Advent - Day 10
Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
John 1:22-27
Full Readings: Malachi 3:1–4, John 1:19–28
It’s a hard thing to change the mind of a large group of people. Particularly when it’s not something they particularly want to change. You think about climate change and the level of resistance to costly behaviour modification - for most people, they aren’t really keen.
Sometimes, change needs a stepping-stone. Before you get the fully electric vehicle, you need the hybrid.
John the Baptist comes to pave the way for the Messiah with a stepping-stone. It’s the same message. Repent. You are not right with God like you thought you were. You are still in your sins. Repent and be baptised. But for now, the baptism is with water (simply symbolic). Jesus will come and He will bring the full vehicle - Spirit baptism.
What’s so good about Spirit baptism? Water can cleanse us for a time. But it’s symbolic and temporary. The Spirit baptises us once and for all, changing us and cleansing us forever. Christ is greater and He brings a greater baptism.
For Today:
Pray:
Praise the Father for all the people He will bring to salvation through Jesus.
Give thanks for Jesus who baptises us in His forgiving blood and sends the Spirit to cleanse us.
Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help us and others rejoice in the Spirit baptism of God’s people.
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
John 1:22-27
Full Readings: Malachi 3:1–4, John 1:19–28
It’s a hard thing to change the mind of a large group of people. Particularly when it’s not something they particularly want to change. You think about climate change and the level of resistance to costly behaviour modification - for most people, they aren’t really keen.
Sometimes, change needs a stepping-stone. Before you get the fully electric vehicle, you need the hybrid.
John the Baptist comes to pave the way for the Messiah with a stepping-stone. It’s the same message. Repent. You are not right with God like you thought you were. You are still in your sins. Repent and be baptised. But for now, the baptism is with water (simply symbolic). Jesus will come and He will bring the full vehicle - Spirit baptism.
What’s so good about Spirit baptism? Water can cleanse us for a time. But it’s symbolic and temporary. The Spirit baptises us once and for all, changing us and cleansing us forever. Christ is greater and He brings a greater baptism.
For Today:
- What’s something you have had to change your mind about?
- Are you good with change?
- Give God praise for His Holy Spirit baptism.
Pray:
Praise the Father for all the people He will bring to salvation through Jesus.
Give thanks for Jesus who baptises us in His forgiving blood and sends the Spirit to cleanse us.
Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help us and others rejoice in the Spirit baptism of God’s people.
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