THE KING’S BUSINESS
62
Son of God, the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost, when He came. John patiently waited until this sign was given; he did not speak until he had God’s own certifica tion. He knew that One was to be made manifest, therefore he came baptizing with water, preparing the way for this One (cf. Matt. 3:6). As soon as he saw the appointed sign that Jesus was the. Son of- God and the One who baptized with the Holy Ghost, viz., the Holy Spirit descend ing and abiding upon Him, John gave his testimony. The descent of the Spirit upon Jesus was not a mere subjective experience seen only by Jesus Himself (cf. Matt. 3:16; Luke 3:22), but an objective fact witnessed, by John as well as Jesus. John is not the real baptizer, Jesus is thè real baptizer, for He baptizes with the Holy Ghost and fire (cf. Matt. 3:11; John 3:34, R.V.; Acts 10:44-47; 19:2-6). The Baptizer with the Spirit.is the great Baptizer, the one Bap tizer that unites all believers into one body (Eph. 4:4, S; cf. 1 Cor. 12:13), and Jesus, and Jesus only, is He that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. As the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost John also recognizes Jesus as “the Son of God.” He is the Son of God, because begotten of God (Luke 1:35), and because He possessed all the attributes of the Father (Heb. 1:3; Phil. 2:6, R.V. ; Col. 2:9; cf. John 14:9), and is to be honored, even as the Father is 1 honored (John 5:23). In denying that he was. the Christ or Elijah, what spirit did John manifest? John 16:13. To what did John testify concerning himself? Luke 1:16> 17. What was he prophesied to be like? Luke 1:76-79. Was he foretold as a voice? Luke 3:4. What was the work assigned him? Isa. 40:3-5. Was John dispensationally between the Law and the Gospel ? v. 17. Had the Jews‘warrant in looking for a prophet? Deut. 18:15, 16. OUTLINE ( 2 ) T he Faithful Witness.
Jesus Christ is the husband of the church (cf. 2 Cor. 11:2). v. 31. “And I knew Him not: but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come (for this cause came I) baptizing with water." There need be no difficulty with John’s statement, “I knew Him not,” even though John the Bap tist was a cousin of the Lord Jesus. John the Baptist lived in Judea, Jesus in Galilee, and though Jesus had gone .up to the Passover, it is likely that in the great crowds He did not meet John. But prob ably what John means js that he did not know Him as the coming Messiah. vs. 32-34. “And John bare record (wit ness), saying, I saw (I have beheld) the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, (as a dove out of heaven;) and it'abode upon Him. And I knew Him not: but He that sent me; to baptize with water, the same (He) said unto me, Upon whom (whomsoever) thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on (abiding upon) Him, the same is He which (that) baptizeth with the Holy Ghost (Spirit). And I saw (have seen), and bare record (Jtave borne witness) that this is the Son of God.” Though John did not know Jesus as the coming Messiah, He that com missioned John in the wilderness to be the forerunner of the coming One had given him a sign whereby he should know the ( 1 ) T he Force of Testimony. Who was John the Baptist? Matt. 3:1-4. What did Jesus say of him? Matt. 11:10. What was the effect .of his testimony? Matt. 3 :S. , Of what does a witness testify? To what was Paul commanded to testify? Acts 26:16. To what were the disciples charged to witness ? . Acts 1: 8 . . What illustration have we recently had of the power of testimony? Acts 26:28. What effect had the testimony of Stephen? Acts 22:19-21. LESSON
Made with FlippingBook Online document