Matt 3

 1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”

  4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.  5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,  6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 

  7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.  9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.  10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 

  11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 

  13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”  15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.  16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”


I've always really appreciated John the Baptist. After Jesus I think that he's my favourite NT character. I even named my son after him (and John the apostle). I appreciate his bold bluntness coupled with his humility.

Some people balk at the brothers' blunt ministry of calling people away from their sins to righteousness and yet we can see this right here in John's words. Even calls people names. Who today would be comfortable with his style of preaching if we were to witness it first hand?

In verses 9 and 10 it seems that John is bringing out the point that Jesus is about cut off all those that are not acting like children of Abraham (see John 8) and is going to graft in all those that who by faith live as children of Abraham. In Gal 3 Paul says, "Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham." The blood lineage was no longer good enough; reckoning day was coming. Only those that live by faith will be counted as children of Abraham.

I wonder about what it means to be baptized by fire. Is he talking about the fiery trials that we will have to endure? Ideas?

May we all be found "bearing fruit in keeping with repentance."