Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-17
The Ministry of John the
Baptist.
Mark, 1:I-8. Luke, 3:I-oo.
Golden Text: Repent Ye,
for the Kingdom of Heaven
Is at Hand. Matt, 81.
>~ HRISTIANITY developed from and
WI perfected movement that pre-
. ceded the ministry of Jesus. Mark.

<An HRISIIANII4 ueNelOped from and
III perfected a movement that pre-
~ coded the ministry of Jesus. Mark.
with the historians sense, makes ''the
beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
to commence with the ministry of John
the Baptist, who gathered up the teach
ings of the past. revived the prophetic
order, fulfilled the predictions made In
the prophets and prepared the way for
the Lord by his preaching that brought
| conviction of sin to his hearers and filed
| them with hope through the promises OF
the immediate coming of the Messiah.
Luke presents the period of the Bap-
lists shelving unto Israel to be when
he emerged from the school of the desert
in response to 1.-The word Of God. He
gives us the names of the five political
rulers and the two high priests, con-
Meeting up the gospel narrative with the
history OF the world. The age was one
of DISCRIMINATION, despair and disorder
The scepter had departed from Judah
and the rulers staff from between his
feet, and the land. torn by the Roman
eagles, was divided into four divisions,
over which three procurators ruled, un-
der a governor located at Jerusalem and
the emperor at Rome.
.Luke's outlook upon the political rulers
gives us the time Of the commencement
of Johns ministry to be the fifteenth
year of Tiberius Caesar. who ruled alone
from IA to 81 AID. He had been CO.
emperor with Augustus from IL to IA
AID so that John commenced to preach
late in % AID. or early in 70 AID, when
PLATE became governor.
Luke places the beginning Of John
ministry in the high priesthood OF Annas
and Caiaphas. The former was deposed
in Ia d. by Pilates predecessor and the
office given to the son-in-law of Annas.
The Jews considered Annas high prizes,
by right and Calaphas in fact, although
terests they shared the ONCE together.
The religious life that -centered In the
| temple was divided. In this period that
filed the Jews with despair Johr
emerged from the wilderness with mes
sage, Repent We, for the kingdom OF
| heaven. is at hand" that revealed the
! cause of their sorrow, suffering and sad
ness, and thrilled them with hope at che
| prospect of relief from the bondage Of
Roman rule.
Prophetic Preaching.
cit was the glory of the Baptist to have
| revived the function of the prophet" The
! personal appearance of the messenger
whose raiment consisted Of cameTs hair.
fastened by leather girdle, was strik-
| ingly suggestive of Elijah, the prophet.
who pointed out the national infidelity
and restored the worship Of Jehovah In
the kingdom.
The demand for repentance was more
than sorrow for sin, which may produce
repentance. Cody sorrow, which Is the
| result of the contemplation of the good
ness of Cod always produces q change
of mind, which is the New Testament
| meaning Of repentance. 1t opens the door
for the remission of sins. which results
from our heart or mind getting in the
right attitude toward God. When a man
gets right with God through a change OF
his mind God sends away the sins of the
individual. He casts our sin out Of His
mind and memory through the lamb of
God which taketh away the sin of the
world.
The men that accepted Johns message
were required in accordance with the
Mosaic law to publicly confess their sins