John Prepares the Way

Experience visiting Light of Salvation

Matthew 3:1 CSB

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea

Judea is south Israel, Galilee is N Israel

Matthew 3:2 CSB

and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!”

The Messiah is coming

Matthew 3:3 CSB

For he is the one spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, who said: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight!

Even Jesus had someone preparing the way.

Some plow, some plant, and some reap.

Immanuel Sound story

Matthew 3:4–6 CSB

Now John had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

John’s baptism was a baptism of confession of sin. Our baptism is one of confessing Christ publicly.

Matthew 3:7–12 CSB

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don’t presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing shovel 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 fire that never goes out.”

Be careful not to fall into the snare of the pharisees.

holy spirit and fire

Matthew 3:13–17 CSB

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?” Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized. When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”

John had to obediently do what seemed backwards to him.

I think Jesus was baptised as an example.

Spirit resting.

Isaiah 11:2 CSB

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

Isaiah 42:1 CSB

“This is my servant; I strengthen him, this is my chosen one; I delight in him. I have put my Spirit on him; he will bring justice to the nations.

Isaiah 61:1 CSB

The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners;

We too must submit to God and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives if we are to live out God’s call in our lives.

What does it mean to live as if the kingdom of God is at hand?

How does God desire to change your heart so that you can live that way?

Will you say yes to Jesus today?