MOTIVATE

“Off with his head!” This is not a command from the sous chef preparing ingredients for our chili-cookoff. Instead, this line became famous by William Shakespeare. However, history reveals it to be a popular method of execution and vengeance. We see this in the Bible:

• Pharaoh beheaded Egyptian Baker (Gen 40:20)
• King Saul beheaded enemy soldiers from Philistine (1Sam 31:8-10)
• David defeating Goliath (1 Sam 17:45)
• Saul’s son Ishbosheth by David’s fighting men (2 Sam 4:7-8). David responded in justice by removing the hands & feet of these warriors (2 Sam 4:12).
• Wicked King Ahab’s 70 “sons” and Baal worshipers were beheaded (2 Ki 10)
• James the brother of John by Herod Agrippa (Ac 12:2)
• John the Baptizer by Herod Antipas (Mt 14:8; Mk 6:17-29)
• Revelation 20:4 prophesies Christian persecution by beheading will increase until the return of Jesus. And sadly still today, we see this is a common form of execution by Islamic terrorists. 

Execution by beheading is meant not just for murder but intimidation to warn others to submit or face similar consequence. Ultimately, it’s Satan’s attempt to rebel against the Chief Head of Jesus Christ. Yet, Christians need not fear, for the church has an eternal head with resurrection joy.

All 4 Gospels, the book of Acts, and even Jewish historian Josephus, and other early church fathers, attest to the life of John the Baptizer.  This man stands out significantly that claims of the location of his head is debated by four locations: Syria, Germany, Rome, and France.[1]  Yet, as Christians, our physical bodies can be dismembered, burned, or buried; regardless, we are promised new bodies that will be superior in every way and outshine the moonlight across the ocean tide.

EXAMINE     Living For Something Bigger (Luke 1:57-80; 3:1-22)

Observations about John the Baptizer

#1 John was connected to God’s plan.

• Birth/Life was prophesied by angels Luke 1-2 Angels telling Zechariah & Elizabeth, saying, “you shall call his name John, [and will be like the prophet described by Isaiah & Malachi].
• In utero, John leaped for joy with Jesus in utero between the two respective mothers: Elizabeth & Mary (Lk 1:41-45).
• Lk 1:80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.
• Luke quotes OT prophecy about John Isa 40:3-5; Mal 3:1-2; 4:5-6 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD’… Behold, I will send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before the Lord… he is like a refiner’s fire… [like] Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD; and he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their faithers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction”
• Lk 3:1 the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.  
• Your life is more than a random accident; more than dash from one date to the next.
  You have design for your body and purpose for your life.
• God has spoken. Our world does not need more information but revelation.
  God called John in a physically dry place. God speaks in surprising ways/people/places.

#2 John was a baptizing rockstar.

• Lk 3:7 crowds coming out to be baptized by John
• Mt 3:6 Jerusalem and all Judean region about the Jordan were going out to him to be baptized
• Mk 1:4 John appeared baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance
• Jn 3:23 John was baptizing at Aenon near Salim bc water was plentiful there and people were coming to be baptized
• Ac 19:1-4Paul encountered disciples w/o Holy Spirit and only John’s baptism, not that of Jesus. This reveals you can be around church, baptized, and know faith vocabulary but not be saved or have the Holy Spirit.  

Baptism = “total immersion” as used to describe sinking of a ship^[2]

            *Infant baptism is incomplete: a) performed by parent not person, b) doesn’t cleanse sin

*Ro 6:4 “We were buried with Christ by baptism into death, just as Christ was raised from the dead,
we too might walk in newness of life”

Baptists: bullies? bigots ? NO. We believe Bible / baptize / broadcast gospel / bless neighbors

• If not already, become a believer, get baptized, join a Baptistic church

#3 John was a bold witness.

• Lk 3:3, 7 “John went around proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins… [rebuking] crowds ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ⁹ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.’”
• John didn’t play religious games, but called people to sincere repentance. Calling the religious leaders “vipers” was equating them with Satan’s manipulative tactics of toward God’s words, and mistreatment of people.
  • Religion, by itself, can be misused and turn harmful. But Christianity, historically, has served as the soil for modern views of democracy, equality & diversity, law & justice, love & healing, and even for science & technological advancement.[3] The moral soil the world plants its ideas only exist because God created the dirt. These ideas originate from God’s design not the world’s redefinition of them.  
• Lk 3:10-14“The crowd asked: “What should we do then?” John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

John’s bold witness influenced people from diverse backgrounds: wealthy people challenged toward compassion and generosity / government workers challenged not to be greedy and have integrity / law officers to be honest and just. In all, John didn’t just jab left and punch right[4], he aimed straight at whomever was in front of him. John understood the kingdom of God wasn’t right or left politics but vertical values from God.

Christian’s shouldn’t just jab left and punch right, but should aim straight at whomever is in front of you. The kingdom of God isn’t right or left but vertical. That’s our takeaway from John the baptizer.

Tweet

• Jim Elliot: “Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that [others] must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.”[5]
• There are so many passions and priorities we give voice. Do you give voice for the gospel? For the church? For kingdom values? The point of these questions is not guilt but growth…  
• To be a bold witness and spiritual THERMOSTAT:
  • Time with God informs time & influence with others (John 15:5)
• • Holy character with integrity (Prov 11:3)
• • Encourage over complain or grumbling; positivity is contagious (Php 2:14-16)
• • Responding wisely and gracefully; speaking truth in love (Ep 4:29-31; Col 4:5-6)
• • Meet needs over chasing status / people’s wounds are windows to the gospel
    (Mk 10:45; Php 2:3-10)
• • Overcome evil with good; avoiding anger or bitterness /
     Thermostats don’t match temp but reset it (Ro 12:21)
• • Steward resources for the glory of God (1Pet 4:10)
• • Talk to God (pray) more than gossip or panic. Intentional prayer by name and specificity creates a ripe gospel climate (Php 4:4-8)
• • Align with the church, God’s witness on earth (Mt 16:18-19)
  • Trustworthy and faithful. A consistent witness > energetic witness (Gal 6:9)

“Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that [others] must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.”
– Jim Elliot

#5 John was relentless about Jesus

• Lk 3:15-16“The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. ¹⁶ John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
• Jn 1: 19-23 “They sent priests from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed I am not the Christ. ‘Are you Elijah or the Prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ They said, ‘Tell us who you are. We need to give an answer to those who sent us.’ He said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord.’”
• Jn 1:29 “When John saw Jesus coming toward him, he said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
• Jn 3:25-30 “a discussion arose between John’s disciples [regarding Jesus, whom people are going to for baptism]. John answered, ‘A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven… Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete. Jesus must increase, but I must decrease.”
• For John, there’s no such thing as permanent leadership, only prominent servanthood.
• John understood how to burn like a blazing fire, and then pass the torch to the next. His aim was not the applause of earth but the cause of eternity. John was a spectator of the wedding with Christ as the groom; his work was complete.
• John baptized Jesus “to fulfill all righteousness” (Mt 3:18). John knew that his baptism was of repentance. While Jesus had nothing to repent, he identified w/ human faith in every measure.
• If believers aim to be relentless about Jesus, then we must also be ruthless about repenting of sin and refining the idols of our heart.
  • What consumes almost endless hours of attention?
• • What are you afraid of losing most?
  • Where do you turn for comfort/relief/hope?

Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden heart or quench the Spirit…

#6 John forfeited fame to gain his soul.

• Lk 3:19-20; Mt 14:1-11 “John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison… Years later, Herod had John beheaded.
• John spoke out against the immoral and untrustworthy character of a government leader. But remember, John had disciples, friends, and family that cared deeply for him. It’s likely they encouraged him to preach the gospel but not to meddle into politics, and Herod was the lesser of two evils with Rome being the other. But John’s faith wasn’t compartmentalized, nor was his allegiance the wolf of Rome, the fox of Herod, an elephant or donkey of modern politics but to the lion of Judah and lamb worthy of praise. John forfeited fame for treasure in heaven and sacrificed influence for the eternal echo of joyful souls.  
• Mt 11:11 Jesus says, “Truly, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the baptizer.”
• Envision the end of your time, knowing that you’ll be stepping into eternity. Do you want them with you? Will you choose earthly comfort and personal profit but neglect glorifying God?

APPLY/TAKEAWAY
When John baptized Jesus, a voice from heaven spoke: “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.” The gospel invites you into the loving family of the Father, Son, and Spirit, along with the community of believers.

Identity: We know who we are by knowing who Jesus is.

Belonging: How are you taking ownership as a brother/sister in God’s family?

Purpose: What practical ways are you investing in eternity and storing treasure in heaven?

---

[1] https://www.biblica.com/articles/7-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-john-the-baptist/

^[2] Paige Patterson, “Baptism,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, ed. Chad Brand et al. (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 168. Further, baptism and church membership are not saving (grace-meriting) acts but they are key external indicators of a person’s faith and spiritual growth. Baptism in the NT is not to be isolated from repentance and faith. See: Acts 2:38, 8:12-13, 9:18, 10:47-48, 16:31-33, 18:8, 19:4-5, 22:16

[3] Read Rebecca Mclaughlin Confronting Christianity, Glen Scrivener The Air We Breathe, Carl Trueman Strange New World / Rise & Triumph Of Modern Self. And shameless plug of my sermon series on Cultural Creeds https://growinggodlygenerations.com/?s=cultural+creeds

[4] https://dandarling.substack.com/p/punching-preachers-right-and-left

[5] The Journals of Jim Elliot, ed. Elisabeth Elliot (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1978), 83.