Verse 5: People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John.
My initial thought to this verse was "Oh man! The original mega preacher. The original Joel Osteen." Which of course just made me giggle.
Verse 8-9: Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.
Here, John the Baptist was speaking to the Pharisees and Sadducees who were watching his sermons and baptisms as if they were a spectacle, a joke, entertainment. They did not treat these baptisms and conversions with the great respect that they deserved. These people who were being baptized were confessing their sins and turning their backs on their old ways, turning back to God and using their baptism as a reflection of being washed clean and starting anew. But the Pharisees and Sadducees mocked these baptisms -- looking down their noses at the "peasants" because they believed themselves better, holier, untouchable because of their ancestry and positions. But John the Baptist retorted to their mockery with this verse. Reminding us that birthright does not guarantee salvation. How we live our lives is a testament to our beliefs, our faith. Their lack of love towards their neighbor, their greed, their meanness -- those are not characteristics of someone living for God.
Verse 10: Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
"produce good fruit" has regularly been interpreted as converting people to the Christian faith. That interpretation I think has created this pressure that if we don't convert people, then we're doomed. Too many people take that pressure and it just takes over. They become pushy, unreasonable, "my way or the highway." You can't talk to those people who believe that their only purpose in life is to convert as many people as they can to Jesus' kingdom. They are a brick wall, blind to other peoples opinions, struggles, fears, concerns, points of view. They can't relate to people who struggle -- struggle doesn't compute in their brains because they believe that as long as you are in Gods Will, that everything will be fine. And if everything isn't fine, then that is because you are not in God's Will and are thus in Rebellion against God. It's the most frustrating, closed off version of a Christian that exists. They believe in grace only for those who are good. They are the modern Pharisee and Sadducee.
But I think that "produce good fruit" is not just about winning people to Jesus. I think it's about living honestly, being kind, being patient, being understanding, being generous, being helpful to others, loving others. Good fruit in my opinion is referring to the fruit of the spirit spoken about in Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Yes, "winning" converts to Christ is good and wonderful. But that is not the only good fruit! Good fruit is embodying the fruits of the spirit -- living your life according to those fruits of the spirit. And I truly believe that when you live the way that Christ actually wanted you to live (The greatest of these is love), then you "win" converts to Christ by your example. Witnessing and working to convert people should not be what modern Christianity teaches -- hellfire, brimstone, "convert or go too hell." Witnessing is simply leading by example. It's not about being holier than thou. It's not about being better than others. It's not about placing yourself at a higher importance than someone else. It's about being approachable, kind, joyful, patient, gentle. IT'S THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT!
Verse 11 (partial verse): He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire
I can honestly say that my baptism was absolutely the most spiritual experience of my life. Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. That baptism was so powerful -- it cemented my relationship with God. It was amazing to confess my sins, my history, my past and to turn my back to those ways. To instead be dunked into the river and come up clean. God was there, and he celebrated. I was physically washed by the water, but I was spiritually washed by the Holy Spirit. But John the Baptist also mentions that we will be baptized with fire.
For a long time, I didn't really know what that meant, how it would manifest itself in my life. For a long time, I just kind of overlooked that part. "Oh that part doesn't apply," I would think. How stupid I was.
My fire didn't come for a few years. But it came. My fire baptism was a period in my life that tested my faith and my beliefs. I had a worldly situation arise that shook and tested every single part of my life. My marriage almost failed. My finances were almost ruined. My health deteriorated. I found myself also in the middle of the deepest depression I'd experienced yet. I was in the middle of a career crisis. And all of this happened at the same time. Which of course also tested my faithfulness. I firmly believe that this was my earthly fire baptism. I'd had a few years to plant roots with God, to set up routines, and to learn and read more of the Bible. He gave me a foundation setting period. Then it was all tested -- would the earthquake of everything that could be thrown at me cause my temple to God to crumble and fall?
It was a long earthquake/fire year. There were hundreds if not thousands of cracks in my temple to God as a result. But I clung to Him even in my doubt. I searched for him desperately in my fear. I failed in a hundred small ways, but I never gave up on God or on knowing that in whatever way the dominoes fell, that God would give me one step forward at a time.
I emerged from that fire baptism charred in many ways. But I also emerged stronger in my faith in God. Stronger in my marriage. Stronger in how I manage my finances. Stronger in my health. Stronger in my emotional health (maintained now with regular prayer, Bible Study, yoga, more time spent outside in God's creation/nature, and deep breathing exercises).
Fire hardens and strengthens wood. Traditionally, when canoes are fashioned from a tree trunk, they are treated with a "fire bath" to make them stronger and more resistant to failures. So I'm sure that there will be more to the fire baptism as my life continues and as my earthly life ends. I believe that the fire baptisms will take on multiple forms and meanings. But as hard as they are to endure, they are good for our faith.
Verse 12: He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire
The truth of the matter is that not everyone will get to heaven. You can't fake your way into heaven.
Verse 14-15: But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” 15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.[f]” So John agreed to baptize him.
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