The Works of Yahchanan the Baptizer
We can now turn to examine in greater detail the works undertaken by Yahchanan the Baptizer.
Mattityahu 3: 1-17 reads, "3:1In those days, Yahchanan the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Yahudah, saying, 3:2'Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!' 3:3For this is he who was spoken of through Yesha`yahu the prophet, saying,
'The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
Make ready the way of the Yahweh,
Make his paths straight.'
3:4
Now Yahchanan himself had clothing made of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 3:5Then people from Yerushalayim, all of Yahudah, and all the region around the Yarden went out to him. 3:6They were baptized by him in the Yarden river, confessing their sins. 3:7But when he saw many of the Perushim and Tzedukim coming for his baptism, he said to them, 'You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 3:8Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance! 3:9Don't think to yourselves, "We have Avraham for our father," for I tell you that the Mighty One is able to raise up children to Avraham from these stones. 3:10Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn't bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire. 3:11I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit. 3:12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire."3:13
Then Yah'shuah came from the Galil to the Yarden to Yahchanan, to be baptized by him. 3:14But Yahchanan would have hindered him, saying, 'I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?'3:15
But Yah'shuah, answering, said to him, 'Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.' Then he allowed him. 3:16Yah'shuah, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of the Mighty One descending as a dove, and coming on him. 3:17Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'"Mattityahu 3: 2 shows that Yahchanan preached repentance.
Mattityahu 3: 6 shows that the people who went out to him confessed their sins, and he baptised them.
Mattityahu 3: 6-12 shows that he did not baptise all who came to him, for he REFUSED to baptise the Perushim and the Tzedukim. He categorised those of these two groups as "offspring of vipers", for they had not borne fruit worthy of repentance. Thus Yahchanan is seen to have baptised only those who had borne fruit worthy of repentance, including the confession of their sins.
Yahchanan's preaching therefore involved calling on the people of Yisrael, the "children" of Avraham, to repent of their sins and turn to fully following after Yahweh. He called on them to live by Yahweh's words and abandon their lifestyle where they had been breaking or violating his word.
Yahchanan also made a distinction among the people. Those who repented, those who confessed their sins, those who went for his baptism, he called "children of Avraham". But those who did not repent, those who did not bring forth fruit worthy of repentance, he called "offspring of vipers". Thus if one does not repent one is an "offspring of vipers". But if one repents and fully follows after Yahweh one is indeed a "child of Avraham".
Yahchanan's Works Were of Righteousness
From Yah'shuah's comments in Mattityahu 3: 15 it should be noted both Yahchanan and Yah'shuah fulfilled "all righteousness", and Yahchanan baptising Yah'shuah was a fitting way for their fulfilling "all righteousness". It should therefore be clear that Yahchanan's works were those of righteousness, and his preaching of repentance from sin and his baptism were indeed works of righteousness.
Yahchanan Was Greater Than All Humans Except One
Mattityahu 11: 11 reads, "11:11Most assuredly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than Yahchanan the Baptizer. Yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he."
It should therefore be noted, from Yah'shuah's words, that Yahchanan was indeed greater than even the original Eliyah, in whose spirit and power he came. For Yahchanan was indeed greater than all human beings who had ever lived up to his time, save only one. The one who was greater than Yahchanan was the one who was least in the kingdom of heaven, meaning Yah'shuah the Messiah. Implying that the kingdom of heaven was then made up of Father Yahweh the Mighty One and his Son Yah'shuah the Messiah. Therefore Yah'shuah, even though at the time least in the kingdom of heaven, was nevertheless greater than Yahchanan.
Yahchanan Beheaded for Preaching Righteousness
Mattityahu 14: 1-12 reads, "14:1At that time, Herod, the tetrarch, heard the report concerning Yah'shuah, 14:2and said to his servants, 'This is Yahchanan the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.' 14:3For Herod had laid hold of Yahchanan, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodiah, his brother Pilipos's wife. 14:4For Yahchanan said to him, 'It is not lawful for you to have her.' 14:5When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. 14:6But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodiah danced in the midst, and pleased Herod. 14:7Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask. 14:8She, being put forward by her mother, said, 'Give me here on a platter the head of Yahchanan the Baptizer.' 14:9The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths, and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given, 14:10and he sent and beheaded Yahchanan in the prison. 14:11His head was brought on a platter, and given to the young lady: and she brought it to her mother. 14:12His disciples came, and took up the corpse, and buried him; and they went and told Yah'shuah."
It is clear from Mattityahu 14: 3-4 that Yahchanan preached the law of Yahweh, and urged people to abide by it. In this case it is seen that he preached Yahweh's law against adultery, and for so preaching he eventually lost his life. And recalling Yah'shuah's words in Mattityahu 3: 11 that Yahchanan fulfilled righteousness by his works, it should be evident that it is indeed righteousness to preach the law of Yahweh, including his law against adultery.
The Authority for Yahchanan's Baptism
Mattityahu 21: 23-32 reads, "21:23When he had come into the temple, the chief Kohanim and the Zakenim of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, 'By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?'
21:24
Yah'shuah answered them, 'I also will ask you one question, which if you tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 21:25The baptism of Yahchanan, where was it from? From Heaven or from men?'They reasoned with themselves, saying, 'If we will say, "From Heaven," he will tell us, "Why then did you not believe him?" 21:26But if we will say, "From men," we fear the multitude, for all hold Yahchanan as a prophet.' 21:27They answered Yah'shuah, and said, 'We don't know.'
He also said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. 21:28But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, "Son, go work today in my vineyard." 21:29He answered, "I will not," but afterward he repented himself, and went. 21:30He came to the second, and said likewise. He answered, "I go, sir," but he didn't go. 21:31Which of the two did the will of his father?'
They said to him, 'The first.'
Yah'shuah says to them, 'Most assuredly I tell you, that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into the kingdom of the Mighty One before you. 21:32For Yahchanan came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn't even repent afterward, that you might believe him.'"
Yah'shuah affirmed again, in Mattityahu 21: 32, that Yahchanan had come to the people in the way of righteousness. He also showed, by the parable he had spoken against the chief Kohanim and the Zakenim of the people, that Yahchanan had indeed been sent by the Mighty One, thus showing that his baptism came from heaven, and did not originate in Yahchanan's own head. In other words, Yahchanan performed his works according to the word of Yahweh, and not according to his own thoughts.
Yahchanan Preached Yahweh's Tender Mercy
Mark 1: 1-11 reads, "1:1The beginning of the good news of Yah'shuah the Messiah, the Son of the Mighty One. 1:2As it is written in the prophets,
'Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
Who will prepare your way before you.
1:3
The voice of one crying in the wilderness,"Make ready the way of Yahweh,
Make his paths straight."'
1:4
Yahchanan came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. 1:5There went out to him all the country of Yahudah, and all those of Yerushalayim. They were baptized by him in the Yarden river, confessing their sins. 1:6Yahchanan was clothed with camel's hair and a leather belt around his loins. He ate locusts and wild honey. 1:7He preached, saying, 'After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen. 1:8I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.'1:9
It happened in those days, that Yah'shuah came from Natzeret of the Galil, and was baptized by Yahchanan in the Yarden. 1:10Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting, and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 1:11A voice came out of the sky, 'You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'"It should be noted that Yahchanan's preaching of repentance also involved Yahweh's tender mercy, for Yahchanan preached that the people repent of their sins that Yahweh may forgive them their sins.
Yahchanan Perceived as being Righteous and Holy
Mark 6: 12-29 reads, "6:12They went out, and preached that people should repent. 6:13They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick, and healed them. 6:14King Herod heard this, for his name had become known, and he said, 'Yahchanan the Baptizer has risen from the dead, and therefore these powers work in him.' 6:15But others said, 'It is Eliyah.' Others said, 'It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.' 6:16But Herod, when he heard this, said, 'This is Yahchanan, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead.' 6:17For Herod himself had sent out and laid hold on Yahchanan, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodiah, his brother Pilipos's wife, for he had married her. 6:18For Yahchanan said to Herod, 'It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.' 6:19Herodiah set herself against him, and desired to kill him, but she couldn't, 6:20for Herod feared Yahchanan, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly.
6:21
When a convenient day had come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for his masters, and the high captains, and the chief men of the Galil; 6:22and when the daughter of Herodiah herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those reclining with him. The king said to the young lady, 'Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.' 6:23He swore to her, 'Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.'6:24
She went out, and said to her mother, 'What shall I ask?'She said, 'The head of Yahchanan the Baptizer.'
6:25
She came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, 'I want you to give me right now the head of Yahchanan the Baptizer on a platter.'6:26
The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths, and of his dinner guests, he didn't wish to refuse her. 6:27Immediately the king sent forth a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring Yahchanan's head, and he went and beheaded him in the prison, 6:28and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young lady; and the young lady gave it to her mother.6:29
When his disciples heard this, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb."It should be noted from Mark 6: 20 that even Herod the king knew that Yahchanan was a righteous and holy man. In other words, Yahchanan not only preached righteousness, preaching repentance from sin for the forgiveness of sin, he also practised what he preached. For he lived the life of a righteous and holy man.
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