Shoes | Week Five

Shoes | John the Baptist

Matthew 3:1-6 “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” 4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.”

The thing about John is that he wasn’t about John.

John 1:20 “He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

John 1:23b “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

John 1:27 “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

It’s not about me.

John 3:26 “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan – the one you testified about – well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

The line for Jesus’ baptisms is getting longer than the line for John’s baptisms.

John 3:29 “The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine,  and it is now complete.”

John 3:30 “He must become greater; I must become less.”

John’s purpose = Our posture

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Jesus must become greater; I must become less.

Matthew 4:12-13 “When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and live in Capernaum”

Matthew 4:17 “From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Matthew 11:2-5 “When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”

Jesus is alive and well and working

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Even when you don’t see it.

Matthew 11:6 “Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

Matthew 11:11 “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than  John the Baptist.”

Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”