Today, we continue our look at one of the most fascinating characters in all of the Bible. Jesus would later call him “more than a prophet” and “among those born of women none is greater” [Luke 7.24-28]. However, when I think of people in Holy Scripture that I should try to emulate, John the Baptist doesn’t spring to my mind. Maybe I just have a distaste for locusts and don’t look good in camel’s hair!!!

[Luke 3.16-18]

16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What John says in vv. 16-17 was in answer to a question posed to him earlier. Read yesterday’s Daily to see the question to get these verses today in their proper context. Why did John want to make it abundantly clear that he was unworthy to untie the sandal of the person who would follow him?

+ Was John referring to the Holy Spirit coming upon the Apostles at Pentecost in v. 16 and something more? Why or why not? Is baptizing with fire the same thing as the chaff being burned with unquenchable fire? Why or why not?

+ Based on what you’ve read about John in Luke 3, how did he “prepare the way of the Lord”? How would you summarize his message?

+ Would you characterize the exhortation from John in vv. 16-17 as “good news” as it states in v. 18? Why or why not?

+ What do you think Jesus meant when He states in Luke 7.28, “I tell you among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he”. What is the kingdom of John referring to in this verse? Heaven, something else, or both?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ I think I have figured out why I don’t try to emulate John the Baptist. His WHOLE life was characterized by two things:

He took the vow of the Nazirite, showing his strong desire to draw close to God by forgoing the comforts and pleasures of this world (Numbers 6.1-21)
His message to ALL people was the same; you need to turn away from sin and live a life bearing fruit that shows you have truly repented.

If I am honest, there are times when I only do NOT forgo the comforts and pleasures of this world, but I pursue them!!! And instead of confronting people of their need to repent and live a life bearing fruit, I am silent—or worse yet, I tell them they are OK, or even join them in their rebellion.

I am convinced more than ever in my ENTIRE life that Christians today need to follow the example of this man, the last of the Old Testament prophets. Those outside the faith need to SEE and HEAR the Truth from those who claim to follow Jesus!!!

Until we know the bad news, we can’t truly appreciate the good news. Until we understand that we are destined for hell because of our sin, we cannot appreciate all that Jesus did for us on the cross (II Corinthians 5.21). If we don’t realize how hopeless we are, we won’t recognize the great hope Jesus offers (Hebrews 6.19). Unless we recognize that we are sinners, we can’t appreciate a Savior. (What is the bad news/good news approach to sharing the gospel? (gotquestions.org)

Lord, forgive us for NOT seeking first the kingdom of God and Your righteousness (Matthew 6.33). Give us the desire through conviction of the Holy Spirit to overcome our worldly appetites. Give us urgency in our spirits to reach the lost with the live saving, life giving Gospel of Jesus!!! Amen.

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?