11 October 2026
The Meaning Behind John's Baptism, Part 2 (TMF:2985)
Friday, October 16, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
Leviticus 15:13 called for a ritual of purification much like water baptism. In connection to this is the interesting fact of John basically saying that those who belonged to the Nation of Israel, those of the Jewish race, weren’t truly in right relationship with God. They were, in heart, as the outsider Gentiles had been in the past, and they needed to go through the ritual in order to show that they were now in this right relationship. Repentance of sins needed to occur, and then they could receive John’s water baptism. This action would demonstrate that a change had occurred for a person on the inside. The Jewish Law had focused on external behaviors, but now the focus was a true change of character from the inside, which really, in reality, was what God had desired all along from people. The desire was always present for people to be genuinely following him from the heart, and not just going through the motions with external actions.
The Meaning Behind John's Baptism, Part 1 (TMF:2984)
Thursday, October 15, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
“(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.” What then is really going on with John’s baptism? This practice of water immersion introduced by John appears to have its parallel in the Old Testament practice and procedure of admitting Gentiles peoples into the Jewish religion. In other words, in the Old Testament, when a person desired to become Jewish, and worship the Jewish God, Leviticus 15:13 called for a ritual of purification much like water baptism. In connection to this is the interesting fact of John basically saying that those who belonged to the Nation of Israel, those of the Jewish race, weren’t truly in right relationship with God.
Asking 'Who is John the Baptist?' Part 2 (TMF:2983)
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
A belief was also persistent among the Jewish people that there was going to be a great prophet that would rise up like Moses. This idea stems from Deuteronomy 18:15-18. People thought this prophet was coming into the world, but later we learn in Acts 3, particularly verses 22 and 23, that this prediction of Moses in Deuteronomy actually referred to Jesus Christ. These are the familiar verses which say, “The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.” While we understand this is relating to Jesus, those first century Jews thought that it was speaking about another prophet.
Asking 'Who is John the Baptist?' Part 1 (TMF:2982)
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
“And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” At this point, our attention can be called to a few things. Apparently, some at the time thought that John the Baptist might actually be the Christ that they were looking for. With the words John spoke, as well as with the following he had attained, the thought was he must be the Christ. However, John made it clear that he was not that Person. Another thing to note is that the Old Testament had promised that Elijah would come first before God established his everlasting earthly kingdom for the Israelites, the one where the Messiah would reign as king (see 2 Kings 1:8).
Understanding God Through Love (TMF:2981)
Monday, October 12, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
And, God took care of the Israelites, he defended them, and he brought about his wrath on his own people and people who didn’t belong to him. Sin was judged. But the core-essence of God goes far beyond that. The core-essence of God is demonstrated in the character of Jesus Christ. Even in our age, that is not understood by the masses. A lot of folks believe the correct understanding of God is to take part of that Old Testament (or even Book to the Revelation) violence picture and intermix it into their ‘personal’ characters. Thus, people construct within themselves a judgmental and resistant attitude toward themselves and other individuals. Those actions of the Father are only correctly understood in the light of everything else, and truly in the light of the highest attribute of God, which is love. Without love, understanding and trying to practice those kinds of things leads quickly to serious problems. The reality is that it removes the grace and truth that John is referring to in this passage.