http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=Matthew+3:1-12I read it and I was thinking it had something to do with preparing the coming of the Lord? Please tell me?
2007-12-09 08:12:13 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Maybe this will help...
2007-12-09 08:15:41 · answer #1 · answered by nondescript 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
John's ministry was to prepare people for the coming of the Lord. He wanted to see people repent and start living in a way that prepared them for the Kingdom of God (living in God's will). He was a pretty rough character. I think he purposefully lived as he did to show people how he wasn't concerned about comfort and wealth, but focused completely on God. He began baptizing people as a symbol of their repentance; leaving their old lives behind and being washed clean.
The local "religious" types came down to watch what he is doing and he started in on them, because he knew that they were just there to criticize. He accused them of being hypocrites and for being smug in their religion. John told them that he was baptizing people with water for repentance, but it was only a symbol of what was to come when the Messiah came. The Messiah would bring the Holy Spirit and "fire" -- fire symbolizing the burning away of the useless aspects of religion. He creates a metaphor of Jesus as a farmer, gathering in the wheat, separating the grains from the useless hulls or chaff, and burning the chaff. He was pointing out to the Pharisees and Sadducees that they were "religious" but did nothing to show their faith in God. They produced no "fruit", so their "tree" would be cut down.
That's when Jesus went down to see John and asked him to baptize him as an example for all the other people there.
2007-12-09 08:29:46 · answer #2 · answered by Snow Globe 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
John the Baptist is telling the Pharisees (equivilant to churchgoers today) that they are not protected from God's wrath by Abraham's lineage. (Just as churchgoers are not protected by their connection to the church.)
The "fruit" is referance to how they treated sinners.
John was preparing the way for believers by baptizing them with water as a symbol of washing away sins and repentance. He was telling them that it was nothing in comparison to Jesus giving us his Holy Spirit to truly be born again.
Hope this helps.
2007-12-09 08:26:37 · answer #3 · answered by dawn m 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, John was preparing the people for the coming of Jesus.
2007-12-09 08:17:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
John the baptist was announcing to the Jews that the one who was prophesied about was here...Jesus...
2007-12-09 08:19:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near"
2000 years and still waiting...
Nice example of how Christianity uses fear tactics. Their number one method of recruitment then as it is now...
Thanks for that!
2007-12-09 08:17:09 · answer #6 · answered by mam2121 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋