Turn to Jesus Christ for Salvation

The Bible speaks of the Messiah's predecessor as a voice of one calling in the desert. He would live in the wilderness, and prepare people for the coming of the Messiah. He would come in the spirit of Elijah (a famous Old Testament Prophet), and he would prepare the way for the Messiah by turning many people to righteousness.

As you will see, John the Baptist accurately fulfilled all of these prophecies. He was born to Elizabeth, a barren woman, and her husband Zechariah who was a temple priest and a descendant of Aaron (the first Temple Priest). They were both advanced in years, but because they were righteous, the Lord allowed Elizabeth to conceive and give birth to a son, whom she was told to name John.

John the Baptist was about six months older than Jesus was, and he lived in the desert where he baptized thousands of people in the Jordan River. Of him Jesus said, "I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist" (see ). I encourage you to read the entire story of John the Baptist in the Gospel accounts. Truly he was the messenger.

Prophecies -

"A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.'" (Isaiah 40:3)
"See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." (Malachi 4:5-6)

Fulfillment -

"In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.' This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: 'A voice of one calling in the desert, 'prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'' " (Matthew 3:1-3)
"Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1: 16-17)

Prophecy - "'See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,' says the LORD Almighty." (Malachi 3:1)

Fulfillment - (Speaking of John the Baptist) "This is the one about whom it is written: 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'" (Matthew 11:10)

John the Baptist came as a messenger to prepare the way for the Messiah. He baptised thousands, leading them to repentance and turning their hearts back to God. Although he immediately recognized Jesus as the Messiah the moment he saw Him, he was also given a sign to watch for; John was told that the one on whom he would see the Holy Spirit descend and remain on, would be the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit (see ).

Immediately after John baptized Jesus Heaven was opened up and the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove and stayed on Jesus. This is how John knew for sure that Jesus was the promised Messiah, and then Jesus began His ministry.

The Old Testament prophets tell us who the Messiah would be and where He would come from, but they also make it very clear exactly what the Messiah would be like. Click 'Next' to see the scores of prophecies regarding the many attributes of the coming Messiah.

Hits since March 10, 2000

Email your questions, comments or suggestions to me at [email protected]