Matthew 3: 11-12- The Coming Messiah

Matthew 3: 11- 12- ‘” I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.  he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”’

This is John the Baptists’ announcement of the coming of Jesus Christ as recorded by Matthew. How startling would this have been if you had been listening to John the Baptist on this day? Would you have been one of those individuals who would have realized John the Baptist was talking about the Messiah.  I would hope I would have realized the Messiah was soon to be known.

 I would also hope I understood this part of verse 12.  Jesus came to love and to be a help to all of us but there is a level of justice for those who disregard Jesus and disregard his principles.  Contrary to what many in our world believes today, being a good person is not enough.  We need to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord.   

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