What kind of Messiah did God promise to
send to his people and how would he bring God's kingdom to them? The prophet
Isaiah foresaw the day when God would raise up a Messianic King long after King
David’s throne had been overthrown and vacant for centuries. God promised that
he would raise up a new king from the stump of Jesse, the father of David
(Isaiah 11:1). This messianic king would rule forever because the Spirit of God
would rest upon him and remain with him (Isaiah 11:2). Isaiah prophesied that
the Messiah would be equipped with the gifts of the Spirit – with wisdom,
understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the Lord This king would
establish the kingdom of God, not by force of human will and military power,
but by offering his life as the atoning sacrifice for the sin of the world. The
Lord Jesus wants us to live in joyful hope and confident expectation that he
will come again to fully establish his kingdom of righteousness and peace.
Why did John the Baptist prophesy that when
the Messiah would come, he would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire
(Matthew 3:11)? Fire in biblical times was often associated with God's presence
and with his action in the lives of his people. God sometimes manifested his
presence by use of fire, such as the burning bush which was not consumed when
God spoke to Moses (Exodus 3:2). The image of fire was also used to symbolize
God's glory (Ezekiel 1:4, 13), his protective presence (2 Kings 6:17), his
holiness (Deuteronomy 4:24), righteous judgment (Zechariah 13:9), and his wrath
against sin (Isaiah 66:15-16).Fire was also used as a sign of the Holy Spirit's
power and presence (Matthew 3:11). When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the
day of Pentecost, tongues of fire appeared over the heads of the apostles and
disciples of Jesus (Acts 2:3). John the Baptist's life was fueled by one
burning passion – to point others to Jesus Christ and to the coming of his
kingdom. Who is John the Baptist and what is the significance of his message
for our lives? Scripture tells us that John was filled with the Holy Spirit
even from his mother's womb (Luke 1:15, 41) by Christ himself, whom Mary
had just conceived by the Holy Spirit. When Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth
John leapt in her womb as they were filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41).
The fire of the Spirit dwelt in John and made him the forerunner of the coming
Messiah. John was led by the Spirit into the wilderness prior to his ministry
where he was tested and grew in the word of God. John broke the prophetic
silence of the previous centuries when he began to speak the word of God to the
people of Israel. His message was similar to the message of the Old Testament
prophets who chided the people of God for their unfaithfulness and who tried to
awaken true repentance in them. Among a people unconcerned with the things of
God, it was his work to awaken their interest, unsettle them from their
complacency, and arouse in them enough good will to recognize and receive
Christ when he came.
Jesus tells us that John the Baptist was more
than a prophet (Luke 7:26). John was the voice of the Consoler who is
coming (John 1:23; Isaiah 40:1-3). He completed the cycle of prophets begun by
Elijah (Matthew 11:13-14). What the prophets had carefully searched for and
angels longed to see, now came to completion as John made the way ready for the
coming of the Messiah, God's Anointed Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
John's baptism was for repentance – turning away from sin and taking on a new
way of life according to God's word. Our baptism in Jesus Christ by water and
the Spirit results in a new birth and entry into God's kingdom as his beloved
sons and daughters. Jesus is ready to give us the fire of his Spirit that we
may radiate the joy and truth of the gospel to a world in desperate need of God's
light and truth. His word has power to change and transform our lives that we
may be lights pointing others to Christ. Like John the Baptist, we too are
called to give testimony to the light and truth of Jesus Christ. Do we point
others to Christ in the way you live, work, and speak?
I hope that these ADVENT days are beneficial to you in your preparation for Christmas!
Fr. Phil
