Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.
1. Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
John the Baptist preached repentance. The Holy Spirit speaks to hearts and shows their need to repent of sin. The Spirit helps people understand the horror and evil of sin. The picture of repentance is to turn around and go the other way. It is sorrow for sin. Repentance says I am making a major change in life. Repentance of sin receives the forgiveness that the Bible promises. This makes a person completely new. When Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins, He didn’t do so in order that people could be forgiven and then keep on sinning. When people repent they change, their attitudes and lifestyles change. Jesus becomes the LORD of a repentant person’s life. That means that Jesus is in control. Verse 8 talks about the fruit of repentance. This is the evidence of genuine repentance that shows clearly in the daily life a person lives. Repentance recognizes the judgement that John talked about. Those who truly repent won’t receive the judgement for their sins, Jesus already took it on the cross.
This chapter includes the water baptism of Jesus. This scene shows us the Trinity. We see the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father shows His pleasure in Jesus. The Holy Spirit filled Jesus with the power He would need to minister and go to the cross. Jesus relied on the power of the Holy Spirit throughout His earthly ministry. Believers in Jesus must also rely on the power of the Holy Spirit for daily life.
While this chapter is not a lesson on water baptism, it shows that Jesus was baptized. The Bible teaches that all believers are to be baptized. It is a matter of obedience.
2. What can I apply in my life from the reading?
Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Keeping eternity in mind all the time helps answer questions that come up. God’s Kingdom is forever. Temptation comes regularly and those who have repented have not only turned from the sins of the past, but have made a commitment to God to reject temptation as it comes in the future. Keeping eternity in mind helps a believer grasp that hell is real and not worth the few moments of pleasure sin will offer. Repenting does not mean that a person has become religious as the Pharisees and Sadducees were. They had their religious forms and were proud of them. Their religious routines were more important that obeying God. Repentance opens up the personal relationship with Jesus. It paves the way for a life based on love. It makes a person completely new.
John said that Jesus would baptize believers in the Holy Spirit. Each believer must seek the fullness of this gift. Once received, the baptism must be active. Spirit-filled believers must continue to be filled and used by God. Spirit-filled believers will be used by God in supernatural ways.
3. How can I help someone?
The major need of every person in the world is repentance. I can help by being constantly alert to opportunities to help people find the road to repentance. John the Baptist told the truth in this message. People need to hear the truth. John spoke as God directed and people responded. I need to believe that people will respond. I need to listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and show Jesus to the world I live in.
