Called to Prepare

December 27, 2020 Background Scripture: Matthew 3 Lesson Passage: Matthew 3:1 – 12 Today’s lesson is about the ministry of Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist. John the Baptist was born six months prior to the birth of Jesus. Likewise, John’s ministry did not have much of a head start before Jesus’ ministry began. John the Baptist’s ministry announced the first step needed by a person who was seeking to receive salvation. This was by no means an easy ministry for anyone. John had to be rugged, determined, and not swayed by any person who might confront or oppose him. John’s only security was in knowing that he was doing what God sent him to do. From what was written about John, it seems that he spent his formative years maturing in the desert (wilderness) and living off the land. It was probably best so that he would not have many close friendships or acquaintances that could distract from his God-given assignment. John preached a powerful message of repentance. Although John’s message could have been received as offensive by many, God had anointed him such that his preaching was compelling. John broke a four-hundred-year silence from heaven. It had been four hundred years since God had sent a prophet to national Israel. John did not go to the people, but rather, he preached in the wilderness and the people went out to hear him. John was bold and forthright, and the people of Israel were eager to hear what he had to say. John warned the people that their sins were going to be judged and there was a need for them to repent of their sins. His message was urgent because he announced that the kingdom of heaven was now imminent, and only the repentant would be prepared for it. The people were urged by John to consent to water baptism as a public demonstration of their repentance. The water baptism identified them as followers of John the Baptist and believers of his message. Furthermore, John called for more than mere lip service from those who were coming to be baptized. He demanded that the people who came for baptism demonstrate a changed heart through their actions. In Luke’s account of the Gospel, John gave several individuals specific instructions on how to change their behavior in line with repentance. His message did not fall on deaf ears; the people—small and great—responded by going out to hear John and consenting to his baptism of repentance. John challenged the elite of Jewish society, Pharisees and Sadducees, to not attempt to rely on their pedigree to get them into the kingdom of heaven. John warned them that God could create people from rocks if He so desired. Ironically, John’s powerful preaching had a heavy dose of modesty in it. John declared that he was not the Messiah Israel was looking for. His assignment was to prepare the people of Israel to receive the promised Messiah. John viewed himself as less than a slave in comparison to the coming Messiah. A slave could have assisted the Messiah with his sandals. John declared that he was not even worthy to do as much. Furthermore, John’s baptism of water that accompanied repentance would not compare to the baptism of the Messiah. The Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit, or fire. The Messiah would judge everyone and separate the good from the bad. If they were going to be ready for such a judgment, it was up to John the Baptist to get them ready. John was called of God to prepare them. Robert C. Hudson November 23, 2020