Recap and Intro We now explore the fourth sequential section, revealing Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Old Covenant. Jesus provided new wine, implying He surpasses the best Judaism can provide (John 2:10). He showed Himself as the Temple’s fulfillment and what took place there (John 2:29-21). He revealed He, who came from heaven, fulfilled […]
John: Lesson 4: Jesus’ Early Ministry: John the Baptizer and the Samaritan Woman (John 3:22-4:26)
April 29, 2018 by
John 1:6-9, 15: No Longer Need We Fear
December 17, 2017 by
In life, we face many tormentors, whether in school or those of the spiritual kind—sin and shame, guilt and blame. The worst tyrant in town is the Devil, who is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). With His deceit and slander, He seeks to destroy us, taking all the children of men […]
Luke 3:15-22: Baptized for You to Fulfill All Righteousness
January 10, 2016 by
When Jesus came the Jordan River for John to baptize Him, the entire Old Covenant came face to face with its Fulfillment. Every saving act of God, from Noah’s flood to the Red Sea, to the Temple sacrifices of atonement, came head to head with the Person to whom they pointed. Those events in the […]
Matthew 11:12-19: Reformation Sermon
October 25, 2015 by
It’s damned if you and damned if you don’t. That’s our Lord’s lament for today. God had sent John the Baptizer to prepare the way for Jesus. He preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John came, singing a funeral dirge: “Die to yourself. It’s in the water where you find life […]
Matthew 3:13-17: The Baptism of Our Lord
January 25, 2015 by
As Christians, we usually point to Jesus’ death on the cross and say, “That’s why I’m saved.” And, yet, we often miss that we could just as easily point to Jesus in the water of the Jordan River and say the same: “There is my salvation, forgiveness, and life!” But how can we say that? […]
John 1:19-28: Not the Messiah We are Expecting
December 21, 2014 by
Many folks like to talk about themselves, whether they will admit it or not. Such talk can even be a sign of our fallen nature having its way in our lives. Such talk reveals that life is about me–not others, not God, or not even about God for me. But John the Baptizer acted differently. […]
Matthew 11:2-15
December 15, 2013 by
John the Baptizer’s disciples knew about depression and darkness. They had heard their teacher point them to Jesus, proclaiming Him as the long-awaited Messiah. When they complained to John that Jesus was drawing larger crowds, John told them, “He must increase and I must decrease” (John 3:30). And when John confronted Herod and challenged him […]
John 1:19-28: Repent!
December 23, 2012 by
So, there was John the Baptizer living up to his name and baptizing! And the Jewish leadership of his day was chafing in discomfort because of it. So, they confronted him: “Why are you baptizing?” We can also ask, “Yes, John, why are you baptizing?” For 2,000 years later, we’re clueless about those baptisms taking […]
The Nativity (Birth) of St. John the Baptizer
June 25, 2012 by
John the Baptizer’s dad, Zechariah, is mute. He can’t speak, for when the angel Gabriel had told him that he would have a son, he did not believe. He was too old. His wife, Elizabeth, had already gone through menopause. So, of course he didn’t believe. And so, God judged the lips that denied His […]
Sunday, June 24th: The Nativity of St. John the Baptizer
June 16, 2012 by
On Sunday, June 24th, we will celebrate the Nativity (birth) of St. John the Baptizer. St. John the Baptizer, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, was born into a priestly family. An angel of the Lord announced his forthcoming birth to his father (Luke 1:5-23), and shortly after his birth, his aged father sang a […]
