Ministry and Death of John the Baptist

🕊️ Ministry and Death of John the Baptist

💔 Sin and Evil

Sin: Not meeting God’s standards or disobeying Him.
Evil: Doing something wrong or harmful.

⚖️ Common Evils Today:

💰 Bribery (taking money for favors)
💼 Exploitation (using people unfairly)
🛑 Corruption (dishonesty in power)
💸 Prostitution (selling oneself for money)
🚫 Discrimination (unfair treatment of others)

📜 The Message of John the Baptist

Reading: Luke 3:1-20 and Matthew 3:1-12

🤲 Right Behavior in Zambia Today

Right behavior means acting according to accepted moral standards and doing what God expects.

Examples of Right Behavior:

👮 People in Authority (like government officials, police):
- Shouldn’t misuse their position.
- Should work fairly and honestly.
- Should not take bribes.
👩‍🏫 Ordinary People in Secular Work (like teachers, nurses, workers):
- Should work hard.
- Should be honest and truthful.
- Should not waste time.
⛪ Religious and Church Leaders (like pastors and priests):
- Should live as good examples.
- Should be honest and kind.
- Should have a good reputation.

🔄 The Work of John and the Work of Jesus

🌊 Work of John	✝️ Work of Jesus
Told people to repent	Told people to repent too
Baptized with water	Baptized with the Holy Spirit
Encouraged people to live right	Forgave sins
Warned of God’s judgment	Warned of the coming judgment

🚔 Why John the Baptist Was Imprisoned and Killed

Reading: Mark 6:17-29

📖 John the Baptist’s Message Compared to Other Religions

🪔 Zambian Traditional Religion

People stay close to their ancestors through prayers and sacrifices at family shrines. God is supreme but believed to be unknowable.

☪️ Islam

Kalima: Belief in one God and Muhammad as His prophet.
Prayer: Prayed five times a day facing Mecca.
Fasting: During Ramadan, fasting from sunrise to sunset.
Almsgiving: Giving money to the poor.
Pilgrimage: Every Muslim should go to Mecca at least once.

🕉️ Hinduism

Dharma: Hindu teachings with five main ideas:
- God: Created and controls everything.
- Prayer: Offered to God morning and evening.
- Reincarnation: The soul doesn’t die but is reborn in a new body.
- Karma: A person’s actions determine their future.
- Non-Violence: Respecting all life.

✝️ Christianity

Belief in Jesus as the Son of God.
🙏 Repentance: Admitting sins and asking for forgiveness through Jesus.
💧 Baptism: A sign of a new life in Christ.
🌱 New Life: Living with commitment to God.
🌈 Hope in Resurrection: Belief in eternal life through Jesus.

📚 Exam Questions and Answers

1. Narrate John the Baptist’s message in the wilderness.
- Reading: Luke 3:1-20
2. How should religious leaders behave?
- Be upright and practice what they teach.
3. How should people in authority act?
- Work honestly to benefit others; not misuse their position.
4. Compare John’s message with Hinduism:
- Similarities: Belief in a controlling God and the consequences of actions.
- Difference: John's message includes Jesus as Savior, while Hinduism believes in karma without a personal savior.

📜 The Ministry and Death of John the Baptist

John the Baptist was a significant figure in Christianity, known for his ministry of preaching repentance, baptizing people in the River Jordan, and preparing the way for the coming of Jesus Christ. His message and actions were pivotal in the New Testament, leading to both his imprisonment and eventual death.

⚖️ Why John the Baptist Was Imprisoned and Killed

John was imprisoned and later executed due to his outspoken criticism of King Herod. John had publicly condemned Herod's marriage to his brother's wife, which was considered unlawful according to Jewish law. Herod, though interested in hearing John, eventually had him arrested and executed to silence his criticisms.

🕊️ John the Baptist's Message Compared to Other Religions

🌍 Zambian Traditional Religion

In Zambian traditional beliefs, people stay close to their ancestors through prayers and sacrifices at family shrines. Though God is considered supreme, he is often believed to be unknowable or distant. Traditional practices emphasize ancestral worship, seeking guidance and blessings from ancestors.

🕌 Islam

Islam's core beliefs include the Five Pillars, which guide a Muslim's faith and practices:

Kalima: 🕋 The belief in one God (Allah) and Muhammad as His prophet.
Prayer: 🧎 Muslims pray five times a day facing Mecca.
Fasting: 🌅 Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan, from sunrise to sunset.
Almsgiving: 💰 The practice of giving to the poor, also known as zakat.
Pilgrimage: 🕋 Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime, if possible.

🕉️ Hinduism

Hinduism teaches several concepts, which are foundational to its beliefs:

Dharma: 📜 The moral order of the universe and the duties individuals have to live righteously.
God: 🕉️ Hindus believe in a supreme god, but there are also many deities representing different aspects of God.
Reincarnation: 🔄 The belief that the soul is reborn in a new body after death.
Karma: 🔄 The belief that a person’s actions in this life will determine their future lives.
Non-Violence: ☮️ A principle of respecting all living beings and avoiding harm.

✝️ Christianity

Christianity centers around the belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of humanity. Key beliefs include:

Belief in Jesus: ✝️ Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of all people.
Repentance: 🙏 Admitting one’s sins and seeking forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
Baptism: 💧 A symbol of the believer's faith in Christ and a sign of new life in Him.
New Life: 🕊️ Living according to God's commandments and striving to be Christ-like.
Hope in Resurrection: 🌅 Christians believe in the resurrection of the dead and eternal life with God.

📝 Exam Questions and Answers

1. Narrate John the Baptist’s message in the wilderness:
- Reading: 📖 Luke 3:1-20
2. How should religious leaders behave?
- 🕊️ Religious leaders should practice what they preach, be upright, and serve as good examples to others.
3. How should people in authority act?
- 💼 People in authority should act with honesty, not misuse their position, and work for the betterment of others.
4. Compare John’s message with Hinduism:
- Similarities: ✝️🕉️ Both John’s message and Hinduism believe that God controls the universe, and actions have consequences.
- Difference: ✝️ John’s message includes belief in Jesus as the savior, while Hinduism focuses on the idea of karma and reincarnation without a personal savior.

🩸 John the Baptist’s Death and Imprisonment

John the Baptist was imprisoned and eventually executed because of his criticism of King Herod Antipas. Herod had taken his brother’s wife, which John publicly condemned. This led to John being arrested. Eventually, John was beheaded at the request of Herod’s stepdaughter, who had been manipulated by her mother, Herodias. The story of his death is recorded in the book of Mark (6:17-29).

🕊️ John the Baptist’s Message Compared to Other Religions

✝️ Christianity

Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of humanity. The core beliefs include repentance, baptism, and the hope of resurrection. Christianity emphasizes the importance of living a life committed to God, and belief in eternal life through Christ’s resurrection is central to the faith.

🔍 Religious Comparison

🕌 Islam

Islam is based on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, who is believed to be the last and final messenger of God. Central to Islam is the Five Pillars of Faith:

Kalima: 🕋 The declaration of belief in one God (Allah) and Muhammad as His prophet.
Prayer: 🧎 Muslims pray five times daily facing Mecca.
Fasting: 🌅 Observed during the month of Ramadan, fasting from sunrise to sunset.
Almsgiving: 💰 Giving a portion of one’s income to the poor and needy.
Pilgrimage: 🕋 Muslims are required to visit Mecca at least once in their lifetime if they are able to.

🌍 Zambian Traditional Religion

In Zambian traditional religion, people maintain a connection with their ancestors through prayers, rituals, and sacrifices at family shrines. The belief in God as a supreme, though unknowable, being is central. People also focus on maintaining balance and harmony with the spiritual world through ancestral worship.

🕉️ Hinduism

Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world and encompasses a wide variety of beliefs and practices. Some key concepts in Hinduism include:

Dharma: 📜 Living a righteous life according to moral principles and duties.
Reincarnation: 🔄 The belief that after death, a soul is reborn in a new body.
Karma: 🔄 The belief that a person’s actions influence their future fate and future lives.
Non-Violence: ☮️ Respecting and valuing all forms of life.

📝 John the Baptist’s Message in Comparison

John’s message, focused on repentance and the coming of the Messiah, shares similarities with various religious teachings, especially the moral and spiritual dimensions. While Hinduism emphasizes karma and reincarnation, John’s message highlights repentance and faith in Jesus as the Savior. Christianity, like John’s message, places a strong focus on repentance and belief in eternal life through Jesus Christ.

📚 Exam Questions and Answers

1. Narrate John the Baptist’s message in the wilderness:
- Reading: 📖 Luke 3:1-20
2. How should religious leaders behave?
- 🕊️ Religious leaders should practice what they preach, live by high moral standards, and act as examples to others.
3. How should people in authority act?
- 💼 People in authority should act with integrity, avoiding abuse of power and serving the public responsibly.
4. Compare John’s message with Hinduism:
- Similarities: ✝️🕉️ Both emphasize moral integrity and accountability.
- Difference: ✝️ Christianity focuses on faith in Jesus as the Savior, whereas Hinduism follows principles of karma and reincarnation without a specific savior figure.

📜 John the Baptist’s Death and Imprisonment

John the Baptist was imprisoned and eventually executed because of his criticism of King Herod Antipas. 👑 Herod had taken his brother’s wife, which John publicly condemned. This led to John being arrested. Eventually, John was beheaded at the request of Herod’s stepdaughter, who had been manipulated by her mother, Herodias. The story of his death is recorded in the book of Mark (6:17-29).

🔍 John the Baptist’s Message Compared to Other Religions

✝️ Christianity

🕊️ Religious Comparison

☪️ Islam

Islam is based on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, who is believed to be the last and final messenger of God. Central to Islam is the Five Pillars of Faith:

Kalima: 📜 The declaration of belief in one God (Allah) and Muhammad as His prophet.
Prayer: 🕋 Muslims pray five times daily facing Mecca.
Fasting: 🌙 Observed during the month of Ramadan, fasting from sunrise to sunset.
Almsgiving: 💰 Giving a portion of one’s income to the poor and needy.
Pilgrimage: 🕋 Muslims are required to visit Mecca at least once in their lifetime if they are able to.

🇿🇲 Zambian Traditional Religion

🕉️ Hinduism

Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world and encompasses a wide variety of beliefs and practices. Some key concepts in Hinduism include:

Dharma: 📜 Living a righteous life according to moral principles and duties.
Reincarnation: 🔄 The belief that after death, a soul is reborn in a new body.
Karma: ⚖️ The belief that a person’s actions influence their future fate and future lives.
Non-Violence: 🕊️ Respecting and valuing all forms of life.

🔄 John the Baptist’s Message in Comparison

📝 Exam Questions and Answers

1. Narrate John the Baptist’s message in the wilderness:
- Reading: 📖 Luke 3:1-20
2. How should religious leaders behave?
- 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Religious leaders should practice what they preach, be upright, and serve as good examples to others.
3. How should people in authority act?
- 💼 People in authority should act with honesty, not misuse their position, and work for the betterment of others.
4. Compare John’s message with Hinduism:
- Similarities: ✝️🕉️ Both John’s message and Hinduism believe that God controls the universe, and actions have consequences.
- Difference: ✝️ John’s message includes belief in Jesus as the savior, while 🕉️ Hinduism focuses on the idea of karma and reincarnation without a personal savior.