The amazing issue that arises for Matthew is that again prophecy is being fulfilled as John becomes the one who called out of the desert, “Prepare the way for the Lord.” I wonder how much John knew about the conception and life of Jesus. I wonder if they played together as kids. I wonder how much Jesus revealed to John during those growing years. Both were the same physical age (though John was several months older). How could a cousin go from playmate to herald for the King of kings?
We know that John’s family was a God-fearing family from the writings of Luke. John knew the Bible, the customs, and the ceremonies. John understood the urgency of God’s Word and the complacency within the Jewish community. Knowing the power of God’s Word and the grace present in Jesus, John seemed all too eager to pronounce God’s love to all mankind.
People traveled to John. God’s Word so powerfully changes lives that people could not help but joyfully spread the news of the soul relief experienced through repentance. The Pharisee and the Sadducee came to hear this prophet of God about whom so many people spoke. Religious leaders clamored to hear for themselves this message of repentance and experience this act of baptism. Some most assuredly came to find fault with John, and others came hoping to hear a life giving message from God.
John cut off the naysayer before trouble could be started. He confronted them with their sin and urged them to stop using the name of Abraham as a crutch in their faith. To call myself a Christian does not mean I will inherit a place in eternity with God. My life and actions must reflect that calling, and I must be responsible for my wrongs by approaching God for forgiveness. The water baptism is the commitment and the outward manner of showing I am committed to this new way of living. I die to the old way of living and emerge into life with God.
Repentance is not the final end. Repentance is the beginning. My life must then produce good fruit, a fruit worthy of God. Good fruit brings health to broken relationships, mends broken hearts, and develops a godly way of seeing others. Good fruit draws others to us while bad fruit creates a stench and pushes people away. Good fruit is filled with life; there is never anything dull about good fruit.
Producing good fruit is a continuing process, a process that would soon be highlighted by the ministry of the coming Shepherd. John baptized people in water for their act of repentance. Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. The Spirit baptism would be a sign of eternal relationship with God while the fire would show others how limited their own efforts are in trying to gain access to God without the act of Christ’s sacrifice. Jesus would winnow out the fruit producers from the chaff. The chaff would be burned in an unquenchable fire (an eternal, never-ending state) while the fruit bearers would be gathered to God.
What do we learn from this?
- True Christians know God and His Word and live by it. We set out on a life long journey trying to know more and more about God and living out His love by sharing it with others in so many various ways everyday. How are you challenged by God’s Word on a daily basis? How do you live it? Are you held accountable to this by someone you trust?
- True Christians are not ashamed of the Word of God. We can take the tough love from the Bible. We are not afraid of offending others in the right manner when the offense reveals the destructive nature of sin and how Jesus came to repair the damage. How have you used God’s Word to bring positive change to your life, community, workplace, or church?
- True Christians produce good fruit. The imagery here is so powerful. All will face the fire of God; what’s important is how we come through it. Will we let the fire cleanse us? Or will we let the fire condemn us?
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