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EVER WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO JOHN THE BAPTIST

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WHY BAPTISTS DON’T FOLLOW JOHN THE BAPTIST

By Ken Blue
The pages of Matthew and mark start out blazing with the ministry of John the Baptist. He is among the prophets, is the greatest born of women and has a unique ministry. Although 400 years of silence has elapsed, John, Jesus, and the Twelve are still operating under the Old Testament Covenant. There is not one word of proof to the contrary.

Mary and Joseph offered sacrifices as prescribed by the Law, at His birth. He was careful to obey the Law during His earthly ministry. “And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city” Nazareth. Luke 2:39. He said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Matthew 5:17-18. The sacrificial and ceremonial Laws was not fulfilled until He died on the cross and said, “It is finished.” Here is where the Law ended! “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” Colossians 2:14. To pretend that the Law ended before the cross is unscriptural and dishonest. (Matt. 5:23, 40; 7:12, 8. Luke 10:26; 16:17.

After Jesus had chosen His Twelve, Peter became the central figure and was always in the inner circle of our Lord’s work. However, after Acts 15:7 Peter never shows up again! There are 28 chapters in Acts; wonder what happened to Peter?

Paul says of John, “When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. Acts 13:24-25. Like Peter, John the Baptist is also forgotten and left behind.

Did you ever notice when the Corinthians were choosing up sides to name their favorite leader, none mentioned John the Baptist! “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:12. Ever wonder why no one claimed John as their leader and teacher? If John is the founder of the Church, isn’t it rather peculiar that no one claimed to follow Him? In fact, the only one who claimed to follow John was Apollos, and he did it ignorantly and had to be corrected by Paul! See Acts 18:24-26.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]John fulfilled his ministry by presenting Christ to Israel, and his followers to Christ.[/perfectpullquote]

The answer is simple. John fulfilled his ministry by presenting Christ to Israel, and his followers to Christ. Peter’s apostolic leadership ended with Israel’s final rejection of Christ. Jerusalem, the temple, the Law, the sacrifices, and the nation were being set aside and a new man and ministry were being introduced by Luke in the second half of Acts. That man was the Apostle Paul.

John the Baptist’s ministry and that of Peter came to a close in the mid-Acts period. (John was killed during the Lord’s earthly ministry; however, some of his followers continued his teachings in ignorance of the change taking place).The new Apostle had a new ministry, a new sphere, and a new gospel. “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:11-12. “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:” Ephesians 3:1-6.( The “holy apostles and prophets” were the companions of Paul. They were not the Twelve. (Acts 14:4,14. Rom. 16:7. I Cor. 1:1; 4:6, 9. Gal.1:1. I Thess.1:1,6,9; 2:4,6).

So, what happened to John and Peter? They were left behind when it became evident that Israel was not going to repent. The nation and all associated with their Kingdom of Heaven ministry ended, and a NEW MAN was born! “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;” Ephesians 2:15. Where did Peter and John go? Their ministry was finished when God set the nation of Israel aside. Now you know.

SAMSON, THE SUCCESSFUL FAILURE

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GOD’S PLAN FOR SAMSON

By Ken Blue

“And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.” Judges 16:30-31.

The parents of Samson had to be delighted and proud of their little boy. The nature of the announcement by the Angel of the Lord, and the fact that he was a Nazarite from his birth must have kindled all manner of hopes in their heart.

But Samson was a paradox and an enigma. He had the power of God upon his life, in spite of the times he broke the Nazarite vow or disobeyed Old Testament Scripture. He was a man of great faith and is named among those in Faith’s Hall of Fame, in Hebrews 11.

God had a plan for Samson to deliver Israel from Philistine oppression. We are confident that Samson was unaware of that plan. However, one thing we learn is that God can take man’s failures and disobedience and use them to accomplish His overall plan. God’s will was to deliver Israel from the Philistines. Samson seemed to care less that he lived under slavery and idolatry. His only revenge on the Philistines was for their mistreatment of him. He would get even.

First of all, he married a Philistine woman. This must have severely grieved his parents. But, that did not matter to him for he said, “Get her for me.” That short marriage ended in disaster and death to many, including his wife and her family.

Then we find him spending the night with a harlot in Gaza. She, no doubt betrayed him and informed the Philistines of his presence. Then there was another woman by the name of Delilah. She too, would betray Samson for a large sum of money and deliver him to the Philistines to be put to death. It is obvious that Samson had serious moral and women problems. Evidently, none of them loved him.

Samson broke his Nazarite vow when he touched the dead lion and the jawbone of an ass. Only one prayer of his is recorded, and God answered it. Also, his vow was broken when his hair was cut. It was at this point “…he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.” Judges 16:20.

What a sad story. Here he is, the great Samson, who could have done so much more for the Lord. His head is shaved, he is bound like an animal, and his eyes have been gouged out. He is as helpless as a child. All the lords of the Philistines have gathered at the great coliseum to celebrate and praise their God, Dagon and be entertained by the enemy of their nation.

A youth leads Samson from his place of confinement. He asks the young man to allow him to lean against the pillars that support the coliseum. It is there, Samson calls upon the Lord to avenge his two eyes and let him die with the Philistines. This was Samson’s last act, and he brought the house down.

There are many lessons that could be learned from the life of Samson, but it is enough to know that God’s plan and purpose will be accomplished. Therefore, Christian, do not fret about the enemy or how it appears things in life are going. God is in charge and his purpose is right on track and on time. Let us be sure that we do not abuse the power and position granted us. We should not overlook all the sorrow Samson must have brought to his family and friends.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COVENANT AND A TESTAMENT

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By Ken Blue

“Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;” Romans 9:4.

There is much disagreement and misunderstanding among Christians concerning a covenant and a testament. There need not be the confusion, and much will disappear when we have a clear understanding of the two words and how they are used in the Bible.

First, we will consider the word, “covenant.” It is used throughout the Old Testament, and our text in Romans states that pertained to Israel; seeing that most of the Old Testament Scriptures are about them.

The first use of the word is with Noah. “But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee”. Genesis 6:18. (See Gen. 9:9,11,12,13,15,16,17).

The next use of the word covenant concerns Abraham and the Promised Land. “In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:” Genesis 15:18. The covenant promises of the land to Israel are too numerous for us to list them here.

At Mount Sinai, God gave the Law to Israel and it was there they entered into a contract with God that they would obey His laws. These were written in a book, which was called the covenant. “And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.” Exodus 24:7-8. God’s future dealings with Israel were based upon their agreement to keep this covenant. He told them clearly what the results of obedience or disobedience would be. (See Lev. 26).

We find covenants made between men and men, between men and women, and between tribes and nations. These are promises and agreements made with others to fulfill their word. God made a covenant with Himself concerning Abraham. (See Heb. 6:13).

The Covenant made to Moses and Israel concerned the Law and was testified to by the shedding of the blood of animals. “And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.” Exodus 24:7-8.

Keep in mind that the covenant was the agreement between God and Israel, whereas, the blood was the testimony of their agreement. This is why it is called the testament. It testified to the solemnity of the agreement.

God promised Israel that in the latter days He would establish a New Covenant with THEM. “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:31-34.

The Christian should read and reread those verses until it becomes clear that the covenant is made with ISRAEL and not with his Gentile church. Since Israel rejected Christ at His first coming, most Christians have ignorantly spiritualized the New Covenant and stolen it for themselves. This New Covenant still awaits fulfillment at the Second Advent! The only thing that has been accomplished concerning it is that the BLOOD THAT RATIFIES IT HAS BEEN SHED AS A TESTAMENT! We will say more about that later.

Most covenants in Scripture and in secular life do not require blood. Therefore, it is important to remember that the two; a covenant and a testament, are not the same.

What is a Testament? No doubt you already see the difference; however, I have gone to the original Oxford English Dictionary for some uses and definitions.

“1880 Muirhead Ulpian xx. §1 A testament is the testification of our will, in the form prescribed by law, made solemnly, on purpose that it may be effectual after our death.”
” Ibid. §27 Where an executor named by the deceased is authorized by the Judge, it is called the confirmation of a testament-testamentary; and when the Judge confers the office of executor upon a person of his own nomination, it is styled the confirmation of a testament-dative. 1838 in W. Bell Dict. Law Scot.”
“In Christian Latin use of testQmentum. Orig. a misuse of the word, arising from the fact that Gr. diah–jg, ‘disposition, arrangement’, was applied both to a covenant (pactum, fœdus) between parties, and to a testament or will (testamentum). Prob. largely due to the use of diah–jg (in the sense ‘covenant’) in the account of the Last Supper immediately before Christ’s death, and its consequent association with the notion of a last will or testament.”
“1766 Blackstone Comm. II. xxiii. 376 That all devises of lands and tenements shall not only be in writing, but signed by the testator.
“Hence te”statorship, the position or office of a testator; “testatory a., pertaining to or of the nature of evidence.”
“To bear witness, to testify, to attest.”

Now, here is where the confusion comes in. When Jesus was in the room with His disciples, He was introducing to them the promised New Covenant. He was preparing them for the shedding of His blood, which would be the testament, witness, evidence or signature to the New Covenant God had promised. Since Jesus is God, He not only gave the covenant promise to Israel, He ratified it with His OWN BLOOD!

He would be returning to heaven for an unspecified period of time. In His absence, they were to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom and observe the Lords Supper till He returned. At His return, the New Covenant aspect would be implemented.
The church today gets the benefits of the TESTAMENT, or His blood. It paid for our sins, but the New Covenant promise was to Israel only.

Thus, a covenant is an agreement between two parties and does not require blood. The testament was a testification of a will, in the form prescribed by law, made solemnly, on purpose that it may be effectual after ones death. It assures that all devises of lands and tenements shall not only be in writing, but signed by the testator. A testament is to bear witness, to testify, and to attest. Thus, Jesus signed, as a testament, the promise of the NEW COVENANT to Israel, with His own blood. “The covenant must be made by sacrifice (Psalm 50:5), because, since man has sinned, and forfeited his Creator’s favor, there can be no fellowship by covenant till there be first friendship and atonement by sacrifice.” (Matthew Henry Commentary).

FATHERS, SONS, AND SINS

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Who’s sins are they anyway?

By Ken Blue

“Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;” Exodus 20:5.

This passage is repeated three other times in the Pentateuch: Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, and Deuteronomy 5:9. It is always associated with Israel and their Law. It was national rather than personal.

The warning was against the idolatry in the land of Canaan and the sins associated with it. For that list, read Leviticus 18:1-30. We need not think that God’s judgment would cease after the fourth generation if future generations continued their evil idolatrous practices. In other words, God’s wrath would continue as long as their sinful behavior continued. If one repented, he would find God to be a merciful God.

Another possible interpretation is seen in the case of Achan, who had stolen items forbidden for Israel to take. Yet, his entire family and all he had were executed. See Joshua 7:24. It was not uncommon for families of three or four generations to live in one tent or house. Sin brought judgment on the entire family. The execution of the whole family was not always carried out, and it will be eliminated under Israel’s new covenant. See Jer. 31:29, 30; Eze. 18:2.

Occasionally, we meet believers who think they are being punished because of the sins of their great, great, great grandfathers. This is not the case, nor is that the intent of the text. It is sad to see many parents who think sickness, deformity or the death of their child is their fault. In some case, it may be, but usually, it is not. These parents spend the rest of their life in guilt and self-abasement. But, we must understand that each person makes up his or her own mind to rebel or live for God.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Many of God’s choice servants have descended from the worst of parents, and many of the most wicked men and women have had godly parents.[/perfectpullquote]

We are told clearly that it was not the sins of the parents that caused the blindness of the man in John’s gospel. “ And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” John 9:1-3. Still, the nation was under the heel of Rome.

The facts are that many of God’s choice servants have descended from the worst of parents, and many of the most wicked men and women have had godly parents. If anyone turns out to be a vessel God can and will use, it is only by His grace!

Raise your children the best you can under the influence of godly people and a good church. Then pray that they will listen and live for the Lord. But, don’t beat yourself up, blaming yourself, or your great grandfather for your behavior of that of your children. We all have a free will, and we make our own choices. Let us pray that they will be the right ones.

JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THE LAMB OF GOD

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JOHN’S UNDERSTANDING OF JESUS’ DEATH

By Ken Blue

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29.

Recently a dear lady sent an email asking if John the Baptist might have understood that Jesus would die on the cross since he called Him the Lamb of God. It is my firm conviction that neither John nor anyone else believed that Jesus would die. In fact, all four gospels indicate that none of them understood this Old Testament truth.

John was greater than all the prophets, in that he had the distinct responsibility and privilege of preparing a remnant of Jews for the promised King and the kingdom. His message was clear, “Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins; the King is coming and the kingdom is at hand.”

Everything John believed and preached was that Jesus was Israel’s King and that the kingdom would soon follow their repentance and reception of Him. It never occurred to John that Jesus would be rejected by Israel or be crucified. This is why, when he was in prison, he asks “are you the one we should look for or should we look for another?” Nothing was going as John expected.

When he referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God, he was not thinking of His sacrificial death, but rather, of His purity and righteousness to lead Israel to victory against their gentile enemies. This is what all believing Jews understood.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]John probably died a perplexed and confused follower of Jesus Christ.[/perfectpullquote]

Zaharias the prophet proclaimed the expectation of Israel when he said, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: 71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. 76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:68-79.

When John spoke of Him “taking away the sin of the world” he was expecting that to happen in his lifetime. He is not speaking of His death on the cross. However, because of Israel’s refusal to repent, that event is reserved until the Second Advent and the end of the Kingdom. It will be during that time, sin will be taken away from the world. Satan, the Antichrist, the false prophet, and all the wicked, will be “taken away” by the wrath of the Lamb of God.

Paul never called Jesus a lamb or the lamb. That distinction is reserved for Israel. We read more in Revelation about the Lamb than anywhere in Scripture. The wicked, who are about to be expelled say, “And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:” Revelation 6:16. “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:” Revelation 14:10. This is the context of the comment by John.

It has been made clear to us, and it will be to Israel (Isa. 53) in the future, that the Lamb also had to die. But, that truth was not understood by anyone in John’s day, and most orthodox Jews do not see it today. Note the conversation on the Emmaus Road. “And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:19-27.

These two demonstrate exactly what other believing Jews expected, and how they felt. Note the words “should have redeemed Israel.” The redemption Israel expected did not include a sacrifice, rather it meant the renewing and reclaiming Israel’s kingdom, as spoken by the prophets. The redemption was deliverance from gentile dominion.

This is why John asks the question, in doubt, “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” Matthew 11:3. Even though Jesus sent abundant evidence in His answer, John probably died a perplexed and confused follower of Jesus Christ.