“John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?”
(Luke 3:7closeLuke 3:7 7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (ESV) closeLuke 3:7closeLuke 3:7 7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (ESV) 7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (ESV) ; from the Gospel reading for 12.12.12)
“Jesus in Prophecy”
Get To Know Your “Neighbor”
+ Have you ever gone back on an agreement? __________
God’s Blueprint
+ God knows all things. He knew when He would send Jesus into the world and He knows when He will send Him again for the final judgment. The Jewish people were given the exact year when Jesus would begin His public ministry.
In Daniel 9:24closeDaniel 9:24
The Seventy Weeks
24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. (ESV)
closeDaniel 9:24closeDaniel 9:24
The Seventy Weeks
24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. (ESV)
The Seventy Weeks
24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. (ESV)
the Jewish people were told that they had 490 years to turn their hearts back to God. God in His unending grace, gives His children one more chance and has the Messiah come before the 490 years are fulfilled; God’s hope is that if He sends His own Son into the Vineyard (a metaphor for Israel- see Isaiah 5:7closeIsaiah 5:7
7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts
is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah
are his pleasant planting;
and he looked for justice,
but behold, bloodshed;
for righteousness,
but behold, an outcry! (ESV)
closeIsaiah 5:7closeIsaiah 5:7
7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts
is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah
are his pleasant planting;
and he looked for justice,
but behold, bloodshed;
for righteousness,
but behold, an outcry! (ESV)
7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts
is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah
are his pleasant planting;
and he looked for justice,
but behold, bloodshed;
for righteousness,
but behold, an outcry! (ESV)
) that His people will turn their hearts to Him; unfortunately, we know that the Owner’s Son was killed by the tenants; and we know that He died for the sin’s of everyone.
This is why John the Baptist says something which you never hear today at a Baptism, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” It is impossible to imagine a Pastor saying that when he is baptizing someone. John the Baptist says this because he sees these children of God coming back to Him at the very last minute- literally, minutes before the Messiah is anointed with baptism, to begin His public ministry.
Do you understand that God has worked very hard to bring you to Him? __________
God’s Best
+ God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it; but to save it. Jesus became sin so that we could be made perfect before His Father. There is nothing you have done which He has not already paid for. His robe of righteousness is His gift to you in baptism.
How happy are you that you can be saved by grace and not by works? __________
God’s Baptized
+ Luther warned believers not to grow lazy in their faith; some believers felt that if it is God who draws those who will be saved to Him; that believers don’t need to do anything.
Who can you tell about Jesus? __________
Jim Buckman
