The Messiah

John 1:24-26 – Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know.

Exodus 29:7 – Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.

Mark 1:4 – And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Application:

• ·         “The Messiah” means “the Anointed One”. In Old Testament times anointing signified being set apart for service, particularly as king or priest.
• ·         “Anoint Him” was symbolizing spiritual endowment for serving God.
• ·         John’s practice of baptizing those who came to him in repentance was so characteristic of his ministry that he became known as “the Baptist” or “the Baptizer”. He was preaching repentance-baptism, i.e., baptism that was preceded or accompanied by repentance. Baptism was not new to John’s audience. They knew of baptism for Gentile converts but had not heard that the descendants of Abraham needed to repent and be baptized.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV