John The Baptist Research Paper

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John the Baptist
Historical Background for the Passage Within the gospel of Matthew, John the Baptist baptizes Jesus. Before he baptizes Jesus, he has been preaching within the wilderness of Judea. The description in the gospel of Matthew almost makes John the Baptist look like an untamed and wild man as his “…clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey” (Matthew 3:4, The Holy Bible, NIV). People throughout all of Jordan sought him to confess their sins and to be baptized the in the Jordan River. John the Baptist is the preparer of the way for Jesus as it was John who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah. “This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him’” (Matthew 3:3 The Holy Bible, NIV). The bulk of the story is a confrontation John had with Pharisees and Sadducees. “The Sadducees and Pharisees comprised the ruling class of Jews in Israel. The Pharisees and the Sadducees were both religious sects within Judaism during the time of Christ. Both groups honored Moses and the Law, and …show more content…

As soon as John lays eyes upon these two groups, he chastises them and tells them that judgement is coming soon by telling them that the ax is already at the root of the trees. But it is not his job to judge them, rather it is the job of Jesus to find those who truly believe and give their lives to the lord from those who do not. John has also been set on a path to prepare the way for Jesus. As soon as John baptizes Jesus, He is “…led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1, The Holy Bible, NIV). To be baptized is to truly open yourself up to God and have him by your side and this same baptism that many people have gone through is the same that Jesus himself went

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