November 19 | By Faith John the Baptist Prepared the Way for Jesus

Series | The Life of Amazing Faith

Scripture | Luke 1:17, “And he will 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 for the Lord a people prepared.”

Lesson 19 | By Faith John the Baptist Prepared the Way for Jesus

John the Baptist (which means he “baptized” people in water for repentance) was blessed with the honor of being the forerunner to Jesus’ incarnation and earthly ministry.  He was given to his mother Elizabeth and father Zechariah as a miracle child based on the prophetic words of an angelic visitation- similar to that of Samson, Luke 1:5-25. 

The angel that visited his parents proclaimed God’s plan for his life and that he was to be set apart and used mightily for the Lord according to the prophecy in Malachi 4:5-6, “5 See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”

The Bible describes him living in the wilderness eating locusts and wild honey while wearing clothes made from camels hair with a leather belt around his waist, Mark 1:6.  When he began his ministry he was like a wild brush fire that set the Judean countryside ablaze with the message of repentance and water baptism, Luke 3:7-9!

Not only was he a man with amazing boldness and courage, but also he was extremely humble and aware of his secondary role to Jesus in the plan of God.  Mark 1:7 states, “And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.”  Thus, John was able to “stay in his lane” and not take what wasn’t his.  And because of his great humility he was given the honor of baptizing Jesus, Matthew 3:13-17.

As we see Jesus’ second coming approaching quickly in these last days may we all have the same faith of John the Baptist to go out into the world and preach the message of repentance and baptize all those who believe, Matthew 28:19.  I also pray that we can have the same humility of John to say, “He [Jesus] must become greater; I must become less.”

Reflection | Are you preparing the way for the second coming of Jesus by preaching the gospel?

Action | (1) Be filled with the Holy Spirit to be a witness for Jesus unto the ends of the earth, Acts 1:8. (2) Preach the message of repentance and faith in Jesus (the Gospel) as often as you can. (3) Lastly, by faith, never stop making Jesus’ name great and preparing for His return!

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Ezekiel 39:1-40:27, James 2:18-3:18, Psalm 118:1-18, & Proverbs 28:2. Click here to read online.