Matthew 3 — The Voice in the Wilderness and the Baptism of Jesus

Before I spoke a single word in public... there was a voice in the wilderness. His name was John.

He came preaching in the wild places of Judea... and his message was short enough for anyone to carry. "Turn back," he said. "Change your heart. The kingdom of heaven has come near."

The prophet Isaiah had spoken of him long before... a voice crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

John wore clothing woven from camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. He owned nothing that the desert could not give him.

And they came out to him. From Jerusalem, from all Judea, from the whole country around the Jordan... they came. And they were baptized by him in the river, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he baptized, he spoke plainly. "You brood of vipers — who warned you to flee from the wrath that is coming? Then produce fruit worthy of repentance. And do not tell yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you, God is able to raise up children for Abraham out of these very stones."

"Already the axe is laid at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

Then he spoke of me. "I baptize you with water, for repentance. But one is coming after me who is mightier than I am — I am not worthy even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor, and gather his wheat into the barn — but the chaff he will burn with fire that cannot be put out."

Then I came. From Galilee, down to the Jordan, to John — to be baptized by him.

And John tried to stop me. "I need to be baptized by you," he said, "and you come to me?"

I answered him gently. "Let it be so now. It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way." And he consented.

So I went down into the water... and I came up out of it. And in that moment the heavens were opened to me, and I saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and coming to rest on me.

And a voice came from heaven: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Remember this, beloved. Those words were spoken before any miracle, before any sermon, before any cross. Before I had done a single thing the world would call great... my Father said he was pleased. Rest there tonight. You are loved before you are useful. Peace be with you.