The herald.
"In those days," viz. while Jesus dwelt at Nazareth, the place of separation and reproach, "came John the Baptist," viz. to herald him. Man's order is to champion that which is popular, God's order is to herald truth. We note—
I. THAT JOHN CAME IN THE QUALITY OF ELIJAH.
1. In this quality he was predicted.
2. John accordingly behaved like Elijah.
(a) John was simply the "voice," Jesus is the "Word."
(b) This voice arose out of silence.
Zacharias was dumb until he pronounced the name of "John." So we, until visited by the pledges of his mercy and grace, are dumb before God.
3. Yet is John distinguished from that prophet.
II. THAT JOHN CAME TO HERALD THE KING MESSIAH.
1. His testimony was unequivocal.
(2) Herein was John the greatest of all the prophets (Matthew 11:9-11). Other prophets gave marks and tokens by which Christ might be known. John pointed him out in Person. The greatest triumph of prophecy is to bring men to the personal Jesus, in their very soul to see him as the saving Christ.
2. His qualifications were unimpeachable.
III. JOHN CAME ALSO TO HERALD MESSIAH'S KINGDOM.
1. He heralded it as the kingdom of the heavens.
(a) It has subjects.
(b) It has a King.
(c) It has laws.
(a) Its principles are those of heaven.
(b) In the heavens its principles are made eternal.
(c) It prepares its subjects for translation to the heavens.
2. He proclaimed its near approach.
3. He therefore preached repentance.
(a) Bring down the eminences of pride, presumption, ingratitude.
(b) Fill up the hollows of inattention, apathy, despondency.
(c) Straighten the crooked places of prejudice, censoriousness, covetousness.
(d) Smooth the rough places of sabbath-breaking, drunkenness, profanity, immorality, instability.