The Message of the Baptist
By Richard P. Joseph
I love how Rush Limbaugh jokingly calls himself a “lovable, harmless fuzz ball”.
This jest is to tease the liberals because they realize he is really a ferocious lion
defending the conservative cause. Unfortunately most Christians see Jesus in
the form of the jest rather than as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah”. So, how was
Jesus actually described?
This jest is to tease the liberals because they realize he is really a ferocious lion
defending the conservative cause. Unfortunately most Christians see Jesus in
the form of the jest rather than as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah”. So, how was
Jesus actually described?
Since this subject could take volumes, I am only concerned here with a short
description of his basic mission, not necessarily his entire life and meaning.
John the Baptist was commissioned to introduce the messiah and his was more
of a warning rather than just a lovable, harmless, fuzz ball like most preachers
make him out to be. John’s message was consistent with what Jesus said as
he began his mission:
description of his basic mission, not necessarily his entire life and meaning.
John the Baptist was commissioned to introduce the messiah and his was more
of a warning rather than just a lovable, harmless, fuzz ball like most preachers
make him out to be. John’s message was consistent with what Jesus said as
he began his mission:
Mark 1:15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God [g]is at
hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Jesus is making it clear that there is going to be a change in the order of things.
He is telling them that it is the fullness of time for what the Jews have always
expected and that the actual kingdom of God is going to be revealed. He also
tells them to repent. In other words they were doing something wrong and
needed to turn from their error. John came preaching the exact same thing.
He is telling them that it is the fullness of time for what the Jews have always
expected and that the actual kingdom of God is going to be revealed. He also
tells them to repent. In other words they were doing something wrong and
needed to turn from their error. John came preaching the exact same thing.
John freely received those that were coming to him with a repentant heart
and was baptizing them. However, when he saw the Pharisees and
Sadducees coming he switched from forgiveness mode to judgement
mode. The first thing he did was call them a brood of vipers. The priests
were those that should have been shepherding the flock and protecting
them but instead they lorded it over the people and spread their
poisonous venom deep into society. John then asked “Who warned you
to flee from the wrath to come”. This is where the real mission of Jesus
becomes clear. Jesus clearly came to give his life as a ransom for many.
That was the greatest display of love one can possibly give. And as
Jesus was freeing some from sin and condemnation, he was about to
judge those that were the cause of that sin.
and was baptizing them. However, when he saw the Pharisees and
Sadducees coming he switched from forgiveness mode to judgement
mode. The first thing he did was call them a brood of vipers. The priests
were those that should have been shepherding the flock and protecting
them but instead they lorded it over the people and spread their
poisonous venom deep into society. John then asked “Who warned you
to flee from the wrath to come”. This is where the real mission of Jesus
becomes clear. Jesus clearly came to give his life as a ransom for many.
That was the greatest display of love one can possibly give. And as
Jesus was freeing some from sin and condemnation, he was about to
judge those that were the cause of that sin.
John carried on by demanding the priests show real fruits worthy of
repentance which most of them could not produce. They could no longer
use their lineage from Abraham as a shield as they would soon find out
would become obsolete as gentiles would soon be infused into the
kingdom putting an end to Israel only as a source of their personal
salvation. God truly did raise up sons of Abraham from the very stones
that were once caste out as unclean. Then John makes it clear by telling
them that even now the axe is laid to the root of the tree. This is not a
mear trimming of the branches, it is the removal of the very problem
entirely. And as John said “even now” which means “now” not later.
repentance which most of them could not produce. They could no longer
use their lineage from Abraham as a shield as they would soon find out
would become obsolete as gentiles would soon be infused into the
kingdom putting an end to Israel only as a source of their personal
salvation. God truly did raise up sons of Abraham from the very stones
that were once caste out as unclean. Then John makes it clear by telling
them that even now the axe is laid to the root of the tree. This is not a
mear trimming of the branches, it is the removal of the very problem
entirely. And as John said “even now” which means “now” not later.
It now becomes clear that everything Jesus did was in love but it was
also in justice also. His mission was not to bring in a new philosophy or a
new religion. He is not some religious leader with a plan on how to
prosper or get rich. He did not come to show us a better way. He came
because he is the way. He paid the price of sin for all that would accept
his gift but he also came to finalize and consummate his plan of
redemption which includes punishment and judgement. Jesus is a warrior
and a king, a judge and an executioner. He put to death the burden of the
law and raised up a church that could never fail. His job began in AD 30
and was consummated in AD 70. His kingdom has no end. My point
being is that Jesus had a mission that far exceeds what is taught about
him. There is a magnificent history to be learned and taught about that
brief historical period when Jesus died and rose, and the next forty years
in which he took vengeance on those that rejected the truth. The axe was
laid to the root of the tree and the tree fell with a mighty crash. This took
love and it took war. It took gentleness and it took might. It took his blood
and the blood of many more. For truly, there is a time for every season;
even a time to die and a time to live, a time of war and a time of peace.
also in justice also. His mission was not to bring in a new philosophy or a
new religion. He is not some religious leader with a plan on how to
prosper or get rich. He did not come to show us a better way. He came
because he is the way. He paid the price of sin for all that would accept
his gift but he also came to finalize and consummate his plan of
redemption which includes punishment and judgement. Jesus is a warrior
and a king, a judge and an executioner. He put to death the burden of the
law and raised up a church that could never fail. His job began in AD 30
and was consummated in AD 70. His kingdom has no end. My point
being is that Jesus had a mission that far exceeds what is taught about
him. There is a magnificent history to be learned and taught about that
brief historical period when Jesus died and rose, and the next forty years
in which he took vengeance on those that rejected the truth. The axe was
laid to the root of the tree and the tree fell with a mighty crash. This took
love and it took war. It took gentleness and it took might. It took his blood
and the blood of many more. For truly, there is a time for every season;
even a time to die and a time to live, a time of war and a time of peace.
Matthew 3:12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly
clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He
will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He
will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
This is the part of the story that is seldom told in church.
