John and the Messiah

Luke 3:15-17

Introduction:  Remember that the purpose of the four gospels is to help us get to know Jesus.  Each is written differently and to a different audience.  Luke’s account is full of details.  Being a doctor Luke was probably a detail person.  In chapter 3 he tells us about John the Baptist and compares him with the coming Messiah.  Read text.

I. John was not the Messiah  vs. 15-16

    A. John knew who he was  

         1. John 1:23

         2. Isaiah 40:3-5

    B. God’s preaching through John was so powerful that thousands were                  changed; but pride was not a problem with John

    C. God will work through us if we humble ourselves   I Peter 5:6

II. The Messiah was to be more powerful than John  vs. 16

    A. i¹sxuro/j:  pertaining to high status, probably on the basis of                      significant personal capacity -  powerful, great. 

         1. The Great One

         2. The Mighty One

    B. John’s power came as a messenger of God

    C. Messiah’s power came because of who he was

III. The Messiah was to be more worthy than John  vs. 16

    A. Revelation 5:9-13

    B. John 3:26-30

    C. Even servants would refuse to untie their master’s sandals; John was               saying that he was lower than a servant to this coming one.

IV. The Messiah’s baptism was to be different from John’s  vs. 16

    A. John’s was with just water

    B. Messiah’s baptism would be with (in) HS and fire

         1. Holy Spirit baptism

             a. Could refer to Acts 2:38

             b. Could refer to Acts 2:1-12

             c. Could refer to judgment, which would fit the context of vs. 17

         2. Fire baptism

             a. Could refer to persecution   I Peter 1:6-7

             b. Could refer to judgment  

                 1) I Corinthians 3:13-15

                 2) Hebrews 10:26-27

         3. Together they may mean the same thing

             a. Judgment

             b. Both Spirit and fire (could mean) the eschatological purgation                       experienced by the penitent as purification in the refiner’s fire and                   by the godless as destruction by wind and fire

V. The Messiah’s work was to be different from John’s   vs. 17

    A. John’s was a work of preparation; Messiah’s was a work of purification

    B. Explain the metaphor

    C. Illustration means the separation of good from evil

         a. diakaqai¿rw:  to clean out or to clean off thoroughly - to clean, to clean                 off, to clean thoroughly, to clean out.

         b. sunagageiÍn - Three basic meanings all associated with growing                     crops:  gather, store, sell. 

    D. Chaff represents those who refuse to believe in the Messiah; these the            Messiah will burn (fire = judgment)

    E. John had nothing to with separating good from evil or rewarding and                punishing

Conclusion:  John was one of the world's supremely effective preachers.  One man was congratulated on a sermon.  "Yes," he said, "but what did it do?" It is clear that John preached for action and produced it.  He did not deal in theological subtleties but in life. (from Barclay)  Jesus came to offer and give life.  Will you accept it?

Plaisance Church.  ECD, Guyana.  May 16, 2004.  AM.