The Person, Preaching, and Baptism of John the Baptist

What about John excited the interest of so many 1st c. Jews? Why was he preaching “in the wilderness” and not in Jerusalem? How was his baptism connected to and yet different from other Jewish washings? What is the Hebrew and Aramaic wordplay between “sons” and “stones”? How is John similar to both Moses and Elijah? How do the Psalms, Isaiah, Malachi, and other OT writings shed light on John’s imagery of serpents, trees, chaff, and fire? What is “baptism by the Holy Spirit and fire”? These and other questions, Chad Bird addresses in this week’s episode of “Reading the Gospels through Hebrew Eyes” about Matthew 3:1-12.

[@kristenheuer5676]

The song from Sunday school brought back memories. My sister used to think that the song said "Father Abraham had many sins,..... I am one of them and so are you, so let's just praise the the Lord." 😊

[@brunet42]

Stimulating and each week stimulation builds on stimulation! Thank you! Prayers of Peace in the Promise for our families! Sam

[@jeanette6510]

Wow. And now I have to sit and listen to it again. Immediately. Thank you, once again Chad, for your ministry to those of us who teach others.

[@pastorrich7436]

Thank you again for sharing your Scriptural perspectives and shedding light on the person of John the Baptist. Blessings to you and yours this Advent, Christmas and all the New Year through.

[@dankonieczny1055]

❤😅 thank you much

[@ELMohel]

THANK YOU. ❤️ The locus that are meant for food The Jewish sayings have been lost as to how to identify them. In Sukkot we sing Oh save us Hosanna Do you know of a book called, Pilates report on Yeshua "The Archko Volume"?

[@aureliafox2924]

🙏

[@terrytaerum7087]

Thank you. I learn a lot from listening to you. Could the reference to stones be an elliptic reference to the 12 stones taken from the middle of the Jordan River to which Joshua 4 says, "when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord... These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”.. they are there to this day."? Like trees, stones represent possession by the descendants of Abraham and John is pointing out that he can raise up other "descendants of Abraham by faith" to possess a future promised land. This inference is reinforced by the play on words.

[@boastonlyinthecross]

I want to thank you again for all your teaching and books. I have never had the Bible opened up to me in the particular ways your methods have opened it. Do you think John the Baptist’s reference to removing The Lord’s sandal could possibly be a reference to the Hebrew Kinsman Redeemer custom? John had described Jesus as The Bridegroom. John had made it clear that he (John) was not the Bridegroom but Jesus was coming for His Bride. I think in the story of Boaz the nearest of kin who refused to marry and thus redeem Ruth would have his sandal removed as a sign of another taking his place and duty

[@CrazyCrossWalkingChristian]

Thank you so much for the research you put into this! I am working on building a Harmony of the Gospels Bible study that is laid out with Jesus' life in chronological order across all four gospels. I am constantly looking for research material that helps me learn about who the people if the Bible are and who the audiences are that scripture is written to. If you have any other sources I can use I would appreciate it.

[@rajiantony6306]

John The Baptist ate Locust beans , which was available in the desert region of Israel. Locust bean, also known as carob or Saint John's bread, has dark, evergreen, pinnate leaves. The small, red flowers have no petals. The fruit is a brown, leathery pod about 10-30 cm long and contains 10-15 seeds of about 0.2 g each.

[@reksubbn3961]

Why do you use the term Messiah so much? John doesn't use it. The Old Testament rarely uses the specific term Messiah in relation to Jesus. Maybe twice at the most. Jesus doesn't accept the Jewish concept of an earthly Messiah. Yet we are increasingly using the term Messiah in favour of the term Christ. While they are theoretically the same word they have far different meanings. Which is why they killed Jesus. He came as a Suffering Servant. The Lamb of God.