Wednesday
In our reading today, we get to hear from John the Baptist. John was that miracle baby born to Zechariah and Elizabeth.
John has quite a following of people as he preaches his message of repentance. The gospel writers share that John is the fulfillment of the Isaiah prophecy saying that John is the one who is preparing the way for the Messiah, John’s message was one of repentance and preparation. “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!” and John also says, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” John uses a ritual that represents a cleansing of sin. You’ll remember from the Old Testament how the priest and the people would have to clean themselves in order to attend temple worship. This cleansing by water is symbolic of our need to be clean spiritually.
You may wonder why would Jesus need to be baptized. (Even John basically asks this question.) But Jesus answers him, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” (Matthew 3:15) So John agreed to baptize him. Jesus was baptized, not for his benefit but for ours.
In John’s message he says, “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.” It is not enough for us to say that we have repented of our sins or that we are baptized, our lives need to reflect outwardly the change that has been made inwardly.
How are you living your life that proves you have repented of your sins? That you have turned your life over to God? Would a stranger know by your words, your actions that you are a Christ-follower?
Shalom
Pastor Kathy