Luke 3:3-4- And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
John was out doing his job telling others about the coming Messiah. People from all walks of life came to see what John was preaching.
Luke 3:10-11- And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
He preached about giving to others who were in need.
Luke 3:12-13- Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
He preached that you shouldn't steal from others.
Luke 3:14- And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
He preached against lying and harming others and being content with what you have.
Luke 3:18- And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
John preached a lot of good things! But, his main message was, "Repent!"
John 3:22-23- After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
There was a small period of time when both Jesus and John were preaching. Some times their paths crossed. Other times, they were each in a different location with their disciples.
John 3:25-26- Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
John's disciples were confused that the man, Jesus, who John had baptized wasn't following John the Baptist, but had his own ministry. They asked John why Jesus seemed to be taking John's followers.
But, John understood that his ministry wasn't suppose to be forever. He knew that his message was suppose to help people turn to Jesus, and follow Jesus.
John 3:27-28, 30-31, 33-36- John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John wanted his disciples to understand that it was Jesus that was the Messiah. God sent Jesus from heaven so that all mankind would believe on Him and have the chance to receive eternal life.
John knew that whoever rejected Jesus would end up facing the wrath of God by spending eternity in hell.
He tried very hard to teach his disciples this. He wanted to get this point across to the Jews.
Luke 3:5-6- Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Things were getting really stirred up around the land of Israel. Between Jesus and John's preaching, the religious leaders were getting upset.
Luke 3:7-9- Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin 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. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
John would tell anyone that they needed to repent. And, he was very plain in how he told them. But, some people just didn't want to hear what John preached.
Mark 6:17-20- For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
Not only did the religious leaders of the Jews hate his message, but so did the ruling leaders of the Romans. Herod had married his brother's wife, and John told him that he shouldn't have done that.
Herodias, Herod's unlawful wife, wanted to have John killed! But, Herod feared that a riot would ensue if he put John to death. So, he watched him, and he listened to him, and he waited until he couldn't ignore John's preaching anymore.
Luke 3:19-20- But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
Herod was mad that John the Baptist had pointed out his sin and told him to repent. And, he threw John into prison.
John's ministry was coming to an end. He would sit in Herod's prison for a while hearing about the things that Jesus was preaching and doing.
Perhaps he blamed Herod for all his woes. Or, maybe he blamed God for allowing Herod to put him into prison. We don't know what John did or thought while he was in there. The time would come when he would get a chance to ask Jesus about some things. But, until then he would just have to wait.
