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Verse for Today:
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'”
4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. – Mat 3:1-6
Don’t we just love Christmas!!! The presents, the cakes, putting up the Christmas tree and seeing the family. There is normally a buildup like 3 months before that; where all the shops and malls get decorated.
I love going to the winter wonderland! Normally a caroucel and fairground is the star attraction with lots and lots of fairy lights leading down a densely bush covered walkway next to the beach.
It is quite a festive atmosphere with sounds of laughter and noises of the fair in the background. Getting there the whole atmosphere takes you back when you were a kid, being exited to ride the swinging boat, the skylectric bumper cars and the haunted house.
So the buildup made you quite exited and I think that is what the Jews felt at the time when John told them the kingdom is near. The reason being is that this has been prophesied for a millennia, the “Coming of the Kingdom”.
Matthew refers back to a prophesy made by Isiah, seven hundred years ago. He was the guy who will prepare the way!
But with the coming there was an expectation for the people to repent. It is almost like the inauguration of the president where you know changes in the country is coming your way.
Nowadays we would classify John as a vegetarian mountain man, eating locust and honey wearing the latest of combat camo gear. He was the like a recce of our time living off the bush.
We can see what that the repentance he was preaching, came with confessing your sin. My goodness!! It is like being on truth serum being interviewed on a polygraph. Then they were baptized for the forgiveness of their sin. What a ride!!
So coming back to the topic of the kingdom, the clue is as follow:
Clue 12 – The Kingdom is near – John the baptist
We will find out at the end how all the clues are pulled together; getting to get to the treasure.
Prayer for Today:
Wow, Lord the coming of the Kingdom is near!! What an exiting thought!!! Help me to repent of the sins I learned in the previous study so I can be part of tbe Kingdom that has come. The next step is then to get baptized which we will look at in the next study and the meaning thereof. Amen.
If you want to take your relationship with God to a deeper level contact me on Whatsapp +27 79 481 8989 then we can do some personal Bible Study!
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