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After 10 chapters devoted to the teaching of the 12 disciples, we see Jesus has now finished their instruction.
Now, we transition to their mission.
They are sent out to teach and preach, and when John the Baptist hears the gospel message, he asks who they are speaking about.
John heard about the works of Christ.
He had predicted the coming of the Messiah just as the prophets of old had predicted.
In his mind, the Messiah was coming to baptize people with the Spirit of God and with fire.
Christ had appeared upon the scene and was baptizing people with the Spirit of God, and the people were flocking around Him as though He were the Messiah.
But He was doing nothing about baptizing people with fire, the messianic fire of judgment.
Jesus’ spiritual baptism was a double baptism.
(Only one preposition is used in the Greek for “the Spirit and fire,” the preposition “in.”)
a. Jesus baptizes the person in the Spirit.
He dips, immerses, and places the person in the Spirit.
Whereas the person was carnal and materialistically minded, he now becomes spiritually minded.
The Jews had looked and longed for the day when the Spirit would come.
The prophets had predicted His coming time and again.
Therefore, the people knew exactly what John was predicting.
The Spirit was expected to awaken and excite the people to such a degree that they would mobilize behind the Messiah, following Him in the overthrow of all oppressors.
The Spirit was to lead the people in freeing Israel and establishing it as one of the greatest nations on earth.
b.
Jesus baptizes the person in fire.
Fire has several functions that graphically symbolize the work of Christ.
It illuminates, warms, melts, burns, and utterly destroys.
The difference between baptism with water and fire is the difference between an outward work and an inward work.
Water only cleanses the outside; fire purifies within, that is, the heart.
Jesus Christ separates a person from his former life and purifies him within by the fire of His Spirit.
It should be noted that in John’s mind the baptism of fire meant that the Messiah was to destroy the enemies of Israel.
It was “the messianic fire of judgment” that was to come from the throne of David.
To John’s mind, Christ was fulfilling only half of the prophecies concerning the Messiah and he was confused.
Was Jesus really the Messiah?
He had to know.
His whole life had been given over to the belief that Jesus was the Messiah.
He sent two disciples to ask, and Jesus used the opportunity to vindicate His Messiahship.
Now, we know there will come a baptism of fire later on, but at this time could you imagine thinking Jesus would bring judgment with Him here on earth, and that not happening.
John had to know.
He had to know the truth.
A Question and an Assurance
It seems that John’s question is inconsistent with his attitude towards Jesus in the first account where he acknowledges Jesus as the one who is “more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry”
Was John looking for the same Messiah as the Jews?
One who bring peace, but also a stern rule?
How was it then that John, in prison, heard of the things about Jesus?
Luke 7:18 (ESV)
18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him.
He sends two of his disciples out to ask if He is Jesus, or would another be sent?
Matthew does not explain the reason for John’s doubt.
Perhaps John’s perplexity was caused by his picture of a stern Messiah.
John was in prison, and he heard about the works of Christ.
What John had heard was that the works of Christ were works of love.
He knew that the Messiah was to baptize with both the Spirit and fire—the Messianic fire of judgment.
He had heard that Jesus was doing the loving works of the Spirit and that people were mobilizing around Him in huge throngs, but he had heard nothing about the fire of Messianic judgment.
John was questioning Jesus’ Messiahship.
John was the one who sent two of his disciples to question Jesus (v. 2), and it was to John that Jesus sent His answer (v.
4).
John wondered if Jesus were the true Messiah.
He was in prison, he couldn’t go see for himself and he needed assurance to strengthen his faith.
But notice that, even though John was seeking understanding, he did not waiver in his faith.
He trusted Jesus anyway and sought answers to the things he did not understand.
We should not fear nor be ashamed because we may not understand or have questions about Jesus.
In fact, it is good to make absolutely sure in all matters concerning our salvation.
We should seek and ask without feeling ashamed.
Jesus’ assurance to John was that He was without ANY doubt the Messiah.
Jesus gave five assurances to John.
Jesus spoke as the Messiah.
His words and the power of His message were evidences that Jesus was the Messiah.
Jesus demonstrated the power and works of the Messiah.
Jesus was saying that His works and concern (love) were the works and concern predicted for the Messiah, and both are unlimited.
Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Messiah.
Jesus preached the gospel of the Messiah.
He went to the poor, neither avoided nor neglected anyone, no matter their social status.
There is a good lesson in there for us today also.
Jesus promised both the blessing and judgment of the Messiah.
The blessing of salvation comes to those who believe in Him.
The judgment comes when He returns.
A Gentle Reminder
John had just questioned if Jesus were the true Messiah.
The questions had been asked in the presence of all around Him.
Some thought John was wavering in his faith, that he was weak and inconsistent.
If the people were allowed to think this, they would soon question if John were the real prophet who was to pave the way for the Messiah.
Then there would be the questioning of Jesus: Was He the true Messiah?
If this kind of talk and questioning had begun, it would have affected not only the crowd but also those who already believed.
It would have been devastating to the Lord’s mission.
Note how easily swayed people really are and how easily people forget a prophet’s real calling and pick up the news of his weak moments.
What Jesus did was reprimand the crowd.
He vindicated John and his mission, reminding them that John was the forerunner, and He claimed that He was the true Messiah.
John was not a wavering reed but a man firm in his convictions.
Questioning does not necessarily mean that a person is wavering in his beliefs or behavior.
John was not a vacillator, a reed swaying with the winds of change.
He did not sway nor weaken because of the frown and terror of Herod.
He was not a man who preached with force when he had the applause of men and weakened when he had the frown of men.
He was God’s servant, and he knew it.
He served God faithfully in His calling despite having to deal with some questions.
John was not a man of fine clothes but a man of discipline and self-denial.
John was dead to the world and its fame and power and ease.
He was not worldly nor soft but disciplined and self-denying.
He was not a man who was out to save what he had nor to save himself.
He was not crumbling under the weight of opposition as a soft and materialistic-minded person would be.
He was not a compromiser.
John was a man sent by God to proclaim the truth, and he proclaimed it no matter the cost.
Christ was saying, “When you look at John, you do not see a man of the world with the fine clothes of the world on his mind, but you see an ambassador for God.”
John was a prophet and more, he was a foreteller, a proclaimer of God’s message dealing with the past, present, or future.
He was chosen by God, chosen to proclaim the message of God, and he was faithful to proclaim God’s Word.
John was the Messiah’s forerunner, the herald of the true King.
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