Matthew 3: 1-12

John The Baptist Prepares The Way

“John’s clothes were made of camel hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.”

The picture this paints for us is so sincere. Can’t you just envision the men, women and children journeying to this place of peace and hope? Not in a hurry like we are today, as they walked through the desert or rode on the backs of camels and donkeys. Not filled with anxiety about getting to work on time or earning enough money to cover the bills or purchase unnecessary toys. Filled only with the urgency of their hearts, to be forgiven and filled with the grace of God,……..they traveled.

Matthew uses thought provoking symbolism to paint us a picture of this scene. As John saw the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he had a message for them. It began with the phrase; “You brood of vipers!” He went on to inform them that; “One must produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” It is not just one act of dipping in the water that will make us sons of God, but true repentance and living a fruit bearing life. “The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

John then promises Jesus’ coming, as he speaks of one who is more powerful than he, one whose sandals he is not fit to carry. His words illustrate Jesus’ baptizing style as far more intense than his, as Jesus uses the Holy Spirit and fire to baptize. “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

The term winnowing is defined as: examine something in order to remove the bad, the unusable or undesirable parts.

The message is clear. Seeking forgiveness and repenting is necessary, yet it is not the end, but the beginning. From this place, maintaining a sincere heart and bearing fruit for the Lord, we will be spared from the winnowing fork. Amen.

Read/Listen to Matthew 3: 1-12