Jesus Testifies of John the Baptist's Mission

Matthew 11:2-6; Luke 7:19-23. Why did John send two of his disciples to Jesus to ask if he were the promised Messiah? Any inference that the Baptist was uncertain or doubtful in his own mind, as to the identity and mission of the Master, is totally unwarranted. In reality, the imprisoned Elias and forerunner of our Lord was using this means to persuade his disciples to forsake him and follow Jesus.

Luke 7:19-23; Matthew 11:2-6; John knew who Jesus was; the Baptist was not wavering as a reed in the wind. While in Herod's prison, angels sent by Jesus had ministered comfort and assurance to John (I. V. Matthew 4:11), and immediately after John's disciples left to report back to the Baptist, the Lord was to speak eloquently of the integrity and stability of the one who had baptized him. This act of sending his disciples to Jesus was in effect a final great testimony on John's part that Jesus was the Lamb of God, for the Baptist knew that his disciples, seeing the Master personally and hearing his teachings, could not help but follow the greater light.

Matthew 11:15. The dead are raised up] Apparently many dead were raised, not just the three mentioned in the gospels.

Matthew 11:9; 9. More than a prophet] There are greater callings than those which constitute men prophets of God. "A seer is greater than a prophet," for instance, for "a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have." (Mosiah 8:15-16.) John was a prophet and something more in addition. He was a prophet because he had the testimony of Jesus, meaning that he knew by personal revelation from the Holy Ghost that Jesus was the Christ. (Revelation 19:10.) But in addition to standing as a prophet, he performed the mighty work which enabled the Lord himself to come and restore the fulness of the gospel.

Luke 7:28. There is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist] There is not a prophet who has borne greater or more important testimony of Jesus than that which fell from John's lips. Joseph Smith gave three reasons why John was considered one of the greatest prophets. "First. He was entrusted with a divine mission of preparing the way before the face of the Lord. Whoever had such a trust committed to him before or since? No man.

Luke 7:28; "Secondly. He was entrusted with the important mission, and it was required at his hands, to baptize the Son of Man. Whoever had the honor of doing that? Whoever had so great a privilege and glory? Whoever led the Son of God into the waters of baptism, and had the privilege of beholding the Holy Ghost descend in the form of a dove, or rather in the sign of the dove, in witness of that administration? .

Luke 7:28; "Thirdly. John, at that time was the only legal administrator in the affairs of the kingdom there was then on earth. And holding the keys of power, the Jews had to obey his instructions or be damned, by their own law; and Christ himself fulfilled all righteousness in becoming obedient to the law which he had given to Moses on the mount, and thereby magnified it and made it honorable, instead of destroying it. The son of Zacharias wrested the keys, the kingdom, the power, the glory from the Jews, by the holy anointing and decree of heaven, and these three reasons constitute him the greatest prophet born of woman." (Teachings, pp. 275-276.)

Luke 7:28; He that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he] "Whom did Jesus have reference to as being the least?" Joseph Smith asked. "Jesus was looked upon as having the least claim in God's kingdom, and [seemingly] was least entitled to their credulity as a prophet; as though he had said, 'He that is considered the least among you is greater than John—that is I myself.'" (Teachings, p. 276.)

I. V. Matthew 11:12-14. Under the law of Moses a lower standard of personal conduct was required of members of the kingdom than became the case when the gospel fulness was restored. In the old kingdom violent and carnal men exercised undue influence, but in the new kingdom their power was diminished. But the millennium itself must arrive before "the violent shall have no power."

14. All of the prophets spoke of Christ and his day.

15. Elias] See John 1:19-28 John was the Elias who was to prepare all things, not the one who was to restore all things.

Luke 7:30. For those who would gain salvation, baptism in water is mandatory. No accountable person can be saved without it. Such is the counsel and command of God. To suppose that water baptism is merely an outward sign of some inward grace, or that baptism of the Spirit without prior immersion in water, is all that Deity requires is the purest sectarian delusion. The very baptism by immersion for the remission of sins which John performed (followed, of course, by the baptism of the Spirit which Jesus administered) is the thing which the Almighty has commanded.

Matthew 11:16-19; Luke 7:31-35. 'What illustration can I choose to show how petty, peevish, and insincere are you unbelieving Jews? You are like fickle children playing games; when you hold a mock wedding, your playmates refuse to dance; when you change the game to a funeral procession, your playmates refuse to mourn. In like manner you are only playing at religion. As cross and capricious children you reject John because he came with the strictness of the Nazarites, and ye reject me because I display the warm human demeanor that makes for pleasant social intercourse.'