The Forerunner: John the Baptist
By W Huizinga
()
About this ebook
The ministry of John the Baptist remains very relevant for our day and age. The forerunner had to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah. He had much work to do, since the people had wandered far from the ways of the Lord. But this austere prophet with the hairy mantle and his uncompromising message indeed prepared his generation for the coming One whose sandals he was unworthy to loosen.
Today the church, with its prophetic voice, must prepare the world for the coming of the great and awesome Day of the Lord. This will indeed be a day when the axe is laid to the roots of the trees. It will be a day of judgment of cosmic proportions. Jesus wants the world prepared. It is the church’s task to do so.
Thus the study of the ministry of John the Baptist can have many benefits. One is that it prepares ourselves for Christ’s Day, and that it helps us prepare others for that final day of reckoning. At the same time this prophetic voice caused the people to return to the teachings of the covenant, to the messages of the law and the prophets. In doing so this ministry reforms the life of the church and brings true reformation in all areas of life.
W Huizinga
Reverend W Huizinga (b. 25 January 1946) is minister-emeritus of the Free Reformed Church of Armadale, Western Australia. He previously served as minister of the Word in London and Watford Canada (1971-1976), Hamilton, Canada (1976-1986), and Armadale, Western Australia (1986-2011).He is also the author of the pre-profession of faith course The Way.
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The Forerunner - W Huizinga
THE FORERUNNER
John the Baptist
W HUIZINGA
Published by:
Pro Ecclesia Publishers
proecclesia.com.au
and
League of the Free Reformed Women’s Bible Study Societies
PO Box 50, Armadale WA 6992, Australia
Copyright 2013 Pro Ecclesia Publishers
First published in English in 2003
First eBook edition: 2013
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author and publisher.
Cover image:
John the Baptist preaching (1690), by Baciccio (Giovanni Battista Gaulli - 1639-1709).
Contents
Foreword
1. His Identity - Who are You?
- John 1: 19-28
2. The Birth of John - Luke 1:5-25
3. His Message (1) - Repent, for the Kingdom is at hand!
- Luke 3:1-9
4. His Message (2) - Repent, for the Kingdom is at hand!
- Luke 3:10-14
5. A baptism of repentance
- Mark 1:1-8
6. The Baptism of Jesus - Matthew 3:11-17
7. Comparisons and Questions - Are you the coming One?!
- Matthew 11:1-19; Luke 7:18-35
8. The Death of John the Baptist - Herod Antipas beheads John - Mark 6:14-29, Matthew 14:1-12
About the author
About the publisher
Foreword
These outlines, designed for Bible-study clubs, try to address one complete section of the gospels. Since it is very difficult to make a complete set of outlines on one whole gospel, a different approach was taken. It was decided to use the ministry of John the Baptist, covered in the four gospels, and to make a set of outlines on that ministry of Christ’s forerunner. This allows Bible study clubs to cover one section of the gospels. Trying to tackle a whole gospel would normally be too much. Thus the setup.
Some time ago the ministers of the Free Reformed Churches in the Perth metropolitan area offered evening courses. During that time the undersigned also offered some courses, including evenings about John the Baptist’s ministry. Thus some work had been done.
The ministry of John the Baptist remains very relevant for our day and age. The forerunner had to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah. He had much work to do, since the people had wandered far from the ways of the Lord. But this austere prophet with the hairy mantle and his uncompromising message indeed prepared his generation for the coming One whose sandals he was unworthy to loosen.
Today the church, with its prophetic voice, must prepare the world for the coming of the great and awesome Day of the Lord. This will indeed be a day when the axe is laid to the roots of the trees. It will be a day of judgment of cosmic proportions. Jesus wants the world prepared. It is the church’s task to do so.
Thus the study of the ministry of John the Baptist can have many benefits. One is that it prepares ourselves for Christ’s Day, and that it helps us prepare others for that final day of reckoning. At the same time this prophetic voice caused the people to return to the teachings of the covenant, to the messages of the law and the prophets. In doing so this ministry reforms the life of the church and brings true reformation in all areas of life.
May God bless the study of this vital ministry of preparation and bring true reformation of all of life. To the glory of God.
W. Huizinga, Armadale, Western Australia, 2003.
OUTLINE 1
His Identity - Who are You?
John 1:19-28
Background reading – Isaiah 40:1-11
1. What is the background for this passage? Why does the LORD speak of warfare ended
, a pardon
and receiving double for all her sins?
2. There are three voices that cry out in this passage. Sum up those three voices.
3. Concerning the first voice that cries out to prepare the way of the LORD in the wilderness, how is this explained in Isaiah 43:18-21; 49:11? Is this a way for the LORD or one by the LORD for his people?
4. In Isaiah the voice calls for the people to prepare a way for the LORD in the desert. Some translate, a voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the LORD.’
It stresses that people had to leave the cities and go to John. Is this a substantial change?
5. What is the main thought of this passage, the verses 3-5? How does this passage help identify the Baptist?
6. How does the third voice in the verses 9-11 foreshadow the coming of the Good Shepherd?
Outline and commentary – John 1:19-28
1. The ministry of