This Sunday, Pastor Andrew’s preaching text is Matthew 3, and our theme is baptism. This chapter is Matthew’s introduction to John the Baptist, and by the end of it we read of the baptism of Jesus. What can we see, understand, apply, and praise regarding baptism as we reflect on this passage? Matthew tells us straight away that John, “came preaching in the wilderness of Judea. (v1)” His influence was striking, as we read that people came from the city (Jerusalem), the province (Judea), and the region (area all around the Jordan River) to hear John’s preaching. The focused call of this “voice in the wilderness” was to repent. This imperative also marked the first preaching words of Jesus (Matthew 4:17), and when he sent out his disciples they called on the people to repent (Mark 6:12). John’s voice ended four hundred years of prophetic silence amongst God’s people. His simple call to repent was not innovative; it had roots in the prophets of long ago who frequently called upon God’s people to turn back to God and away from their wicked ways. Yet what he pointed toward was revolutionary: he would baptize with water for repentance, but one who was coming was to baptize with the Holy Spirit and Fire (v10).
Something to See:
We do not generally start conversations with strangers, or friends for that matter, with the call to repent. It’s considered ‘bad form’ amongst ‘polite company’. Yet Matthew clearly identifies repentance as fundamental to the rite of baptism specifically, and a key distinctive of the Christian faith in general. John preached that we repent because, “the kingdom of heaven” is at hand. This kingdom is more about rule than realm. In other words, this kingdom is not primarily a group of people or a place, but the sovereign rule of Christ. John recognized the Christ was coming, and the only worthy preparation was the simple, humble, heartfelt act of repentance.