King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Saturday, October 04, 2025
Chapters: John 1:15-51, Matthew 3-4
Message: John/Matthew: Jesus is Baptized
Hello My Friend,
As we continue in the reading of the Gospel we learn of John the Baptist and his ministry and why Jesus came to be baptized by Him. We also learn of Jesus being tempted of the devil and when Jesus began His ministry. Every person who receives Christ as their Saviour is eventually led by the Holy Spirit to fill some purpose for Christ. My husband started a ministry at our church to give every person who gets saved a Bible. I of course have my Bible study, so whether or not we care to admit it, the skills and talents that we are given are to be used to fulfill that purpose, [1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.]
Believe it or now, doctors, lawyers, plumbers, electricians, teachers, governors, senators, even presidents, kings, and queens, have all been a part of the cause of Christ from the very beginning of creation. Adam, Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Hosea, Malachi, all these men and more were given their talents to serve in their ministries. John, the Baptist, was no exception, in fact, he was the very first one to actually speak in the name of Christ. I know we read this part before but just wanted to touch on it again.
[John 1:6-13 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.]
We do need to understand that God’s faithful before Christ came here in the flesh lived by the same faith that we do are His children, [Genesis 4:26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.] In fact, infants, little children, invalints and those whom have never had the opportunity to be born are His children as well. Through David, we learn this when his illegitimate son with Bathsheba died being only a week old, [2 Samuel 12:22-23 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.]
This was a new way of teaching the Scriptures that true believers flocked to. John, would preach about the coming of Christ and how He would save them from their sins and to show their acceptance of what John was saying he baptized them in the Jordan River. Matthew, goes on to give us a description of John and his ministry.
[Matthew 3:1-7 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?]
Now, the difference between now and then is that they believed in that the promise of Christ saving them would be fulfilled, while we believe it after it has already been fulfilled. Even though people often assume that we are all God’s children from conception, that is not the case, and John, was also the first one to point that out.
[Matthew 3:8-11 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:]
Stones, meaning Gentiles, God, was able to raise, and has raised up a spiritual seed to Abraham. Believers who are of the promised seed of Abraham through the flesh are the same as the Gentiles who are of the spiritual seed of Abraham, their faith in Christ makes us all the same, [Galatians 3:6-9 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.]
John, was your modern day Charlie Kirk, he did not mince words when he told someone that they needed to repent and called their sin out like you would not believe. Because if this, they either loved him or hated him, and were always questioning who he was. John, did something that no other prophet ever did and that was that he baptized those who were serious about repenting of their sins.
[John 1:15-20 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.]
John, insisted that if they were going into the water for the remission of their sins and faith in Christ coming to save them then they needed to live a repentant life as well or he would not baptize them. Of course, he saw, what he called the vipers out there, and called them out on it, but wanted to make sure they understood that he was a nobody just preaching about the Kingdom of Heaven while the true Christ is yet to be revealed.
[John 1:23-27 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.]
The prophet that the people were asking if he was is Jeremiah, whom some of the Jews thought to be the prophet Moses spoke of, and expected to appear about the time of the Messiah, [Deuteronomy 18:18-19 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.].
So, you see, every believer from Adam, even though they had no idea that His name would be Jesus, had faith in the promise of His coming, [Genesis 15:5-6 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.]
John’s ministry was solely about pointing believers to Christ and preaching the doctrine of the remission of sins by Him. The reason that he kept saying that Jesus was coming after him was because in regards to His human side John was six months older than Him, even though he points out also that He has always been. Interestingly enough, John and Jesus were about to meet for the first time and John knew who He was instantly, [John 1:29-31 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.]
The Lamb of God Himself, the one and only atonement sacrifice necessary of whom God gave, approves of, accepts, and takes away the sins of all who come to Him, baptizing them not with water, but the Holy Spirit. Now, John had not idea that Jesus came to him in order to be baptized by him, and was quite shocked.
[Matthew 3:14-17 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.]
Jesus, set the example for us, He in all His humbleness, made Himself of no reputation. Even though John was actually born with the Holy Spirit, Jesus, does not deny that John needed to be baptized of Him, yet he will now be baptized of John. It was an act of great humility, that He would offer Himself to be baptized of John in order to fulfill all righteousness, [Romans 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:]
God, Himself is the one who sent John to prepare the way for His Son to be revealed to the world. What confirmed it all was the dove that came down from the heavens and baptized Jesus with the Holy Spirit as soon as Jesus came up out of the water, [John 1:32-34 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.]
Jesus, knew exactly who He is, and yet never gloated about it, never taunted His earthly half siblings, although I am pretty sure they taunted Him as many did not receive Him themselves until after His passion. And if John was not amazed enough at what he saw, the voice he heard sealed the deal. Do you remember the first time you heard God’s voice? I was very sick the first time I acknowledged that He was speaking to me directly. That was also the day that I dedicated my life to Christ and if I recall also started getting visits from a Baptist church shortly after. It is definitely amazing to learn how God puts everything right into place, [Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.]
Well, the very next day, Jesus returned and just like that it was the end of John’s ministry. Two of the disciples of John actually started following Him, and right away they knew that He is the Messiah they had been waiting for.
[John 1:35-41 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.]
Simon Peter, did not know it at the time, but he just led his very first person to the LORD, and it was his brother. While it is important that we speak to all whom the Holy Spirit presses on us to talk to about Christ, the first people ought to be our own family, [Matthew 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.]
Just exactly what did these men expect to see? Perhaps, a beautiful home, with servants and food galore? What they found was a man camping out in the woods, but that actually did not bother them, in fact, I think they were more comfortable with Him just the way He was. Jesus, had every intention of going to Galilee, but then again, Jesus, always knew where He was going and had a purpose. On the way He found more men who were willing to follow Him, along with Andrew and Peter came Philip and Nathanael.
[John 1:43-47 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. 44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!]
The word guile means to appear Godly, but is deceitful, he was a man of so much uprightness and honesty that he thought Philip was absurd in what he said. While our character does not really reveal whether or not we are believers of Christ, our actions often speak louder than words. Jesus, knew who believed in Him, He was not the one who needed convincing, they were the ones who revealed their faith as soon as they interacted with Him. Nathanael, did not need a lot of convincing, he knew right away that Jesus is the Christ.
[John 1:48-51 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. 50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. 51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.]
Jesus has greater things in store for His disciples, which He proceeds to tell them about with solemn emphasis. From now on, with the beginning of His public ministry, there would be a wonderful change for the believers. With His coming heaven itself is opened, which we can get a glimpse of all the way back the the dream that Jacob had, [Genesis 28:12-14 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.]
Wow! There is the promise for all believers that they will be blessed just as Abraham and all of his descendants after him. The key to a blessed Christian life while we are here, even when it is not easy, is following Jesus. It is one thing to believe in Him as the Saviour, it is another to accept Him and follow Him. The culprit who loves to gets us off the path of Jesus is Satan, once you are saved he has no power over your soul, but he can still oppress you. And let me tell you, Satan, tried everything he could to try and stop Jesus from fulfilling His purpose. As Jesus started getting His ministry set up here he comes trying to tempt Him.
[Matthew 4:1-4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.]
Satan, does not mess with us when we are strong in our body, mind, and spirit, he waits until it is weak, and the incredible thing is, God, allows him to do this. God is not being mean when He does this, He is just trying to see if we are going to trust Him over the Satan’s lies. I am not going to lie, I know I have been defeated by Satan a time or two especially this year, but I will say this, he cannot keep me down, I have this verse on repeat all day long, [Psalms 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.]
While Jesus could have turned anything into food, there were two things to keep in mind here, the first one being that he was trying prove Him like God does us sometimes. It was as if he was saying, “Give me some proof that you are the Son of God and I will believe it is You.” The second one being that the temptation to sin only comes to mind when we take our focus off God and put it on our flesh. Had Jesus turned the rocks into bread, He would have sinned in submitting to Satan rather than trust in the divine Providence and support of His Father. This was the Scripture that Jesus used to overcome that temptation, [Deuteronomy 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.]
Well, when Satan’s attempt to get Jesus to distrust God’s ability to sustain life failed he figures if Jesus quoted Scripture, he might as well too in his next attempt to get Him to sin, [Matthew 4:5-7 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.]
Do not think that Satan does not know Scripture, he knows it well and even though he does that does not mean that he does not believe everything written in it or try to prevent it from coming to pass. However, what he always does is give half of the Scripture, this verse is what he was quoting from, [Psalms 91:11-12 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.]
Once again, it was as if he was saying, “Give me some proof that you are the Son of God and I will believe it is You.” However, right there, Jesus, is already reminding him that not only is He the Son of God, but God Himself. While angels were definitely surrounding Him at the time, and He could have easily jumped off the mountain and be caught by them, had He done so He would have succumbed to his temptation. Being God in the flesh did not mean that Jesus was not tempted just as much as we are today, He subjected Himself to the Father, [Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.]
Well, when half quoting Scripture did not bring Jesus to give into temptation, then perhaps giving Him a better incentive will. Satan, tried one more time to tempt Him, [Matthew 4:8-10 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.]
Do you see what Satan’s goal in life is? To be God. He wants it so bad that he can taste it. Do not let him fool you, he was well aware of who Jesus is and is subject to Him just like the rest of us are. Regardless of what being we were brought into the world as, we are all given freewill and the choice to obey Him is up to us. Everyone gets tempted, it is how we deal with the temptation that turns it into sin, [James 1:13-15 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.]
As soon as He came out of the wilderness He headed straight for Galilee again, ending up where He met Peter and Andrew. A lot happened in the forty days that Jesus was in the woods, John the Baptist was arrested, [Matthew 4:12-16 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; 13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.]
Here we find more Scripture being fulfilled and is referring to this passage, [Isaiah 9:1-2 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.].
It is the nature of true believers of God to follow Jesus the second that they see His Light shining through the witness, and when they do they gladly and quickly follow Him. When Jesus started His ministry He did something that no other prophet, man, or woman of God did before, He went into the Gentile cities preaching the same message of repentance as He did the Jews. Now, the prophets of old did preach of Jesus coming, but they did not speak with such authority or knowledge as Jesus did, and for that reason people followed Him.
[Matthew 4:18-23 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.]
Not all of these people were true believers, but Jesus did something that no prophet could do, He healed those believers from something much more than their physical infirmities, He made them whole by giving them His Spirit, [Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for wearing the shoes that I would never be worthy enough to fill myself. Thank You, for lighting Your way to me through some of Your disciples so that I found You. Now, I am one of Your disciples and as much as I enjoy being a part of Your ministry, I know I could never do one thing without You, let alone serve You. Lord, Lead me, and guide me, give me Your strength to walk and talk as You do. Put Your hedge of protection around me, and keep me looking to You myself, and let me not fall into the temptations of the devil as he tries to hinder me. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/ready-to-follow-jesus/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Read Previous Devotions: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Read The Bible: http://kingjamesbible.imfollowingjesus.com/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/welcome/
Like I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2025 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.