Good afternoon and welcome to the Panhandle. Well COVID is still the big topic in our community, that is because just about every family has been touched by it now. We did not have Church services again this last Sunday and right now I'm not sure about next Sunday. But what ever happens we know that God is still in control.
The Christmas season is here and you can't talk about Christmas without thinking or talking about Christ Jesus, the one sent to redeem humankind. Well I guess you could but you'd be missing the whole point of Christmas. As we look at Matthew 3:11-12 we see John make some definitive statements about the “One to Come.”
In the 1890s, a book appeared entitled Beside the Bonnie Briar Bush. It was authored by John Watson, who wrote under the pen name of Ian Maclaren. In the volume is the story of a lad who decided to enter the ministry. Before finishing school, however, his saintly mother died and he went to live with an aunt. By and by, the young man completed seminary and was ready to take his first church, indeed to preach his first sermon as pastor. The bright boy labored long on his sermon, then proudly read it to his aunt. When he asked for criticism, his aunt expressed appreciation for its beauty but reminded him that many of his parishioners had had little schooling. It was then she shared his mother's words of admonition just before her death: "When you stand up to preach, always say a good word for Jesus Christ." - 1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching.
And that is exactly what John the Baptizer did, he preached the Messiah-King, he preached Christ Jesus.
The climax of John's powerful message was to point the way to Christ Jesus. John understood his place in the bigger picture. John's job was to serve as a sign, a sign that said “This Way To The Messiah-King.” John was a great man, but he derived his greatness from the even greater One whom he served. To illustrate the difference between himself and the Messiah, John said that he wasn't even worthy enough to complete the lowest task of removing the Messiah-King's sandals. John was saying, “What am I a mere man compared to the Messiah-King who is God? I am nothing.”
Wow! What a shock that must have been to those that had come out to hear this great prophet. In a day and age where the Pharisees and Sadducees where constantly letting people know how much better they were than everyone else, here was a great prophet doing the complete opposite.
This morning as we look at verses 11 and 12, notice four things that John tells us about the Messiah-King. About Christ Jesus.
Matthew 3:11-12
11 "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
12 "His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
1. Christ Jesus Is More Powerful Than Him (vs. 11)
There was something special about John and everyone knew it. They traveled out into the wilderness to see him and hear his message. Yet, John said that there was one coming who was more powerful than himself. How could that be, who could that be? After all John was a powerful prophet.
Although John was a powerful speaker and came in the spirit and the power of Elijah, Christ Jesus was more. Although John was truly great, great in the sight of the Lord (no greater was born of woman), he thought himself unworthy to be in the lowest place of attendance to Christ Jesus. He knew, how mighty Christ Jesus is, in comparison with him. John the Baptizer was a powerful speaker and a prophet, but Christ Jesus is the Messiah-King. Christ Jesus is God/man born to die and raised three days later so that you might live.
It should be a great comfort to you as a faithful followers of Christ Jesus, to know that He is mightier than you are. To know that Christ Jesus can do for you, what you can not do for yourself. You see Christ Jesus' strength is perfected in your weakness.
It is Christ Jesus who hears and answers your prayers.
It is Christ Jesus who brings peace to a troubled soul.
It is Christ Jesus who brings order out of chaos.
It is only Christ Jesus who can forgive your sins and save you from being eternally separated from the God Head. Won't you place your faith in Him?
2. John Is Not Worthy To Remove Christ Jesus' Sandals (vs. 11)
A large group of European pastors came to one of D. L. Moody’s Northfield Bible Conferences in Massachusetts in the late 1800s. Following the European custom of the time, each guest put his shoes outside his room to be cleaned by the hall servants overnight. But of course this was the U.S. and there were no hall servants.
Walking the dormitory halls that night, Moody saw the shoes and determined not to embarrass his brothers. He mentioned the need to some ministerial students who were there, but met with only silence or pious excuses. Moody returned to the dorm, gathered up the shoes, and, alone in his room, the famous evangelist began to clean and polish the shoes. Only the unexpected arrival of a friend in the midst of the work revealed the secret.
When the foreign visitors opened their doors the next morning, their shoes were shined. They never know by whom. Moody told no one, but his friend told a few people, and during the rest of the conference, different men volunteered to shine the shoes in secret.
John's saying was expressive of the most profound humiliation to the Jewish people. To put on, take off, and carry the shoes of their masters, among the Jewish people, was very disgraceful. This was the job of the lowest servant.
But here was John the prophet, the man that many were come out too, to repent and be baptized by; basically says, “I’m not even worthy to touch the Messiah's feet.” John recognizes a supreme worth in the Messiah-King that exceeds any and all human beings. Christ Jesus is that Messiah-King, the Prophet Redeemer, the Suffering Servant, and our King. Christ Jesus is God. Not a god, but God Himself.
Who is Christ Jesus to you? He want's to be your Lord and Saviour. He is worthy to be your Lord and Saviour. Why not let Him do so now?
3. John Also Says Christ Jesus Will Baptize With Fire. (vs. 11-12)
Two elements of the Messiah's ministry are mentioned here, both in contrast with John's ministry of water baptism. Christ Jesus the Messiah-King would baptize in two different elements (the Holy Spirit and fire). Fire is clearly associated with judgment.
The Holy Spirit is something else altogether. John stated that the Messiah-King would (baptize) some people in the Holy Spirit or salvation and others in the fire of judgment.
The concept of baptism in the Holy Spirit has everything to do with God's promise of the new covenant age in Ezekiel 36:26-27 ~ "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.” Here God promised the permanent gift of His Spirit in the believer. John was referring here to this indwelling of the Holy Spirit of those who accept Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
Christ Jesus also referred to this
baptism of the Spirit when He told His disciples about a Comforter ~
But when the Father sends the Advocate
as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you
everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. (John
14:26).
The Messiah-King would also baptize with fire. The Messiah was coming as a Saviour and a judge. Anyone who overemphasizes one of these two qualities at the expense of the other is seriously mistaken. The reason John emphasized the Messiah's role as judge in this passage was because those to whom spoke had a skewed view. They were all about a Saviour, but not so much a judge.
If you think about it people today still like the idea of a warm fuzzy Saviour, but they still don't like the idea of being judge. Roughly 72% of Americans believe in heaven and between 40 - 58% believe in hell.
Are you ready for the judgment that is to come? Do you personally know Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour? If you do you will avoid the fire, if you don't, it won't end well for you. Look at verse 12, in this verse you see the elements of judgment:
winnowing fork – separating the saved from the unsaved
threshing floor – the area where judging will take place
wheat in the barn – those who have a saving relationship with Christ Jesus, in heaven
chaff into an unquenchable fire – those who reject Christ Jesus, in hell.
Don't think you will be able to just slide by or slip in when it comes to going to heaven. Yes, God is love, but He will not turn a blind eye because He is also just. Because He is a just God, those who do not have a personal relationship with Christ Jesus will be sent into the outer darkness. You must repent, you must turn from your sinful life to a life grounded in Christ Jesus. You must ask Christ Jesus to be your Lord and Saviour!
Thanks for dropping by I sure do appreciate it. I pray our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus blesses you and your family richly. And if He is willing I will see you next week.
Biblesurfer
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