NEW TESTAMENT CHARACTERS

JOHN THE BAPTIST.

BAPTIST
Turn your lives round, the Kingdom of Heaven is here.

NARRATOR
When they confessed their sins, he plunged them into the Jordan as a sign that their old life was dead and new life had begun. Then some Pharisees and Sadducees came, highly respected and very religious people.

BAPTIST
You vipers! Who warned you to run away from God’s approaching anger. Let’s see a real change in your lives. Don’t think you are privileged because you descended from Abraham. God could make Abraham a new lot of descendants out of these stones if He wanted.

Now listen everyone. Someone is coming. Just wait. Someone greater than me. I don’t even deserve to clean His shoes.

I plunge you into water. He will plunge you into Wind and Fire - into the Holy Spirit of God!

* * *

John the Baptist was the only child of ageing parents, but showed no evidence of a spoilt or pampered childhood. He grew up tough, lived in the wild, and when he did become a public figure it was with a fiery message. In a society without media, he drew crowds. He did not even go to their cities, the people came to hear him, out in the wild.

Preachers then were sometimes heavy and theological, sometimes popular and shallow. John was simple and direct. He demanded change - repent - turn your lives round! He demanded simple direct righteousness rather than abstract theory - Roman soldiers served an evil regime but John did not call them to renounce it. He merely told them not to bully, oppress or take bribes. Such commands were within their power to keep, privately as individuals.

He offended the religious leaders in two ways - by demanding repentance from those who considered themselves righteous and by accepting the repentance of outcasts. Three years later Jesus would still be preaching to the self-righteous that “The prostitutes and traitors who repented when John preached will go into the kingdom of Heaven ahead of you.”

John’s other message was of the coming Messiah. He claimed to have come to prepare the way. That was all.

John gathered disciples, among whom were Andrew and John, possibly also Peter and James and Zebedee, Philip and Nathaniel. Probably also Matthias (Acts 1:21-23).

When Jesus came to him to be baptised, John’s work was nearly over. There followed, first the forty days that Jesus was away in the wilderness, then the short period that Jesus spent on His first campaign in Judea (John 2-4). Soon after that John was arrested by Herod.

* * *

PHARISEE
Rabbi, you remember that man you told us about, well He is baptising too and everyone is going to Him.

BAPTIST
Good. You didn’t think I’d be jealous did you. We can each receive only what is given us from Heaven. Remember I told you I am not the Messiah but came to make people ready for Him.

I am like the best man at a wedding, full of joy for my friend the bridegroom - but He is the one with the bride. He must increase. I must decrease.

I come from Earth and can only speak from Earth. He comes from Heaven, speaks from Heaven, and yet people don’t receive what He tells them. Those who do, are lining themselves up with God.

NARRATOR
John’s work was nearly over. He had made an enemy of Herod by speaking against his adultery with his sister-in-law, among other evils. Herod now added to those evils by having John arrested and put in prison.

* * *

It is noticeable that each time Jesus heard news concerning John the Baptist He reacted to it. He cut short His first campaign in Judea because He heard that people were comparing His popularity with John’s - to John’s detriment (John 4:1-3). John had declared that Jesus was the greater, but Jesus took care not to overshadow the Baptist. He returned to Galilee and the group of disciples was briefly disbanded. Only after the Baptist was put in prison did Jesus begin His main work in Galilee (Mark 1:14).

Luke 7 tells how seriously he took a message from John. Still in prison the Baptist sent to Jesus for reassurance, and Jesus took time and trouble to make sure he had it - not just an answer but a demonstration. Then Jesus preached about John, affirming him in the strongest terms.

Finally when Jesus heard the news of the Baptist’s death He tried (not very successfully) to get away with His disciples for a time of peace and recovery. Clearly John meant much to Jesus. Before long Jesus had left the base at Capernaum, bringing to an end His highly successful work in Galilee, entering a more dangerous and unsettled phase of His life in which He openly challenged Herod, preaching close to his residence and refusing to go away when warned that Herod wanted to kill Him. Indeed the final year of Christ’s public life might be described as His response to Herod’s action in killing John.

Did these distant relatives know each other before they began their work?
In John 1:29-34 the Baptist states clearly that he had not realised Jesus was Messiah until his vision after Jesus’ baptism; but it is hard to believe that Mary never introduced the boys to each other. Her own relationship with Elizabeth, her knowledge of the circumstances of John’s birth and the fact the Gabriel had mentioned him when he first came to her - these all combine to give her good reason to make sure Jesus knew John. If John was late realising who Jesus was, Jesus almost certainly knew from Mary what John’s role was to be.

Herald of The Messiah.
John was called to be the Messiah’s announcer and forerunner. He was born six months before Jesus, he began preaching before Him, he went to prison and death before Him.

His three best known statements still point to Christ.
John said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
He said, “He shall baptise you in the Holy Spirit and fire.”
He said, “He must increase and I must decrease.”

References - John the Baptist:
Birth Luke 1:5-80
Ministry Matthew 3:1-17 Mark 1:2-14 Luke 3:1-22 John 1:6-40
Conversation with Pharisee John 3:22-36
Message to Jesus from Prison Matthew 11:1-9 Luke 7:18-35
Death Matthew 14:1-12 Mark 6:14-29