John the Baptist was the prophesied herald who announced Jesus as the coming King and called Israel to repent in preparation for His kingdom.
John's role was to go before the Lord as a messenger and announce the King that Israel had been promised. He did this by preaching repentance and baptism, because the King was already in their midst. His ministry also exposed Israel's expectation of deliverance from political enemies, as opposed to the spiritual salvation that was necessary.
Malachi 3:1 — This verse promises a messenger who would be sent to prepare the way before the Lord, which directly identifies John's role as forerunner.
Matthew 3:2 — John's own preaching called Israel to repent because the kingdom of heaven was at hand, announcing the King's arrival.
Malachi 3:1 promises a messenger sent before the Lord: "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts." John the Baptist's own preaching was, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2). John's father, Zacharias, prophesied that God "hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David," and that Israel "should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us" (Luke 1:69-71). Jesus later said of John, "Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist" (Matthew 11:11), and "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John" (Matthew 11:13). Jesus also said, "And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come" (Matthew 11:14).
Les Feldick explains John the Baptist as the herald of the King. Just as a herald in ancient history would announce the coming of an emperor through the city, John announced the coming of the King to Israel. His message, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," was based on the fact that the King was in their midst. Christ was on the scene and about to present Himself to Israel as their promised Messiah and King, so they were to prepare spiritually with repentance and baptism. Les stresses that Israel was primarily expecting a physical, political kingdom—salvation from enemies such as the Romans—rather than spiritual salvation. John's ministry connected Israel's political expectation to spiritual preparation. John was the promised messenger who would announce the King, and the King Himself is the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. Yet Israel rejected the King and crucified Him; the kingdom was postponed, but it remains centered in the person of Christ. Les also points out that even John, while in prison, wondered if Jesus really was the Christ, because Jesus was not delivering him. Jesus' response, "Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist," shows John's unique place, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
John preached "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" because the King was present. Les explains that Christ was about to present Himself to Israel as the promised Messiah and King, so Israel was to prepare spiritually with repentance and the baptism of repentance.
Les shows from the prophecy at John's birth that Israel expected salvation from physical enemies: "That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us" (Luke 1:71). Their expectation was political and physical—deliverance from the Romans and the surrounding nations—not primarily spiritual. John's role announced that the King who would fulfill the Abrahamic covenant was coming.
Les compares John to a herald in ancient history who would come one or two days before a great emperor and announce his arrival, never retracing his steps. John was that kind of one-time herald, announcing the coming of the King to Israel.
After John was put in prison, he sent disciples to ask Jesus, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" Les explains that from the human standpoint, John wondered why Jesus, with all His power, was not setting him free. John had announced the King and preached repentance, yet he himself sat in prison.
Jesus declared that among those born of women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist, yet he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Jesus also said the prophets and the law prophesied until John, and then added, "And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come." Les points out that the word "if" is loaded, and Jesus was speaking to Jews.
Israel's Expectation of Deliverance from Enemies
Les shows the prophecy connected with John's birth pointed to deliverance from physical enemies, revealing what Israel expected from the coming King.
Repentance Because the King Was Present
Les explains John's call to repentance was based on the King's presence, calling Israel to spiritual preparation for the kingdom.
John's Doubt in Prison
Les uses John's imprisonment to show that the forerunner himself doubted whether Jesus was the Christ because he saw no deliverance.
Rejected King, Unchanged Kingdom
Les teaches Israel rejected the King and crucified Him, but the kingdom remains centered in Christ.
Messenger Announcing the King and the Abrahamic Covenant
Les connects John the Baptist to Malachi 3:1 and shows his announcement of the King tied to the Abrahamic covenant.
John as Herald of the King
Les compares John to a herald who announced an emperor in ancient cities, a one-time announcement of the coming King.
John's Human Question from Prison
Les draws out John's human perspective from prison, questioning why Jesus wasn't using His power to free him.
Jesus' Estimate of John the Baptist
Les highlights Jesus' words that John was the greatest born of women, while the least in the kingdom is greater than he, and points to the 'if' in verse 14.
Malachi 3:1: Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
This is the Old Testament promise of the forerunner who would prepare the way before the Lord.
Matthew 3:2: And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
John's message directly announced the imminent kingdom because the King was among them.
Luke 1:69: And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
The prophecy at John's birth ties the coming salvation to the house of David, the royal line of the King.
Luke 1:71: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
Shows Israel's expectation of deliverance from physical enemies, not spiritual salvation.
Matthew 11:2-3: Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
Reveals John's human doubt while imprisoned, asking if Jesus truly was the promised one.
Matthew 11:11: Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Jesus' own testimony about John's unique greatness and the greater privilege of kingdom membership.
Matthew 11:13: For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
Marks John as the transition point from prophecy to fulfillment of the kingdom message.
Matthew 11:14: And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
Jesus connects John to the promised Elijah figure, conditional on Israel's reception.
Because the King was already on the scene. Les explains that Christ was about to present Himself to Israel as the promised Messiah and King, so John called the nation to repent and be baptized in preparation (Matthew 3:2).
Yes. Malachi 3:1 promised a messenger sent before the Lord, and Les says John was that messenger—a herald who announced the coming King to Israel.
From prison, John sent disciples to ask, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" Les says this shows John's human perspective while imprisoned, because Jesus was not acting like a delivering conqueror (Matthew 11:2-3).
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