Luke the physician wrote how multitudes came to be “baptized” by John, and while “the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not”, and in chapter three and verse sixteen of his book Luke shared how, “the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, and what shall we do?” where we read:
John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I comes, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
The verse reads, “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; ” Luke began with the words, “John” or “John whose name means Jehovah is a gracious giver”, “answered” which means “responded and began to speak”, “saying unto them all” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming to each, every, the whole and everyone of the people listening to him”, “I indeed baptize you with water” which means “I, John, even so and also submerge and immerse the people within water”. Luke shared how John responded to the people by recognizing that he “baptized” people in “water”.
The verse goes on to say, “but one mightier than I comes, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:” Luke continued with the words, “but one mightier than I comes” which means “however, nevertheless, notwithstanding, moreover and a person stronger, more forcible, firm and sure than John will arise, appear and come forth”, “the latchet of whose shoes” or “the strap or thong which fastens sandals to His feet” “I am not worthy to unloose” which means “John was not sufficient, enough, fit and meet to unfasten, unbind or set free”: “he shall baptize you” or “that One will submerge and immerse the people” “with the Holy Ghost” which means “with the pure, sacred, morally blameless and religiously and ceremonially consecrated third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit who is coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son” “and with fire” or “and with fiery fire”. Luke shared how John told the people there would appear “One” who was stronger and more firm and sure than he, and John was not “sufficient” to “untie” His shoelace. This person would “baptize” them with the “Holy Spirit” of God and His purifying “fire”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see how John would not allow the people to view him as the “Messiah”. He turned the people's attention toward the “One” who was coming that would be much more powerful than he, and John was so humble that he felt himself not even “worthy” to untie this “One's” shoe. Because God desires people to have a personal loving relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, recognition of who Jesus is becomes the first step in aligning with God's plan. Those who examine the role of John the Baptist and his deference to Jesus as the Messiah should understand this was God's plan for the “Salvation” of mankind, and when they know, they should yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Luke shares how John says of the one coming , “whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner”, 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.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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