John Was Called To Prepare The Way Of The Lord.

Called To Prepare is the International Standard Sunday School Lesson for December 27, 2020.

Our study text is found in the book of St. Matthew, chapter 3, verses 1-12.

Our Lesson teaches us that the wise prepare for the future, and that the foolish live day to day hustling to feed and clothe
themselves and their families.

“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,”
(Matthew 3:1 KJV)

John was a distant cousin of Jesus. John’s mother Elisabeth was a cousin of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

John was baptized with the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb and leaped for Joy!

“Shouting John” the Baptist just couldn’t be still even in his mother’s womb.

At the age of thirty, John began his Rabbinical ministry in the same Jordan wilderness as his “kindred spirit” Elijah the Tishbite, was instructed to hide in.

John’s message on reconciliation between GOD and His chosen people, Israel was “good news”.

And John’s proclamation that the Kingdom of Heaven’s imminent arrival was very, very, Exciting!

The prophet Isaiah tells us about God’s instructions to John, the forerunner of the Messiah.

“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.”
(‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

“Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished.”
(‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:2‬a ‭KJV‬‬)

“That her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.”
(‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:2‬b ‭KJV‬‬)

“The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
(‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

“Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:”
(‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

“And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”
(‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

“And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
(Matthew 3:2 KJV)

“For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying:,”
(Matthew 3:3a KJV)

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
(Matthew 3:3b KJV)

“And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins.”
(Matthew 3:4a KJV)

“And his meat was locusts and wild honey.”
(Matthew 3:4b KJV)
He was a hairy man," they answered, "with a leather belt around his waist." "It is Elijah the Tishbite," said the king.
(2 Kings 1:8)

To Elijah the Tishbite
“The word of the LORD came unto him, saying,” 
(2 Kings 17:2)

“Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, (that is before Jordan).”
(2 Kings 17:3)

“And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.”
(2 Kings 17:4)
——————————————
“Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan.”
(Matthew 3:5 KJV)

“And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.”
(Matthew 3:6 KJV)

“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism…”
(Matthew 3:7a KJV)

“He said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”
(Matthew 3:7b KJV)

“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.”
(Matthew 3:8 KJV)
——————————————
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
(‭‭James‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

“Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”
(‭‭James‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬)
————————————-
“And think not… to say within yourselves:”
“We have Abraham to our father.”
(Matthew 3:9a KJV)

“For I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.”
(Matthew 3:9b KJV)
——————————————
“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
(‭‭Psalms‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬)
——————————————
“And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees.”
(Matthew 3:10a KJV)

“Therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
(Matthew 3:10b KJV)

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance”
(Matthew 3:11a KJV)

“But he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear.”
(Matthew 3:11b KJV)

“He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”
(Matthew 3:11c KJV)
——————————————