Lesson 2530

(Lesson 2530)(11-23-18) Luke 7:24-29
    “And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.”

    In today’s quote, Jesus gave very high praise to John the baptist, saying “Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist”. We are also therein reminded of John’s divine mission, which was to, speaking of Jesus, “prepare thy way before thee”.
   There is another very important lesson to be taken from today’s quote. That lesson concerns the meaning and intent of the phrase “the baptism of John”. That phrase does indeed imply that those who accepted John’s message were immersed in water as per Torah (Old Testament) law and tradition; However, The Phrase “the baptism of John” also, and in my opinion most importantly, refers to the message John taught. Therefore, when we read that phrase in scripture, we should not automatically connect it only to water bapism (immersion) but, more broadly, and I believe most importantly, to the divine message John was sent to teach, which was, “prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His path straight”. (Mark 1:3) I believe that when that phrase was used in today’s quote, it was intended it to imply that John’s followers had believed his message.
    What I’ve said here will be further borne out as these lessons continue. ~