 11:3, John says are you the one (Kingly Messiah) who is to come, or shall we look for another (Kingly Messiah).
Jesus gives his answer to John's question about the Kingly Messiah that is to come in Mat 11:4-6.
Mat 11:1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
Mat 11:2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples
Mat 11:3 and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?"
Mat 11:4 And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see:
Mat 11:5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
Mat 11:6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me."In Mat 11:4-6, Jesus was telling John the Baptist that he is the Messiah that has power and authority over sickness, death and hell. Jesus is telling John that he is Israel's Kingly Messiah that will come again in his power and authority to save Israel from their enemies. The way John's question was phrased about the Messiah, "are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another," reveals John did not know if Jesus was to be the coming Kingly Messiah or if someone else was to come.
This verse is in Mat 11:3, is often misunderstood by many in the church today as John's lack of faith in Jesus as the Messiah. John was called a friend of the Bridegroom. Moses is another person in scriptures that God calls his friend because he spoke with God face to face, (Ex 33:11). So the term friend of the Bridegroom given to John speaks of his intimate and close relationship with God. John's relationship with God was most likely closer then anyone else in Israel at that time.
But it is extremely important to understand that John the Baptist and Israel did not have full knowledge of the two different comings of their Messiah. And it was not until after the resurrection when Jesus revealed to his disciples that he came first as their suffering Messiah (Luke 24) and that he would come again as their Kingly Messiah, (Acts 1:6-7). So Johns question "are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another" was merely addressing this question if Jesus was going to return as Israel's Kingly Messiah. John knew by revelation from the Spirit that Jesus was the suffering Messiah that came to take away the sins of the world while many in Israel thought Jesus was going to be their King who would deliver them from the Romans.
John the Baptist, the Elijah who was to come
In a Jewish wedding the Bridegroom has two witnesses. This is a picture for the two witnesses, or friends that testify of Jesus as the Bridegroom. The two friends or witnesses of Jesus are the Law and the Prophets, Luke 24:27, 44; Luke 16:31. Jesus on the Mount of Tranfiguration was accompanied by two witnesses, Moses and Elijah. Moses gave God's Law to Israel and Elijah is a picture for God's prophets that proclaimed the Word of the Lord to Israel. I know of two people in the scriptures that God called his friends, Moses and John the Baptist. These two friends represent that law and the prophets that are witnesses for the Bridegroom.
When John the Baptist said he was a friend of the Bridegroom, and Jesus said John is the Elijah that was to come, John is coming in the role of a prophet as a witness for the Bridegroom. John was the prophetic witness that introduced Jesus to Israel as their suffering servant Messiah.
In Revelation 11:5-6, the two witnesses in the tribulation who proclaim to Israel that Jesus is their Bridegroom or their Kingly Messiah are types for Moses and Elijah, the Law and the Prophets.
The role for Elijah the prophet who proclaims to Israel the Lord is God, along with John the Baptist in the prophetic office of Elijah who introduces Jesus as the suffering Messiah, and the witness in Rev 11 (a type for Elijah the prophet), that procalims Jesus is the coming Kingly Messiah are the prophetic witnesses for the Bridegroom.
Among those born of women none is greater than John
Jesus said there is none greater born of women then John the Baptist. But he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater then John the Baptist. Jesus also said unless your righteousness is greater then the pharisees who tried to follow God with all their heart, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Luk 7:27 This is he of whom it is written, "'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'
Luk 7:28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."What Jesus is saying here is no matter if you are the greatest person (born of women) who follows God with all your heart, you are still in your sinful unrighteous nature because you have been born in sinful flesh. And the least person in the kingdom of heaven who is spiritually born again in the righteousness of Christ will be greater then the best person on earth serving God in their unrighteous sinful nature.
Jesus is saying no matter how good you are at following God in your sinful flesh (born of woman), you must be born again by the Spirit of God to be declared righteous and enter into heaven.
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'When we become born again of Spirit we are declared righteous in God's eyes. But the best person in their flesh (born of woman) who follows God is still unrighteous before God. This is the spiritual truth Jesus was stating, you cannot depend on your fleshly good works to get you into heaven even if you are the greatest on earth.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him
Mat 3:11 "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Mat 3:12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
Mat 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
Mat 3:14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
Mat 3:15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.
Mat 3:16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;
Mat 3:17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."Another interesting question is why did John baptize Jesus to fulfill all righteousness? I could comment on this, but I would like to share what other christians have written on this subject, iron sharpening iron.
The following article below may be found at this webiste, http://www.geocities.com/of_faith_hope_love/JohntheBaptist.htm
THE LAST HIGH PRIEST: The need and purpose for John the Baptist
In the New Testament, John the Baptist is the last High Priest of the Old Testament. John had been sent to prepare the way for Jesus Christ, as had been recorded in Scripture [Malachi 3:1]. He was named to be the greatest of the prophets born of women. Except for Adam and Eve, all human beings were born from women. So, John the Baptist was the greatest prophet of all humanity. In the days of the Israel of Old Testament, prophets were considered to be greater than kings. John the Baptist was more than a king and more than a prophet. He was more than all the prophets of the Old Testament. In fact, John, the last High Priest and the representative of all humanity, was more important than Aaron, the first High Priest. Jesus Himself testified that John was as such.
John the Baptist as the representative of all humanity and as the High Priest, he passed all the sins of the world onto Jesus; thus fulfilling the role of the priest in the Old Testament in which blood offerings and blood sacrifices were made of innocent blood to atone for sin.
John had to baptize Jesus in order to blot out the sins of the world. God had to let John pass all sins onto Jesus so that people who believed in Him could be saved. As a servant of God, his mission was to pass all the sins of the world onto Jesus through the baptism. And he bore witness to Jesus in order for all of humanity to repent and be washed of their sins by believing in the Gospel of redemption. Therefore, John had to live alone in the wilderness because the people of Israel had become totally corrupt and rotten to the core.
In the Old Testament, when a person sinned, they were able to atone by laying their hands on the head of a sacrificial animal that was without blemish. In this way, the sin was passed onto the sacrificial animal and the sacrifice died with those sins. Then the animal's throat was cut and the priests placed the blood on the horns of the altar of the burnt offering. This was the way to atone for daily sins. In the case of yearly sins, Aaron the High Priest offered the sacrifice for all the people of Israel. In the Old Testament, Aaron and his sons were ordained by God to serve in perpetuity. All sins had to be washed away through Aaron and his sons. It was as God had ordered.
Because John the Baptist was born to the house of Aaron, it was proper for him to be the high priest, and God predestined him to be the last High Priest, according to His promise of redemption.
So, when John the Baptist laid his hands on Jesus, he passed onto Jesus all the sins of the world. John the Baptist was the representative of all humanity and the last high priest because the Old Testament ended when Jesus Christ was born. John the Baptist passed all the sins of the world onto Jesus when he baptized Him. This would be the last need for the Old Testament method.Another good article on Jesus baptism by John may be found at this website, http://www.jclife.org/en/
A christian friend who attends a Messianc church shared this next teaching with me about Jesus baptism by John. I have not yet studied this teaching, so I do not know if this is true or not.
In the Jewish law if the Levitical high priest was going to die and there were no more Levites to take on the office of high priest, the last high priest was to baptize his next of kin as the new high priest even though he was not of the tribe of Levi.
This is a prophetic picture for the temporary Old Covenant Levitical priesthood that was coming to and end as it was being replaced by the eternal New Covenant High Priest (Jesus) in the order of Melchesideck.
It appears that John the Baptist who was a Levite and a cousin of Jesus was spiritually passing on the temporary office of the Old Covenant Levitical high priesthood to his next of kin Jesus. It was through the baptism of Jesus by his cousin John the last high priest, that the Old Covenant Levitical priesthood was coming to an end and was being placed upon Jesus, our New Covenant High Priest.
Luk 16:16 "The Law and the Prophets were until John (the Levitical priesthood); since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached (Jesus the New Covenant High Priest), and everyone forces his way into it.
The Old Covenant priesthood was a temporary atonemnet for sin by the blood of lambs and goats that was meant to be a picture of the New Covenant HIgh Priest (Jesus) who by one sacrifice would be the eternal atonement for the sins of mankind.
John the Baptist, a spiritual picture for the end of the Levitical priesthood, laid his sins and the sins of all mankind on the head of Jesus as he was baptized into the Jordan river, the river of death to become our eternal High Priest.
John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist
I believe there may be some more hidden spirtual truths about John the Baptist in Mat 3:4.
Mat 3:4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
In Eph 6:15, it speaks of the belt of truth, John wore the belt of truth, he walked in the truth of God's Word.
John ate honey, he ate and lived by feeding on God's word, Psa 119:103.
Psa 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
John ate locusts
John also ate locusts. Some think that this was the locust bean tree. But the scripture says that locusts are a clean food that Israel could eat.
Lev 11:20 "All winged insects that go on all fours are detestable to you.
Lev 11:21 Yet among the winged insects that go on all fours you may eat those that have jointed legs above their feet, with which to hop on the ground.
Lev 11:22 Of them you may eat: the locust of any kind, the bald locust of any kind, the cricket of any kind, and the grasshopper of any kind.
Lev 11:23 But all other winged insects that have four feet are detestable to you.The locusts in scripture were a picture for demons (Rev 9:3) and the enemies of Israel (Jud 6:1-6).
Rev 9:1 And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.
Rev 9:2 He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft.
Rev 9:3 Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth.
Rev 9:4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.In Mat 3:7-8, John is spiritually chewing up the locusts, the Pharisees and Sadducees that are being used by Satan, the brood of vipers. John calls them a brood of vipers because they are following the doctrines of demons, self righteousness by works and not by true repentance and faith in God.
Mat 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
Mat 3:2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Mat 3:3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'"
Mat 3:4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Mat 3:5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,
Mat 3:6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
Mat 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Mat 3:8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.John wore a garment of camel's hair
John wore a garment of camel's hair. The garment of hair and leather belt were also worn by the prophet Elijah.
2Ki 1:8 They answered him, "He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist." And he said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite."
The garment of hair speaks of being clothed in the righteousness of God. God clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins to cover up their sinful nakedness, a future picture for the slain Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.
God also clothes his prophets with his glory and power pictured by the garment of hair from a sacrificed animal.
But why was John clothed in camel's hair? John was a prophetic witness to Israel for Jesus the Bridegroom. John was calling forth the people of Israel to repent and prepare for the coming of their Bridegroom. John was seeking to bring forth a bride for Jesus the Bridegroom.
In the story of Abraham Gen 24:1-4, Abraham tells his oldest servant in his household to get a bride for Isaac. This oldest servant is a prophetic story for the Holy Spirit seeking to find a bride for Jesus. When Abraham's servant finds Rebekah the future bride of Isaac, she and her young women followed Abraham's servant and was brought to Isaac riding on a camel.
Rebekah was being led by Abraham's servant and carried along to her future Bridegroom on a camel and not by her own works or effort. This is a picture for the future bride of Christ being led and carried along to Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Gen 24:61 Then Rebekah and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebekah and went his way.
Now John who was clothed in the power of the Holy Spirit, in a garment of camel's hair, went forth to bring the future bride to Jesus. John called Israel to repentance and to prepare for the coming of their Bridegroom. John clothed in a garment of camel's hair seeking to carry along a bride to Jesus is similar to Rebekah being carried along on a camel to her future Bridegroom Isaac. John under the leading of the Holy Spirit (clothed in camel's hair) was to bring forth the bride to her future Bridegroom Jesus.
Isaac is 40 years old when he marries Rebekah. This is a picture of 4,000 years from the time of Adam when Jesus becomes betrothed, married to his bride by his death on the cross.
Ted and Doves,
Even though our thoughts on the scriptures may be imperfect and incomplete, we still need to share our thoughts with one another so we may grow in the perfect knowledge of Jesus. It is through the gifts and teaching of the Holy Spirit through all members of the body of Christ that the church will be brought into maturity. We need to humbly share our thoughts and gifts of the Holy Spirit with one another if we want to grow and mature as one in Christ.
Pro 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
1Jo 2:27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything--and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you--abide in him.
Act 17:10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.
Act 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
I pray that we may we all grow into maturity as we humbly serve one another in Christ,
Greg Isaacson