Appearances
Mar 17, 2008 Christian
In Matthew 3:3-4, It describes some of Johns appearance; camel hair coat, leather belt and a diet of locusts and honey. 
I am guessing that his hair was probably a site, and a 20 ft. radius is not where you wanted to be around him!
That being said, people were going out to see him from the entire region! Not just a local town, but an entire area.
These were a people hungry for some word from the Lord! This was a person that was certainly “out of the ordinary”. I am sure there were probably people during the last hundreds of years that came out looking like lunatics, and claiming to be a prophet. John was different. He captured the attention of the nation, and obviously was worth taking a trip (remember no cars! taking a trip was a big deal!)
His message was so powerful, that people did enter the 20ft radius. Not only that, but they let him baptize them. Not only that, but they confessed their sins!?! Think about that! It is one thing confessing your sins to a priest in a dark closet with a veil, whispering. It is another to confess your sins to a wild man, in front of hundreds (maybe thousands) of others!
This was a message worth hearing!
John the Baptist
Mar 10, 2008 Christian
At the beginning of Chapter 3, the story switches gears to John. Now John was Jesus’ cousin, and Mary’s nephew. He was born to Zechariah & Elizabeth, and the story about it is told in the beginning of Luke. He actually “jumped” in the womb when Mary came near, in excitement of being in the presence of the Lord.
John is an interesting story, as we hear nothing about him after that until now. At this time, he had, “clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.”!? Sounds a little strange to us, but the people were all going out to listen and get baptized by him, so something was definitely right about him.
In any case, he had a job to do, and was doing it. I believe he probably had a very close relationship to God, and had had many encounters with Angel or the Lord. He obviously had no fear, and was devout. In those times also, as we saw with Joseph, those who are part of God’s master plan were often visited by Angels.
Below is a photo of the area of the Jordan river in the Judean desert, so you can get an idea. It was not a very comfortable place, but a place where many could gather.
What he was doing was telling the people about Jesus and “preparing” them for Him. Verse 2 quotes Isaiah, which foretells John’s coming. Not much else in the first few verses, except in the first verse it mentions, “The Kingdom of Heaven is near”. I think many had a mis-interpretation of what this meant. Obviously, it meant Jesus coming and death, which provides for us the ability to secure our salvation for reaching Heaven.
More to come in the next verses!
That’s my King!
Mar 3, 2008 General
If you haven’t heard this from S.M. Lockridge, you are missing out on a great sermon! It is 3-1/2 minutes, so if you have time, sit back and be blessed! You can download a longer version here: http://www.4-14.org.uk/thats-my-king-s-m-lockridge
Travel Log…
Mar 3, 2008 Christian
Since there is only 1 more verse in Chapter 2, lets take a look at it, and some of the other travel that was done here. According to this, Joseph took his wife and child to Nazareth. (BTW, another prophecy fulfilled!)
Based on the maps I found, Bethlehem to the edge of Egypt in those times was about 50-60 miles. Lets figure about 50 minutes a mile (remember, wife and infant, all their belongings, without pavement, on a donkey!), and I think I am being generous. 55*50 = 45.83 Hours…so saying they did 9 hour days, this makes 5 days travel (all your supplies, food, water, for 5 days etc…). Now he starts to return and has to change route to Nazareth.
Nazareth is about 70 miles north of Bethlehem…!
Lets approximate he gets 40 miles, gets scared, Angel warns in a dream, then he turns north: (40+70)*50 =~ 10 days
After about 4 days travel, for me to tell my wife. “Hey, I was warned not to go to Bethlehem, its still dangerous, lets travel 6 days North to Nazareth (which no-one likes, is my understanding)!” , may not have been met with the warmest of responses. “WHAT!!!, Do you see me here with this child? Do you even care about my saddle sores!?! What about Joppa, Lydda, Massada!?! Can you think of anywhere closer!?! Oh you had a dream? Oh…..well then lets follow your dream! I had a dream of pink elephants, we better be on our guard!” etc. etc. etc….
Let’s just reiterate…this was a man of GREAT faith!
(BTW, I am sure the mother of our Lord was very submissive & humble. Just making a point 
)
