John’s Messianic Preach (Part 1) - Luke 3:15–18

     “The people were in expectation and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not” (Luke 3:15). Some thought John the Baptist might be the promised Messiah, but John quickly cleared up that misconception.

     The cause of the perplexity. “The people were in expectation” (Luke 3:15). God had put in people’s hearts at that time a general expectation that the coming of the Messiah was at hand. Because of the exceptional ministry of John the Baptist, some thought that John was the promised Messiah.
     The correcting of the perplexity. Any idea that John was the promised Messiah was quickly negated by John. He gave a fourfold argument in our text to show that he was not the promised Messiah.

• First, the condescension to Christ. “One mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose” (Luke 3:16). This statement says Christ was so superior to John that John was not even worthy to do the lowest of servant tasks for Christ. It is a great comment on the greatness of Christ.
• Second, the contrast to Christ. “I indeed baptize you with water; but … he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire” (Luke 3:16). Christ’s baptism was much different than John’s baptism. His baptism with the “Holy Ghost” is clarified by Paul when he said, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” (I Corinthians 12:13). “With fire” speaks of judgment which is amplified shortly.
• Third, the congregating by Christ. “Will gather the wheat into his garner” (Luke 3:17). Christ will not leave any redeemed for judgment but will gather all the believers to Himself. It is a glorious promise for the redeemed.
• Fourth, the condemnation by Christ. “Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor … but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable” (Luke 3:17). Here the “with fire” of Luke 3:16 is amplified. To reject Christ is to experience a fiery judgment for all eternity. “Unquenchable fire” is a pungent warning of the damnation of eternal hell fire that will come upon all who reject Christ as their Savior.

     The Continuing of the Perplexity.  "And with many other exhortations he preached to the people." (Luke 3:18)  John continued to instruct and correct and exhort the people as God gave the ability and the opportunity to do so. An important and significant thing, given the growing opposition to his ministry and the danger to his person.

(See also Matthew 3:11-12 and Mark 1:7-8 for parallel accounts of these events as well as tomorrows blog for the account in John).