John’s Christmas Expectation (Luke 3:1-20)

John is the prophet who announces Christ's arrival. His privilege is that he sees the fulfillment of his word. He is a prophet of reformation to call Israel back to her king. John is frustrated because his mission does not bear the fruit that John hoped it would bear. John realizes that his prophecy is correct, but in order for Christ to bring glory he must first suffer. Christ's mission parameter in this age is Isaiah 61 rather than the full har maggeddon battle that John expected.

John’s Baptismal Concession (Matthew 3:13-17)

Ministers do not like to be wrong, and we really do not like the find out that we missed the point of a text.  We could say this is pride, but the honest truth is we want to handle God’s word competently.   I wonder how John the Baptist felt when Christ came to him for baptism.  It must have been strange to see the one who delivers his people from their sins to be identified with sinners.  Why does Jesus need to be baptized? Does this contradict John’s message regarding the fire baptism that is coming?