The Life of Christ

SECTION 26

Lk. 3:16 John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals;”

To untie a person's shoes ranked among the lowliest of possible things one could do for another.

• John, the greatest of Old Testament prophets according to Jesus, confessed that he wasn't even worthy to perform this simplest of tasks.

• His humility contributed greatly to his anointing.

Lk. 3:16 “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

• As the great Baptist preacher he was, he strongly encouraged the people to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

• This would occur about three years later on the Day of Pentecost.

• Isa. 4:4 refers to the Spirit of Burning, which correlates with the fire of conviction that accompanies the Holy Spirit.

Lk. 3:17 “And His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

John likens the ministry of Jesus to a farmer shoveling wheat into the air to separate the wheat from the chaff.

• We understand that this separation will not occur until the kernel reaches a point of maturity.

SECTION 27

Mt. 3:13-14 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

John seemed to recognize Jesus even before the Father confirmed His identity.

• Perhaps they knew each other growing up, since Mary and Elizabeth were intimately acquainted.

• However, it wasn't a settled issue that Jesus was the Messiah until heaven opened at the baptism, and John saw the Dove descend and remain upon Jesus.

Mt. 3:15 But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.

The very first thing Jesus did as He began His earthly ministry was to submit to the authority of someone else — John the Baptist.

• This example was part of “fulfilling all righteousness.”

• It’s worth noting that Jesus, Himself, was of a higher spiritual caliber than John, and yet Jesus still submitted Himself as an example of what we must also do.

40