JOHN BAPTIZES JESUS

 

 It was like any other morning.  John woke up to the sounds of nature.  Many thought it was strange that he slept outside.  They also didn’t understand his desire to wear camel hair and stay away from a good beef stew.  There was something about him though.  It seemed he was a people magnet.  Maybe it was his determination.  His loyalty to the mission he had been assigned in life.  Maybe it was because his message was the same.  He sure didn’t tell the Pharisees one thing and the common person something else.  He didn’t say what people wanted to hear.  He said what people needed to hear.

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?  Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.  And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’  For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.  The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Luke 3:7-9

Brood of vipers?  Why would anyone come to hear John call them names?  But, come they did.  They came to be baptized with water and hear John proclaim the Good News.  They also heard John say that one more powerful than him would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.  As the crowd looked around, they wondered who could be more powerful than John? His voice was like a beacon.  His voice was honest.  A voice people trusted.

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As John looked up, he saw a man walking toward him.  Even from far off, John recognized him.  This was Jesus.  He had an air about him.  His steps were certain.  His head held high.  Jesus.  The one greater than him.  Jesus was walking directly toward him.  John had no words.  He almost dropped the man he was baptizing.  Jesus.  Jesus is coming to him.

John began speaking, “This is the one I have been telling you about.  The Lamb of God.”

John said, “Jesus, you should baptize me.  I am not worthy to ….”

Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”

John baptized Jesus.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.  At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.  And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:16-17

If John was vocal before, he could not be stopped now.  “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven.  It was as a dove.  Then I heard, “This is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.”

John The Baptist was a baby born for such a time as this.  He was real!  He had a mission!  And he honored the responsibility of that mission.  When you read about John The Baptist, see more than a man wearing camel hair and eating honey.  See a humble man, living the life he was born to live.  See a man proclaiming, “I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

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Thank you for taking this journey to discover that John The Baptist is so much more than camel hair and honey.  May your 2026 be filled with blessings and your soul filled with the Holy Spirit,  Mary

John the Baptist baptizes Jesus, Focus on the Family 

https://youtu.be/w9NgHAy-0yM?si=qNcbaIOlrrqxBm4K