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RUSSELL SANDERS
4-29-2022
JOHN THE BAPTIST – LESSON 5 OF 5
HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY – PART 3
John baptized people by full immersion under water. The people understood this as a cleansing and a purification process to cleanse a person from anything unholy. Even the high priest would be immersed into the water, then clothed in white, before he could enter the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement. Only then could he enter that most holy place containing the ark of the covenant and God’s presence. Jesus also was to be immersed in the water as he was ready to begin his ministry. Even though he had no sin, it was needful to show ritual purification as a public witness.
That is why Jesus walked about seventy miles from his home territory to where John was baptizing people. We read in Matthew 3:13-15 that when Jesus arrived that John immediately recognized who he was. Jesus wished to be baptized but John recognized him as one with higher authority in the Spirit than himself. He initially refused to baptize Jesus, saying rather that he needed to be baptized by Jesus to purify himself of his own sins.
In verse 15 (NKJV) Jesus replied with, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting (appropriate) to fulfill all righteousness” according to scriptural precedent. John understood that, so he baptized Jesus. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus and God audibly announced His Son. This officially introduced Jesus’ public ministry and technically closed John’s public ministry.
Even though John’s job was now complete, he did not stop public ministry. He determined to continue doing, preaching against sin, and calling for repentance. This ended up causing his death. His death? How so? He angered King Herod II by calling him an adulterer publicly. It was true but it did not stop Herod from arresting and imprisoning him. It ended John’s ministry once and for all.
What was Herod’s adultery that John broadcast? Herod had taken his half-brother Philip’s wife Herodias and married her. He stole his brother’s wife which is adultery, making Herodias his own wife. Herodias was the granddaughter of Herod the Great and therefore a niece to Herod Antipas. She was angered by John’s accusations and condemnation of their marriage. She ultimately was responsible for Herod’s beheading of John.
John had been either unwilling or unable to realize his call was finished. By prolonging it, it brought confusion to him and his loyal disciples who he had sent to Jesus to inquire as to whether he was the Messiah. Jesus told his disciples to tell John what they saw and heard Jesus do.
We need to recognize when God calls us to a certain task to be faithful to perform it. We also need to recognize when that task is complete to let go of it. Failure to “let go” often leads to no good end.
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