Day 4: January 31

Matthew 3:1-17

Scripture highlight: Matthew 3:1,2  "In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea. 'Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.'"

OBSERVATIONS:
Unlike Jesus, John the Baptist suddenly appears with no backstory, no history, no lineage.

He has a simple, powerful message: Repent because a divine kingdom is immanent.

The coming Kingdom is not part of the world's system. It’s from God. (This is politically subversive and John will be decapitated for preaching about it.)

John is preaching in the wilderness. Strange place to launch a ministry! It’s barren, useless land, not a place where you’d expect anything to grow or flourish.

His camel hair outfit with a leather belt matches the clothing of the great prophet Elijah (2 Kings 1:8). Matthew is not only implying that John is like Elijah, he ties John directly to the fulfillment of OT prophecy: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord.” God himself is going to show up.  

Massive crowds from Jerusalem and the entire surrounding area are hiking way out to the middle of nowhere, not for the spectacle of a bug-eating wild man, but to repent.

Repentance is the way into the Kingdom. Repentance must bear good fruit. Not just talk. Life transformation.

Wrath, fire, and, worse yet, unquenchable fire, are tied to the coming Kingdom. These words are repeated, showing how important this theme is to John. Spiritual judgement is on the way.

Trees without good fruit get cut down and burned. (Jesus specifically identifies with this theme of fruitlessness and judgement when he curses the fig tree later on in Matthew’s gospel.)

Wheat separated from the worthless chaff is another picture of the coming King’s definitive judgement. We must choose our side. There is no middle ground.  

APPLICATION
The Kingdom of Heaven has arrived exactly as foretold by multiple prophets. This Kingdom is not part of the worldly system. It’s a threat to all worldly systems and powers, including our personal religious status and agendas.

I can’t help but think of the famous Jonathan Edwards sermon title, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” We don’t like to think of God in this “old-fashioned”, hellfire-and-brimstone way, but John the Baptist makes it his central message.

The King is coming with his Holy Spirit and fire—either a purifying fire or an undying, destroying fire. We are not worthy to stand in the presence of this Holy God. We must repent and confess our sins. And our repentance must be real. It should grow and flourish in our lives like delicious fruit on a tree.

PRAYER
Oh most Holy God and King, I confess that I have fallen short in so many ways, through things I have done and said, and also though things I have failed to do and say. Like your great servant Isaiah who saw you face to face, I am ruined. I am undone in your presence. Forgive me. Purify my mind and my heart. Through the power of your Holy Spirit make me grow and flourish more and more like your son Jesus.