There are truths we believe we know—truths we’ve heard countless times, sung in our hymns, and recited in our confessions of faith. But sometimes, these familiar truths strike us with renewed force, like a sudden light piercing darkness, or like embers we thought dead suddenly flaring to life beneath the ashes.
In Luke 3:15-17 and 21-22, we find John the Baptist speaking with characteristic boldness. His words aren’t meant to flatter or persuade; they announce and warn. He points to One “more powerful than I,” whose sandals he declares himself unworthy to untie. Then he proclaims something remarkable—something that shatters the expectations of his audience:
“I baptize you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16).
These words, spoken two millennia ago along the Jordan’s banks, should still shake us today, filling us with wonder and spurring us to action.
A Messiah of Power and Judgment
The crowds awaited a Messiah, but one fashioned according to their expectations, a powerful king who would restore Israel and break Roman rule. They anticipated perhaps another David or Judas Maccabeus, a warrior-king who would lead them to victory. John’s words, however, reveal someone far greater than their imagination could grasp.
His declaration presents a striking juxtaposition between Spirit and fire. The Holy Spirit comes to give life, fulfilling God’s promise in Ezekiel 36:26-27: “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes.” The fire serves dual purposes: purifying God’s people (Malachi 3:2-3) while consuming those who reject Him (Matthew 13:41-42).
John emphasizes the imminence of judgment: the Coming One “has his winnowing fork in his hand” to separate the wheat from the chaff (Luke 3:17). While we cherish the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd—and He certainly is—we must not forget He is also the righteous Judge. A church captivated by the Gospel cannot ignore this reality. We often grow too comfortable, forgetting the urgency of our mission. Yet if we truly believe in Christ, we must proclaim both His salvation and His coming judgment.
The Humble King Clothed with the Spirit
The narrative then takes an unexpected turn. The One whom John declared infinitely greater steps forward to be baptized himself. This paradox is stunning: the sinless One identifies with sinners; the Judge of all submits to a servant’s baptism; the Lord of heaven and earth descends into Jordan’s waters like any other man.
At this moment, something extraordinary occurs: “Heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove” (Luke 3:21-22).
Why would Jesus, who is fully God, receive the Holy Spirit? He does so to demonstrate perfect humanity, showing us how to live in complete dependence on the Spirit’s power. This truth carries profound implications for us today. If Jesus himself walked by the Spirit’s power, how much more must we?
Walking in the Spirit’s Power Today
What does it mean to be a church amazed by the Gospel? It means living by the Spirit’s power rather than human effort (Galatians 5:16). Such a church doesn’t merely discuss the Gospel; it embodies it, letting it penetrate every aspect of its life and ministry.
Walking in the Spirit means:
- Seeking divine direction rather than relying solely on our plans
- Letting God sanctify us, transform us, purify us
- being equipped for mission, not with empty speeches, but with real power (Acts 1:8)
If we long to see revival in our churches, we must abandon self-reliance and embrace this fundamental truth: “it is the Spirit who gives life” (John 6:63).
The Urgent Call to Proclaim
Jesus came to baptize with the Spirit and with fire. We who have received the Spirit cannot remain passive while judgment approaches. The reality of the coming separation between wheat and chaff should compel us to proclaim the Gospel with renewed urgency.
A Prayer for Our Churches
Lord, deliver us from lukewarm contentment and routine Christianity. Make us men and women amazed by Christ, passionate with His passion, burning with His Spirit, and filled with urgency to proclaim His salvation.
Fellow pastors, let us return to our knees in prayer for divine visitation. For only as we walk fully in the Spirit will we be the living, faithful church Christ calls us to be—ever amazed by His glorious Gospel.
