THE TEACHINGS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.
By Ellen G. White
The whole Jewish nation were affected by the mission of John. For a time they were alarmed by the threatenings of God, because of their sins, which were repeated to them by the prophet. John knew they had cherished the idea that because they were of the seed of Abraham, they were securely established in the favor of God; while at the same time their course of action was abhorred of him. Their conduct was, in many respects, even worse than that of the heathen nations to whom they felt so much superior. Many of the scribes and Pharisees came to him, confessing their sins, and were baptized of him in Jordan. The confessions made by them on these occasions astonished the prophet; for they had exalted themselves as better than other men, and had maintained a high opinion of their own piety and worthiness. As they sought to obtain remission of their sins, and revealed the secrets of their lives, which had been covered from the eyes of men, the prophet was amazed, and said unto them: “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth, therefore, fruits meet for repentance. 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.” The prophet here acquainted them with the ability of God to raise up those who would take their place, and who would become more worthy children of Abraham than they had been. He told them plainly that God was not dependent upon them to fulfill his purposes; for he could provide ways and means, independent of them, to carry forward his great work, which was to be accomplished in purity and righteousness. John further said: “And now also the ax 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.” He impresses upon them that the value of the tree is ascertained by the fruit it produces. Though a tree may bear an exalted name, yet if it produces no fruit, or if its fruit is unworthy of the name, the name will avail nothing in saving the tree from destruction. “Of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramblebush gather they grapes.” The prophet of God was impressed by the Holy Spirit that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees who asked baptism had no true convictions of their sins. Selfish motives induced them to take the step they did. They thought that if they should become friends of the prophet, they would stand a better chance to be personally favored of the coming Prince. In their blindness they believed that he was to set up a temporal kingdom, and would bestow honors and riches upon his subjects. John rebuked their selfish pride and avarice, and condemned their hypocrisy and unbelief. He told them that they had not fulfilled the conditions of the covenant, which would entitle them to the promises God made to a faithful and obedient people. Their being the natural descendants of Abraham did not make them his children in spirit. Their exhibitions of pride, arrogance, jealousy, selfishness, and cruelty, stamped them as a generation of vipers, rather than the children of obedient and just Abraham, and disqualified them to claim the promises God made to the children of Abraham. John assured them that God would raise up children unto Abraham from the very stones to whom he could fulfill his promise, rather than to depend on the natural children of Abraham who had neglected the light God had given them, and had become hardened by selfish ambition and wicked unbelief. He told them that if they were really the children of Abraham, they would do the works of their father Abraham. They would have his faith, love and obedience. But they did not bear this fruit. They had no claim to Abraham as their father, or the promises God made to the seed of Abraham. “Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” While they were professing to be God’s commandment-keeping people, their works denied their faith, and without true repentance for their sins they could have no part in the kingdom of Christ. Justice, benevolence, mercy and the love of God would characterize the lives of God’s commandment-keeping people. And unless these fruits were seen in their daily lives, all professions of piety were but as chaff that would be devoted to the fire of destruction. The Jews deceived themselves by misinterpreting the words of the Lord, spoken through his prophets, to mean that God extended eternal favor to the Israelites, whatever might be their course of action. They claimed the promises of God without limit or condition, and applied the words of Jeremiah exclusively to themselves:— “Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; the Lord of hosts is his name. If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever. Thus saith the Lord: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord.”
The Jews did not perceive that these promises were upon condition of obedience; but flattered themselves that, however great their iniquities, God would still retain them as his favored people, according to his promise, which they entirely misunderstood. But John assured them that if the seed of Abraham failed to bring forth proper fruit, God would raise up children unto Abraham to take their place. The marked danger of the people of God in all ages has been a tendency to believe that the favor extended them of God, because of their righteousness, would not be removed from them when that righteousness should fail, and evil doing should take its place. This is the danger of commandment-keeping people, living near the close of time. We are cited by the apostle to the unbelief, blindness, rebellion, and repeated sins of the Hebrews, as a warning. Paul plainly states that “all these things happened unto them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” Many in these last days are preparing themselves for affliction and sorrow, or for entire separation from the favor of God, because of their pride and self-righteousness. They fall through self-exaltation. The prophet John impressed upon the people the necessity of their profession being accompanied by good works. Their words and actions were the fruit, which he declared would determine the character of the tree. If their works were evil, the truth of God would testify against them. God would in no wise excuse sin in a people who had been enlightened; and they were no safer in their iniquity because in their days of faithfulness and purity, he had loved them, and had given them special promises. Those promises and blessings were always upon condition of their obedience. The Lord, by the mouth of Moses, pronounced blessings upon the obedient, and curses upon the disobedient. “Ye shall make you no idols,” was the command of God. “Ye shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary. I am the Lord. If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.” Many and great blessings are enumerated, which God would bestow; and then, above all the other blessings he promised, “I will set my tabernacle among you; and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.” “But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; and if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant, I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart; and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies. They that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.” The Jews were then experiencing the fulfillment of the threatened curse of God for their departure from him; yet they did not see that their afflictions were the punishment for their iniquity, and humble their souls accordingly before God. They still laid claim to the blessings God had promised to confer upon them if they were obedient and faithful. John specified the fruit they must bear in order to become the subjects of Christ’s kingdom. They were virtuous characters, and works of love, mercy, and benevolence. He laid down the rule of a righteous life with a plainness that all could understand. Justice and charity were essential elements of the character of the child of God. Said the prophet: “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. 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. 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.” John gave his disciples lessons in practical godliness. He showed them that true goodness, honesty, and fidelity must be constantly manifested in their daily lives if they would be regarded as the children of God, and be fitted for the kingdom of Christ. They were to strive to benefit those within the sphere of their influence. Their wealth was not to be devoted to merely selfish purposes. They were to relieve the wants of the destitute, and to advance the cause of God by free-will offerings. They were to shield the defenseless, redress the wrongs of the injured, and thus present a noble example of virtue, benevolence, and compassion. If they should make no change in their conduct, but should continue to be selfish, extravagant, and void of principle, they would correctly represent the tree bearing no good fruit and would be hewn down and finally consumed. This lesson is applicable to all Christians. The professed followers of Christ should evidence by their good works that the influence of the Spirit of God has transformed their hearts, and made a radical change in their lives. But many, while making high professions, do not feel the need of engaging in Christian duties, with hearts of love, strengthened by their new and holy obligations. They feel no weight of responsibility in doing their Master’s work with promptness and diligence. The people thought that John might be the promised Messiah; his life was so unselfish, marked with such humility and self-denial; and his teachings, exhortations, and reproofs, were so fervent, sincere, and courageous. He turned not to the right nor to the left to court favor or applause. He did not aspire to worldly honor or dignity, but was humble in heart and life, and, earnestly assured his followers that he was not the Christ. John, as a prophet, stood forth as God’s representative, to show the connection between the law and prophets, and the Christian dispensation. His work and ministry pointed back to the law and the prophets, while he, at the same time, pointed the people forward to Christ, as the Saviour of the world. He raised his voice and cried to the people, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Multitudes followed this remarkable prophet from place to place, and many sacrificed all to obey his instruction. Kings, and nobles, were attracted to him, and gladly listened to his teachings. As John saw that the attention of the people was directed to him, thinking that he might be the Coming One, he sought every opportunity to direct the attention of the people to One mightier than himself.