"For What It's Worth"

 "And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison. Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying." (John 3:23-25 KJV) 

  "Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. So he went and preached to the spirits in prison - those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 3:18-21 NLT)

  Back to the basics, as they say, is what it takes to sometimes let time catch up with us, or us to catch up with time; either way, it always good to get back to the basic truth of what is what, and why. Maybe it is just me, but there seems to be several points made within these three verses about places and times and practices, that, if you pardon my expression, just don't add up. 

  First and foremost, there are three basic pieces of information that might help us to see this from the proper perspective: the writer's point of view, the time in which it was written, and the reason it was even part of the story. John, the Writer of this book, started his ministry, (if you don't mind me saying that,) as a disciple of John the Baptist. He had much respect in his heart for John's ministry, as it was John's testimony of Jesus, being The Lamb of God, that moved John, The Writer, to follow Jesus Christ.

  It has been said that the Gospel of John was the last of the Four Gospel's written; most likely that it was written around 70 A.D. towards the end of John's life, but before he was sent to Patmos. John's Gospel is different from the other three, as is was written, not so much to tell historical facts, but to ask the question, "What does His coming mean?" 

  All that said, it is vital to understand that this was written for a purpose, as it prepares us to conceive that rest of what John the Baptist is about to say! After all, John the Baptist is the one who's main purpose is, To Prepare the Way of the Lord! John the Writer has made every effort to not loose sight of that very important message...

"Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15 KJV)