Read Matthew Chapter 3
How Will You Respond To The Message Preached By John the Baptist?
Isaiah 40:3 prophesied of one who would come and preach of the coming Jesus. His preaching would prepare people for the coming Savior. Chapter 3 starts off with the fulfillment of this passage because John the Baptist was the one chosen by God to prepare the way for the Lord Jesus.
John was no one special. If anything he was a little odd: he dressed in clothes made of camel’s hair, he wore a leather belt, and he ate locust and wild honey. Yet God used him and people came from all over to hear his message of repentance and of the coming Savior.
How did people respond?
1. People were confessing their sins and being baptized by John symbolizing their heart for repentance.
2. The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and John confronted them because they were religious leaders producing bad fruit for God. They were arrogant to say the least and unless they responded to the message preached, John warned them of being thrown into an unquenchable fire by God.
3. Jesus: He came to be baptized by John. Not because he was a sinner in need of repentance but as an example to the rest of the world of how important it is to repent.
4. God: After Jesus was baptized by John, God sent His Holy Spirit in the form of a dove upon Jesus. He confirmed that Jesus was his Chosen One and empowered him by his Holy Spirit for his coming ministry.
Like John, you don’t need to be anyone special in order for God to use you to share Jesus with others. He’s just looking for a willing heart.
How do you respond to John’s message?
Do you respond like the people who confessed and repented of their sin?
Or like the religious leaders who were arrogant and self-righteous. They were blind to their own sin but well aware of the sins of others.
As God empowered Jesus through his Holy Spirit, so he desires to empower us through his Holy Spirit so we can walk in holiness and prepare the way for our family and friends to know the Lord.
