John the Baptist

9. True Repentance

Starting a Journey with Jesus, Day 9  (Matthew 3:7-12)

Brace yourself!  Today’s part of the journey is going to be jolting.

When John saw many religious leaders (Pharisees and Sadducees) were coming to be baptized, he shouted: “Sons of snakes!  Who suggested you should flee the coming wrath? You need to do something that shows you are really changing mind and heart, and don’t think  you can say “Abraham is our father” and that makes everything okay.  Being a child of Abraham is not the point.  God can raise up children of Abraham out of common rocks.  What matters is the tree of your life.  Is it green and producing fruit?  If it’s deadwood, the ax to chop it down is already being swung, and if there’s no fruit of true repentance, down it goes and into the fire!

“I’m baptizing you here in the water, turning your old life in a new direction–for the kingdom.  The one coming after me, the truly great One, who I’m hardly worthy of bowing down to–He will baptize you with God’s Holy Spirit  and fire.  He’s going to make a clean sweep of everything, separating wheat from chaff, and everything empty and false he’ll burn it up with the unquenchable fire.  (Matthew 3:7-12)

John has fierce and tough words for those holding power and influence, who have responsibility for leadership of the community.  (more…)

Continue Reading9. True Repentance

8. John the Prophet

Starting a Journey with Jesus, Day 8  (Matthew 3:1-6)

Our picture of prophets is a little skewed.  Most of us think of prophets more as oracles or fortune-tellers.  The Bible is filled with prophets who boldly proclaim God’s Word to in a timely way to people who need to hear it.  Moses, Elijah, Isaiah and Jeremiah are all great prophets from ancient days who did just that.  Now in our journey we meet another prophet who prepares the way for those who will journey with Jesus.

While Jesus was living in the Galilean hills, John, called “the Baptizer,” was preaching in the desert country of Judea.  His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: “Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.”

John and his message were authorized by Isaiah’s prophecy:

Thunder in the desert!
  Prepare for God’s arrival!
Make the road smooth and straight!

John dressed in a camel-hair habit tied at the waist by a leather strap.  He lived on a diet of locusts and wild field honey.  People poured out of Jerusalem, Judea, and the Jordanian countryside to hear and see him in action.  There at the Jordan River those who came to confess their sins were baptized into a changed life. (Matthew 3:1-6, MSG)

We have heard about prophetic fulfillment and we have already seen several pretend kings.  Now we hear from a real life prophet. (more…)

Continue Reading8. John the Prophet