Devotional: Matthew 3:1-12 Baptized With Fire

3/30/2020

Matthew 3:1-12
1 In Those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Discussion Question:
Why does the John use the analogy of fire for Baptism?

Feel free to share your answer in comment section below?

4 Comments

Michella Calix

3/31/2020 05:35:09 pm

It is interesting how John stated that the ax is already planted on the root of the tree to cut off any tree that does not produce good fruit. Its as if the ax is waiting to cut off anyone who chooses to poison others with her/his self-destructive behavior.The ax cutting off trees also symbolizes how God disprove the contamination of such manner and is willing to go the extra mile to diminish it in fire.The bible is very specific about what's out of bound in Colossians 3:8 (NIV): "You must also rid yourself of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." These are just a few that does not reflect the Love of our Father who have made it His business to put us first.

I think the same fire John talks about on verse 10 is different from what he mentioned on verse 11. I think we need to understand first how fire respond to objects. If you start a fire to make smores, you tend to avoid getting it burn to retain the flavor or your teeth. If you're like me, you end up keeping it a little longer in the fire which end up burning the smores altogether. Before that burning phase began, smores melt together and it becomes inseparable. Being baptize in the Holy Spirit and in fire is how I see John using this to prove his point: being in unity with God. Choosing to surrender our self to Him and becoming one like chocolate and marshmallow by baptism is a very sweet and intimate moment.

Wayne Jamel

4/1/2020 01:59:11 am

I like that analogy of melting. Two pieces of metal melting together. Christ and I becoming one. I like that.

The ax analogy is a sad one, but one that is designed to wake us up.

Kenneth Armstead

3/31/2020 07:12:56 pm

In the Bible, fire is used to destroy. But it is also used to purify as in putting gold and silver through fire to remove impurities from the metal. Similarly, the Holy Spirit is like fire that removes the impurities of Satan’s influence from our lives.

4/1/2020 02:00:24 am

Destroy. Purify. Yes.
We need to Holy Spirit to destroy me along with the body of sin so I can come out of the furnace purified in Him.

Devotional: Matthew 3:1-12 Baptized With Fire

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