Baptized with the Holy Ghost and Fire Matthew 3:11

Matthew shared how Joseph after being in Egypt with Mary and Jesus, “came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. Matthew continued, “In those days came John the Baptist, and saying, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leather girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you,

that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”, and in chapter three and verse ten of his book, John the Baptist tells the crowd how “he that comes after me”... “shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” where we read:

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

The verse reads, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that comes after me is mightier than I” Matthew began with the words, “I indeed” which means “John the Baptist certainly and surely” “baptize you” or “dip repeatedly, immerse and submerge the willing ones in the crowd” “with water” which means “by water” “unto repentance or “toward a change of mind, as one who repents, reversal and compunction”: “but he” which means “moreover and the one” “that comes after me” or “who makes his appearance, comes before the public and arises to find a place or influence” “is mightier” which means “is stronger, more firm and sure” “than I” or “than John the Baptist”. John the Baptist realized his “baptism” was limited in that it was only toward “repenting”, however, there was one coming who was more “powerful” than John the Baptist.

The verse continues, “whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Matthew added the word, “whose shoes” which means “the one whose sandals fastened to the foot with thongs” “I am not worthy” or “John the Baptist was not sufficient or enough in ability” “to bear” which means “to carry, sustain and support”: “he shall baptize you” or “the certain one of whom John the Baptist spoke will dip repeatedly, immerse and submerge the willing ones in the crowd” “with the Holy Ghost” which means “with the pure, blameless and religiously and ceremonially consecrated third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit who is coequal, co-eternal with the Father and the Son ”, “and with fire” or “and with fiery fire”. John the Baptist declared that one who is coming is so “holy and pure” that he was not sufficient to unloose His sandals, and He would “baptize” them with the “Holy Spirit” of God and “fire”.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how John the Baptist subordinated himself to the superiority of the Messiah Jesus. He knew that his “baptism” was only toward the “repentance” of sins, however, Jesus, who would be sent to baptize people with the Holy Spirit, would purify and cleanse believers from sins. God's plan was to send Jesus to the earth to “save” people from “violations” to His law, and with the Holy Spirit Jesus is able to cleanse and forgive every sin through faith and trust in Him.

Next time John the Baptist shares how the Messiah's, “fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.