Hanukkah and the Messiah p. 3 The Forerunner of the Messiah p

Conclusion

John the Baptist lived his entire life for the Lord, Messiah Jesus. He died as a result of his proclamation of the truth. His ministry was short; yet, Jesus proclaimed him as the greatest man who ever lived.

Matthew 11:11a (NASB) "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist!
Nelson Study Bible on Matthew 11:11
As great as John was during Jesus’ day, his position as forerunner was inferior to that of the least person in the kingdom of heaven, because that person will have seen and understood the finished work of Christ on the cross and through His resurrection – events that John would not live to see.
We do not know about all of John’s ministry but it was far greater than we have recorded. His influence was not only with Jews in the Land of Israel but also far outside that territory (see Acts 19:1-7) where there were followers of John who had not yet heard the Messiah had come. His work as the forerunner to the Messiah was the most important ministry of any Old Testament individual.
Study the life of John the Baptist and you will learn many important lessons for your own life!

The Birth of the Messiah
Luke 2:10-11 (NASB) But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ (Messiah) the Lord.
John 1:1-2 (NASB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
John 1:14 (NASB) And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:10-11 (NASB) He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world (all the world of mankind) did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own (Israel) did not receive Him.
Matthew 24:4-5 (NASB) And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads

you for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many.

John 5:43 (NASB) "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
2 Corinthians 11:4 (NASB) For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.

The Many False Ideas of Jesus or Reinventing the Messiah.

1. 
   Jesus is a myth: he never really existed. People have just made up stories about him.
   

2. 
   Jesus is a man who became a god.
   

3. 
   Jesus is a created angel, the first of the creation of Jehovah God.
   
4. 
   Jesus is a spiritual master who realized his divine Christhood and encourages us all to realize our own innate divinity also (we can all be Christ for we are all god).
   

5. 
   Jesus is one of the Masters of Wisdom who are supernaturally helping in the evolution of mankind to the next higher plane of existence.
   

6. 
   Jesus is a just a prophet, but not as important as the final Prophet Mohammed.
   

7. 
   Jesus is a Guru who went to India, mastered Eastern mysticism, and achieved oneness with god.
   

8. 
   Jesus was a shaman (a pagan priest who used magic; a wizard or conjurer)
   

9. 
   Jesus was a Zealot whose main aim was to overthrow Rome in the first century.
   

10. 
    Jesus was the husband of Mary Magdalene and had children by her.
    

11. 
    Jesus was a homosexual whose lover was John and perhaps others of the disciples.
    

12. 
    Jesus was the first Palestinian who fought against the Jewish leadership.
    

13. 
    Jesus was a counter-cultural leader fighting for social justice.
    

14. 
    Jesus was a communist fighting for a classless society.
    

15. 
    Jesus is the old man upstairs.
    

16. 
    Jesus is the great loving and accepting one who never judges anybody.
    

17. 
    Jesus was part of a patriarchal religion that only seeks to dominate women.
    

18. 
    Jesus was a feminist and sought to liberate women from male domination.
    

19. 
    Jesus is influenced by his mother so pray to her to get the help you need.
    

20. 
    Jesus came to help you get to heaven by improving your behavior and to give you his grace through church sacraments.
    

21. 
    Jesus is one of many gods.
    

22. 
    Jesus was a Jewish man of the first century but he was not the Messiah of Israel.
    

23. 
    Jesus has come to give believers health, wealth, and happiness
    

24. 
    Jesus is the one to whom you must submit to as Lord and turn form all sin in order to receive eternal life.
    

Unfortunately, most people today do not really know who Jesus is. It would probably be beyond shocking to do some “man on the street” interviews and simply ask, “Who was Jesus?” Satan has done a very good job at bringing much confusion to the world today.

Matthew 16:13-15 (NASB) Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." He *said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"