Luke 3:15-18
The Second Message
Last week, we saw the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry. He
came preaching. Last week, we saw his first message. He preached
some things need to be fixed. It was the first part of the message
of repentance at that time.
Repentance has three parts.
1. You need to SEE that some things are broken.
2. You need to be SORRY for them.
3. You need to be SURRENDER to finding a way to fix them.
I say "at that time." The message that was being preached was in a
process of change. John was saying, "Get ready for the Messiah is
about to come." At that time, He had NOT come so the message of
repentance was slightly different for them at that time than it is
for us. Once Jesus came and especially after His resurrection, the
message of repentance will be SURRENDER TO HIM." This is the message
that we preach today, but at that time, the message was simply to
SEE, be SORRY, and SURRENDER to fixing them.
Tonight we see John’s second message. What is the second message?
Someone is coming.
I. John’s Witness
A. When John first started preaching, some thought he was the
Messiah.
1. Luke does not record all that took place, but John gives
us additional details.
2. \\#John 1:19-27\\
B. What we are reading here is part of John’s answer to those who
thought he might be the Christ.
Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all,
I indeed baptize you with water; but one
mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose
shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall
baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
1. He is mightier than I am. Surely. He is God.
2. He is worthier than I am. Again for sure! He is God.
3. He has a better baptism than I do.
a. John was baptizing with water but Jesus was going to
baptize with the Holy Ghost.
b. That comparison indicates that John’s baptism was
symbolic.
c. When John immersed someone into water….
(1) By the way, the word "baptize" means to immerse,
to put under.
(2) The only baptism ever taught in the Bible
required a person to be put under the water.
(3) Baptism is a picture of a burial and no one
buries anyone under a few dirt clots. They
always put the deceased under or into the earth.
d. But John’s immersion indicated two things:
(1) That the person was turning from their sinful
life to find a better way.
(2) That the One who was coming would be immersing
convert in the Holy Ghost.
4. He will judge.
a. \\#16-17\\ Everything that has to do with fire here is
a picture of the judgment that Messiah will bring.
b. Four details about the Messiah and His judgment are
revealed.
(1) \\#16\\He will immerse them in the firs of
judgment. The judgment will be severe.
(2) \\#17\\ He will have a fan in His hand.
(a) The fan is used to fan the coals and heat
the fire.
(b) It is going to be a intense judgment.
(3) He will thoroughly purge His floor. There will
be no exemptions. Everyone is going to be
judged one way or the others.
(4) There are two options for the judged. Not every
one who is judged will be consumed.
(a) Wheat will be gathered into the barn.
(b) Chaff will be burned.
C. Thoughts:
1. John was telling the people a Person would come but he did
not tell them WHO it would be.
a. John said twice in John that he did not know who the
Messiah was until AFTER he baptized Him.
Joh 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should
be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come
baptizing with water.
Joh 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent
me to baptize with water, the same said unto me,
Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending,
and remaining on him, the same is he which
baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
b. John may have suspected that Jesus was to be the
Messiah based on what his parents told him about his
birth, but he did not KNOW until after he baptized
him.
c. With these thoughts, let’s ask and answer a question:
(1) Why was Jesus baptized by John?
(2) It was not for repentance. That was the reason
every other person was baptized but not Jesus.
Jesus had not sin to repent of.
(3) Then why?
(a) It was to fulfill the symbolism that Jesus
was immersed in the Holy Spirit.
i. Remember the water was symbolic of
what happens to the believer in
Christ.
ii. Two things happen:
aa. He repents of his sin which was
not applicable to Jesus.
bb. He is filled with the Holy Ghost.
Jesus was filled with the Holy
Ghost from conception.
iii. Jesus was baptized to fulfill that
symbol.
(b) It was to reveal His identity. The
revealing was to take place when Jesus was
baptized.
(c) It was to fulfill righteousness.
i. When Jesus went to be baptized, John
did not want to do so, saying Jesus
should be baptizing him.
ii. Jesus answered:
Mt 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him,
Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us
to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered
him.
iii. That means, "Do it because it is the
right thing to do."
iv. Jesus put Himself under all of the
laws and commands of God, including
those that did not apply to Him.
v. Sacrifices were offered for Jesus when
he was born; Jesus partook of the
Passover Lamb.
2. John was telling them a judgment would come but he did not
tell them WHEN it would come.
a. The main judgment that John spoke of still has NOT
come.
b. Certainly the Jews have been judged thoroughly since
that time, but very, very few of them have been
gathered into the barn because very, very few have
been saved.
c. The primary fulfillment will be the Day of the Lord
when the Jews are saved and most of them die, but
those who do are gathered to God.
d. Why did God spend so much time talking about a
judgment that was so far off in coming?
(1) Because it will come!
(2) Because many smaller types of that judgment would
also come. Every persecution of the Jews down
through the years is a type of the big to come.
If the Jews thought they were bad, they really
better get right before the big one comes.
(3) Because mankind needs the threat of judgment to
turn to righteousness.
II. \\#21-22\\ The Baptism’s Witness
A. Luke did not give us the details that the other writers gave
to us. Rather, he mentioned only the highlights.
B. He told us that all three members of the Trinity were there.
1. The Holy Ghost came in the form of a dove, a bird of peace.
2. The Father’s voice boomed meaning He was there.
3. And of course Jesus was there being baptized.
4. This is the first time all three members are physically
revealed at the same time.
a. That does not mean that they have just come to be.
b. Like so many other of God’s mysteries, it means that
they have just come to be revealed.
c. Every spiritual truth has to be revealed at some
point.
d. The truth of God’s plurality is taught in the Old
Testament.
Ge 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our
image, after our likeness…
Ge 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man
is become as one of us, to know good and evil….
e. We do not worship three gods, but one God who
manifests Himself in three unique Persons.
f. This is who God is and as far as the Bible reveals,
this is who He has always been and will forever be.
C. He told us what God the Father said.
Luke 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a
bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice
came from heaven, which said, Thou art my
beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
1. This message—and others like it—were given because we
needed it!
2. We are slow and dense and need God’s guidance.
3. Even so, this is not a final evidence.
(a) The final evidence is not His birth, John’s witness,
the Father’s voice, or even Jesus’ miracles.
(b) The final witness will be the death, burial, and
resurrection of Jesus.
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