Matthew 3:1-17

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

3 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
    make his paths straight.’”

4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

21 thoughts on “The Essential Jesus-Day 36”

  1. Thank you for sending your beloved son Jesus who will cleanse us from all unrighteousness if we only believe. He has come to seek and to save all who are lost. Amen.

    1. Gracias mi Dios amado por enviar a tu hijo en quien tienes complacencia para todo aquel que en él crea sea salvo 🙏

    2. Amen and Glory be to our Lord and Savior. He has saved me.🙏🏻✝🙏🏻✝💜💜🙌🏻🙌🏻

  2. As God proclaimed “I am well pleased” to his Son, I pray to hear those words when I meet my Lord and Savior at the end of my earthly life.

  3. Jesus is my savior and my king. Without Him I would be dying a sinners death, but because of His sacrifice, I am able to spend abundant life with Him

  5. I am forever thankful to God for creating me, and calling me to salvation through Jesus my Savior and Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!

  9. John had an important role to fill in the story of Jesus…and he did so! He could have enjoyed the limelight that he had, but he spoke up to the scribes and Pharisees to warn them about the consequences of their thoughts and behavior. A good example to follow.

  11. It’s interesting that the Bible felt it was important to point out the lowly state of John the Baptist. When I read that he ate locusts and wild honey, my first thought was “ewww.” Yet people came to him in droves to be baptized. God seems to always choose the “lowest” of society, to accomplish His greatest purposes, proving the power of the gospel message. So God can use anybody. All He needs is a willing heart.

  12. So Baptism is a symbol before everyone present that you have repented of your sins. You are now held to a godly standard that is fitting of the Person Whose name you now carry. By being baptized, you are declaring to everyone that you are prepared to be held accountable when the way you live doesn’t reflect the truth you claim to believe.

  13. John recognizes that he is not even fit to carry Jesus’s sandals, but Jesus humbled Himself to be baptized by John, a man who ate locusts and wild honey. This reminds me of part of a passage in the Bible which states that “Jesus lowered Himself to the point of death…” This passage also shows that if you humble yourself, God will elevate you. What an honor it must have been for John to baptize Jesus, the Son of God.

  14. Yes, “LORD JESUS” , we as born again believers have received the Living Water andthe Holy Sprit and we do truly THANK YOU. Remember “GOD IS EVERLASTING LOVE” for each that accept this Heavenly gift.

    LOVE and BLESSINGS,

    John

  15. So Jesus did not need to be baptized, as He never sinned and He always lived righteously. He had nothing to prove to the people watching, but He did it to set the example for us. So how important is water baptism? Well, based on what Jesus says, it is an act of the righteous. It symbolizes that you have made the decision to live righteously before God.

  16. Jesu shows us humility at its highest. John the baptist new he was not qualified to tie Jesus sandals, but God has no favorites due to your status. If Jesus was baptisted we sholud all follow Him in doing so. Humble as He was, He was given all power in Heaven and earfh. The word of God says we shall have the same power after our new birth.

  17. From the wilderness then & now, to being baptized, which HIS cousin thought was nonsense or inconceivable because JESUS had nothing to repent of; but because of HIS substitutionary death on the cross for the entire world, JESUS would bear the transgression of us all (sinners) & credit us w/HIS righteousness to fulfill all the demands of GOD’s law. Wow! what a SAVIOR that HE would do that for me. Blessed JESUS, I love YOU because YOU 1st. loved me; HIS love in me & I in HIM. To GOD be glory.

  18. John revealed and foretold of Jesus.
    And GOD confirmed HIM as his only begotten SON.
    Praise the Lord!!

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