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JOHN THE BAPTIST PREPARING THE WAY FOR JESUS
Lesson 3 for the 19th of July, 2008
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CALLED BEFORE HE WAS BORN
Elisabeth, his mother, was of the daughters of
Aaron
Zachariah, his father, was priest of the course
of Abia
They were both righteous before God, walking in
all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord
blameless
In the week when he had to hold office according
to the order of his course, it fell to
Zachariahs lot to offer incense in the holy
place of the Temple
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CALLED BEFORE HE WAS BORN
While he was offering incense, angel Gabriel
appeared unto him standing on the right side of
the altar of inciense (token of good news) His
message was Fear not, Zacharias for thy prayer
is heard and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee
a son, and thou shalt call his name John
Johns mission, announced by Gabriel

• He shall be great in the sight of the Lord,
  therefore many shall rejoice at his birth
• He shall drink neither wine nor strong drink
• He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from
  his mother's womb
• Many of the children of Israel shall he turn to
  the Lord
• He shall go before him in the spirit and power of
  Elijah, to turn the hearts
  of the fathers to the children, and the
  disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make
  ready a people prepared for the
  Lord

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CALLED BEFORE HE WAS BORN
Because of Zachariahs incredulity, he remained
deaf and dumb until the day that angels
predictions were performed. When he came out in
order to pray, he couldnt speak to them and he
talked to them by signs. They perceived that he
had seen a vision from God
In due course, Elisabeth conceived and hid
herself five months. In the sixth month she was
visited by Mary, her relative.
When Elisabeth heard about the salutation of
Mary, John leaped in his mothers womb. PRENATAL
INFLUENCE !!
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord
from his mother's womb (Luke, 1 15)
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CALLED BEFORE HE WAS BORN
When the baby was born, his neighbours and
relatives rejoiced with Elisabeth On the eighth
day they came to circumcise the child
When they wanted to call him Zacharias, after the
name of his father, Elisabeth refused to it and
said He shall be called John. Asking Zacharias
about it, he asked for a writing table and wrote
His name is John In that moment, he could speak
and listen again, and praised God
And fear came on all that dwelt round about
them and all these sayings were noised abroad
throughout all the hill country of Judaea. And
all they that heard them laid them up in their
hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this
be! And the hand of the Lord was with him (Luke,
1 65-66)
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PROPHETS PREPARATION THE DESERT
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit,
and was in the deserts till the day of his
shewing unto Israel (Luke, 1 80) What was he
doing during that time of remoteness and
loneliness?

• He devoted himself to
• Study the Word of God, guided by his parents.
• Pray and to fast
• Learn about God through the nature
• He was far away from mens traditions, so he
  could speak about any kind of sin with freedom
• He shaped a firm character, that allowed him to
  speech about the true with power and conviction

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PROPHETS PREPARATION THE DESERT
In the wilderness, John could the more readily
deny himself and bring his appetite under
control, and dress in accordance to natural
simplicity. And there was nothing in the
wilderness that would take his mind from
meditation and prayer. Satan had access to John,
even after he had closed every avenue in his
power through which he would enter. But his
habits of life were so pure and natural that he
could discern the foe, and had strength of spirit
and decision of character to resist him. The book
of nature was open before John with its
inexhaustible store of varied instruction. He
sought the favor of God, and the Holy Spirit
rested upon him, and kindled in his heart a
glowing zeal to do the great work of calling the
people to repentance, and to a higher and holier
life. John was fitting himself, by the privations
and hardships of his secluded life, to so control
all his physical and mental powers that he could
stand among the people as unmoved by surrounding
circumstances as the rocks and mountains of the
wilderness that had surrounded him for thirty
years.
Ellen G. White (Conflict and Courage, page 270)
Consider your own spiritual life properly. Find a
desert where you can spend time getting ready to
the work that God has prepared for you
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REPENT YE FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND
JOHNS MESSAGE
BRING FORTH THEREFORE FRUITS WORTHY OF
REPENTANCE
With this word (metanoéo), John invited his
audience to change their point of view, because
the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus was going to
bring them required a completely new overview
With these words, he meant that they had to
change their behaviour

• He said to people He that hath two coats or
  anything to eat, let him imprat to him that hath
  nothing.
• He said to the publicans Exact no more than that
  which is appointed you.
• He said to the soldiers Do violence to no man,
  neither accuse any falsely and be content with
  your wages.

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ELIJAH
JOHN
WE
He delivered a message of repentance and
reformation to Israel
He delivered a message of repentance and the
beginning of the Kingdom of Heaven
We deliver a message of justification by faith,
worship to god and obedience to the commandments
He prepared the way for Israel to return to God
He prepared the First Coming of Jesus
We prepare the Second Coming of Jesus
He delivered a message of trial to Ahab
He delivered a message of trial to the religious
leader and to the people
We deliver a message of trial to everybody
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In this age, just prior to the second coming of
Christ in the clouds of heaven, such a work as
that of John is to be done. God calls for men who
will prepare a people to stand in the great day
of the Lord. The message preceding the public
ministry of Christ was, Repent, publicans and
sinners repent, Pharisees and Sadducees repent
ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. As a
people who believe in Christs soon coming, we
have a message to bear, - Prepare to meet thy
God. Our message must be as direct as was that
of John. He rebuked kings for their iniquity.
Notwithstanding the peril his life was in, he
never allowed truth to languish on his lips. Our
work in this age must be as faithfully done. In
order to give such a message as John gave, we
must have a spiritual experience like his. The
same work must be wrought in us. We must behold
God, and in beholding Him, lose sight of self.
Ellen G. White (Gospel Workers, page 55)
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