Luke 3:15-20 — Two Baptisms?

READ THIS: Luke 3:15-20

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them. 19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

What an amazing lesson on humility and obedience! Through John's teaching and baptizing, many people began to wonder if John was the Messiah and the one who was there to save God's chosen people. John could have taken this opportunity to be praised or to be given power and authority. Instead, he did the opposite: he completely humbled himself and lifted up Jesus instead!

The first thing he says is that while he baptized people with water, a new person would come who has even more power than he does and will baptize people with "the Holy Spirit and fire" (hint hint... Jesus!). This is a really important thing for us to understand as believers: there is a BIG difference between baptism by water and baptism by the Spirit. Baptism by water is a beautiful way to profess our faith and belief in Jesus, but it is not what saves us. However, when we choose to believe in Jesus, asking Him to be our Savior and giving our life to Him, we are baptized and blessed with the Holy Spirit... that is what saves us! Being saved comes from faith alone!

But what's this next part all about? There's a winnowing fork (a kind of pitchfork) that gathers a bunch of wheat, and then the bad parts of the wheat get thrown into a fire that can't go out. This describes the judgement that Jesus also came to bring. Several times in the Gospels, Jesus speaks about diving up His people like a farmer divides up the good wheat and the bad wheat. Those who believe in Jesus and follow Him (the good wheat) will be taken home to be with Jesus, and those that don't (the bad wheat, or chaff) will be thrown in the fire and not be used!

Lastly, we see that John spoke the truth that God taught him, no matter the consequences. He understood that God was his ultimate authority, and that led him to call out people as powerful as King Herod. This led him to be thrown in prison, but as we've learned from people like Paul in the past, obedience to God is worth it even if it makes life tough.

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. If baptism by water isn't what saves us, why is it important?

2. Who is someone in your life that needs to be told the truth, even if it may be hard for you?

TRY THIS:

Jesus talked about separating the wheat from the "weeds" in Matthew 13:30! Check out this verse:

30 Let both [the weeds and the wheat] grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”