You can feel the excitement in the air. There is a buzz in the crowd. Something big is going to happen. It’s not an NFL playoff game or the calm before the big sale at your favorite retailer begins. Jesus is about to be revealed as the promised anointed one of God, the Messiah.
The excitement had been building for a while. People had been coming to John the Baptist confessing their sins and being baptized, having their sins washed away. John’s baptism was essentially the same as Jesus’ baptism that he gave to his church at the great commission. Both were baptisms of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The only difference was in their perspective. John’s baptism looked forward to a Savior who would come. Jesus’ baptism look back on his work and all that he accomplished as he saved the world from sin.
The excitement that surrounded John was a little curious. He wasn’t really a “nice” guy. He looked a little odd – clothing of camel’s hair… A diet of bugs and organic honey… There was nothing cosmopolitan about this prophet of God. What was attractive about this brutally honest man who only called people out in their sinfulness? He not only pointed out people’s sins, he point them to their Savior. This is where the excitement really builds as Jesus approaches the river. What happens next? What was all the excitement about? You’ll have to watch and find out.
Topic(s): JesusBook(s): Luke
Tag(s): Baptism, Epiphany
Speaker(s): Fred Guldberg