Matthew 11:11 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness:

Matthew 11:11

I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And

John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.I myself did not know

him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see

the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that

this is the Son of God.” (John 1:31-34, ESV)

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his

disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for

another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the

blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and

the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not

offended by me.” (Matthew 11:2-6, ESV)

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you

go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go

out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft

clothing are in kings' houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell

you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way before you.’ (Matthew 11:7-10, ESV)

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the

Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the

covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of

hosts. (Malachi 3:1, ESV)

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome

day of the LORD comes. (Malachi 4:5, ESV)

He was great as a man

Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. (Matthew 3:4,

ESV)Voluntarily lived a life of simplicity

For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias,

his brother Philip's wife, because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to

have her.” (Matthew 14:3-4, ESV)Showed courage to face King Herod

And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom

you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “A person

cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me

witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the

bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase,

but I must decrease.” (John 3:26-30, ESV)At his peak he humbly deferred to the

newcomer.


He was great as a prophet

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of

heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:1-2, ESV) Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about

the Jordan were going out to him, (Matthew 3:5, ESV)

His influence drew crowds to the wilderness.and they were baptized by him in the river

Jordan, confessing their sins.(Matthew 3:6, ESV)His preaching led them to confess their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to

them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with

repentance.(Matthew 3:7-8, ESV)

His courage would not let him weaken the message



He was great in preparing the way for Christ

There was a man sent from God, whose name

was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all

might believe through him. (John 1:6-7, ESV)

This was his mission

These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and

said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks

before me, because he was before me.’ (John 1:28-30,

ESV)He pointed men toward

Jesus



He was great in preparing the way for Christ

We have greater knowledge

But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and

your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to

you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what

you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and

did not hear it. (Matthew 13:16-17,

ESV)


“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the

truth, for he will not speak on his own authority,

but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to

you the things that are to come. (John 16:12-13, ESV)


The story of the crossNature of the kingdomEstablishment of the

kingdom‘mystery’ revealed

Grace revealedPrice paid for all

…to name few


We have a greater place in this life

He has delivered us from the domain of

darkness and transferred us tothe

kingdom of his beloved Son,

(Colossians 1:13, ESV)

We are citizens of the the kingdom



But you are a chosen race, a

royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that

you may proclaim the excellencies of him who

called you out of darkness into his

marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)



We enjoy greater privileges

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up

and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me

and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has

said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living

water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because

Jesus was not yet glorified.

(John 7:37-39, ESV)




so we, though many, are one body in

Christ, and individually members

one of another. (Romans 12:5, ESV)

We part of a fellowhip of love,

gratitude, and even suffering




…there is no one who has left house or brothers or

sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will

not receive a hundredfold now in this time,

houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with

persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. (Mark

10:29-30, ESV) We are part of a family




From the book of Hebrews…

Better sacrifice,Better High PriestBetter priesthood,Better covenant

Better hope,Better promises

In knowledge of Jesus Christ

In our place with Jesus Christ

In privileges offered by Jesus Christ

“We find from this passage that all true greatness arises from association, relation,

and contact with Jesus Christ.”

-J.W. McGarveyTHE FOURFOLD

GOSPEL

Documents

Matthew 11:11 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness: