[:en]SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 3
“A voice of one calling in the desert. Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for Him” (Matthew 3:3)
“This is my Son, whom I love, with Him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17)
JOHN THE BAPTIST (vs. 1-12)
John the Baptist was preaching the gospel of repentance in the Desert of Judea. His cloth were made of camel’s hair and he had a leather belt around his waist. His foods were locusts and wild honey. He was baptizing the people in the Jordan River.
When the Pharisees and Sadducees came to be baptized, he called them “Brood of vipers”. Satan is a viper. The Pharisees depended on human relationship to Abraham but they were Christ’s enemies and children of Satan.
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS (vs. 13-17)
Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. At first, John refused at but later consented when Jesus said: “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness” (v. 15)
As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. The heaven opened and the Spirit of God descended like a dove. A voice from heaven said: “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him, I am well pleased” (v. 17)
SUMMARY:
John the Baptist was the one who prepared the way for the Lord (Isa. 40:3). He preached repentance (v. 8) and judgment (v. 12)
When people heard his message, some repented and became children of God but others did not and were children of the devil (v. 7)
The Pharisees were legalists who created laws to burden people. They boast Abraham as their ancestor but John told them that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham (v. 9). John warn them that if they did not produce good fruits in keeping with repentance, they will be cut down and thrown into the fire. He foretold that there is one more powerful than him, whose sandals he is not fit to carry, who will baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Two baptisms are mentioned here. Baptism of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 1:5). Baptism with Fire (judgment) is to be fulfilled at Christ’s second coming (Mat. 3:11)
When Jesus was baptized, the Spirit descended like a dove. Dove is a symbol of the Spirit. Dove is a clean bird. It is faithful, peaceful and gentle. After the flood, Noah sent a dove and it returned to Noah in the ark. He waited seven more days and sent out the dove again, the dove returned to him with a freshly plucked olive leaf in its beak. (Gen. 8:8-11)
Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and the Spirit empowered Him during His life on earth. During His baptism, the TRINITY was revealed. Jesus is the Son who was baptized. Dove is the Holy Spirit descended from above. The voice from the heaven is the Father.
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