SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 3
JOHN THE BAPTIST PREPARES THE WAY (vs. 1-12)
John was preaching the message of repentance in the desert of Judea. He was the one preparing the way for the Lord and making straight paths for Him as spoken by Prophet Isaiah.
John was dressed with camel’s hair cloth with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locust and wild honey. People from Jerusalem, Judea and the whole region of the Jordan came to confess their sins and were baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. And when John the Baptist saw the Pharisees and Sadducees, he warned them to repent and produce fruit. He told them not to brag about being Abraham as their father because God can raise up children for Abraham. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down by ax and thrown into the fire.
He foretold someone more powerful after him will come and baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He will clear the threshing floor by gathering his wheat into the barn and bring up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS (vs. 13-17)
Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John hesitated and said: “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (v. 14). Jesus replied: “Let it be so now, it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” (v. 15). So, John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (vs. 16-17)
THOUGHTS:
John the Baptist was the one preparing the way for Jesus. He preached repentance and judgment and was obedient to the Lord. What can you do to prepare the way to those people who need to open a relationship with God?
The baptism of Jesus is a picture of his future baptism on the cross when judgment on sin would be upon Him. Christian baptism today looks back to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and witnesses of the believer’s identification with Him.
There were two prominent groups of Jewish religious leaders – the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees separated themselves from anything non-Jewish and carefully followed both the Old Testament laws and the oral traditions handed down through the centuries. The Sadducees believed the Pentateuch alone to be God’s word. They were descended mainly from priestly nobility while the Pharisees came from all classes of people. The two groups disliked each other and both opposed Jesus. John the Baptist criticized the Pharisees for being legalistic and hypocritical knowing the law but not doing it. He criticized the Sadducees for using religion to advance their political position. We better examine ourselves if we fall under either of one of the category.
John the Baptist called people to repent and change their behavior. To prove that we really had turned away from sins means that our conduct should back up what we say. Do your action match your words? Are you bearing fruits? Christians in name only are of no value. If others cannot see our faith in how we treat people, we do not belong to God’s people. To be productive for God, we must obey his teachings, resist temptation, actively serve God and help others and share our faith.
John the Baptist felt that he was unqualified to baptized Jesus. He wanted to Jesus to baptize him. But why did Jesus wanted to be baptized?
- He was confessing sin on behalf of the nation.
- He was showing support of John’s work.
- He accepted baptism in obedient service to the Father, which God showed his approval.
John the Baptist showed his humility when he said: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (v. 11) How about you? Can you put your ego aside in order to point others to Jesus? Are you willing to lose some of your status so that everyone will be benefited?
Trinity means God is in three persons but one in essence. During Jesus’ baptism, all 3 persons in Trinity are present. God the Father speaks, God the Son is baptized and God the Holy Spirit descends as dove on Jesus.