He Baptizes in Spirit

John the Baptist prepared the way for the Messiah, the herald of the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

All four gospel accounts apply the passage from the Book of Isaiah to John the Baptist, the messenger who called men to repent in preparation for the Messiah’s arrival. The passage identifies John as the forerunner expected before the “Day of Yahweh” to summon the faithful - “The voice of one crying, in the wilderness, prepare the way of the LORD” - (Isaiah 40:3-5).

John’s activities paralleled aspects of the ministry of Elijah. For example, John was “clothed with camel's hair and a leather belt,” and like Elijah, he also spent time in the “wilderness” - (2 Kings 1:1-8, Malachi 3:1-3, 4:5, Mark 9:12-13, Luke 1:17).

[Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash]

The Greek noun translated as “repentance” denotes a “change of mind.” The call was for more than just remorse over past misdeeds. Baptism in water confirmed a man’s repentance, and it was done for the “remission of sins.”

Repentance required a deliberate change of mind and a complete reorientation of life, or at least the depth of repentance called for by John. “Remission” in Greek and English means to release or remit something.

Elsewhere in Scripture, the term “remission” is applied to the “discharge” of debt and “divorce” decrees. Repentance with baptism discharges the stain of sin and releases the penitent man from sin’s dominion, obligations, and curse. According to John, repentance and water baptism were necessary for Jewish men and women to prepare for the Messiah and the remission of sins.

• “John came baptizing in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judaea and all they of Jerusalem; and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed with camel's hair and had a leathern girdle about his loins, and did eat locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, There is coming after me he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I baptized you in water, but he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”

John summoned the Jewish nation to repent and be baptized or “immersed.” The crowds included Pharisees, Sadducees, and priests, Israel’s religious leaders. Representatives of all levels of Jewish society heard John’s warning and call - (Matthew 3:6, John 1:19).

His preaching prepared for and pointed to the coming Messiah who would bring the Good News of God’s Kingdom. Furthermore, John contrasted himself with this “Coming One” in three ways - Might, Worth, and Mode of Baptism. The Greek adjective translated as “mightier” is used to describe Jesus as the “mighty one” who binds the “strong man” - (Mark 3:22-30).

John described himself as unworthy “to unloose the strap of his sandals.” In first-century society, removing another man’s footwear was a menial task normally assigned to slaves and domestic servants.

BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT

In such ways, John portrayed himself as not worthy of becoming even the lowest household slave of the coming Messiah. Even John’s baptism in water was preparatory, not final. He baptized sinners in water, but the “Coming One” would “baptize them in the Holy Spirit.”

• “John testified, saying, I beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and it abode upon him. I knew him not, but he that sent me to baptize in water said to me, Upon whomever you will the Spirit descending and abiding upon him, the same is he that baptizes in the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God” – (John 1:31-34).

The Gift of the Spirit was an expectation of the “Last Days,” the “Promise of the Father” and the “Blessing of Abraham.” It was fundamental to the coming New Covenant, and to the identification and empowerment of the People of God. The presence of the Spirit would set them apart from other men - (Acts 2:38-39, Galatians 2:14, Isaiah 44:3, Ezekiel 36:26-27).

In the gospel accounts, Jesus did not abandon water baptism, but his baptism added something new and significant, the baptism in the Spirit; therefore, his “baptism” was superior to anything previously experienced by the people of Israel.

John set the stage for the public unveiling of the Messiah of Israel and the Herald of the Kingdom, Jesus of Nazareth. He would baptize his followers in the Holy Spirit “and fire.”

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SEE ALSO:

• The Salvation of Yahweh - (‘Jesus’ means ‘Yahweh saves.’ In the man from Nazareth, the salvation promised by the God of Israel arrived in all its glory)

• The Anointed One - (The Spirit of God and the voice from heaven confirmed who Jesus was – Son, Messiah, and 'Servant of the LORD')

• Promise of the Father - (With the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost, the blessing for all nations promised to Abraham has commenced)

• Le Serviteur Oint - (L'Esprit de Dieu et la voix du ciel confirmèrent qui était Jésus-Fils, Messie et Serviteur du Seigneur)