JOHN PREPARED AND POINTED THE WAY TO JESUS

Luke 3, John preached to the crowds that came for baptism: “You brood of snakes! You are trying to escape hell without truly turning to God! That is why you want to be baptized! First go and prove by the way you live that you really have repented. And don’t think you are safe because you are descendants of Abraham. That isn’t enough. God can produce children of Abraham from these desert stones! The ax of his judgment is poised over you, ready to sever your roots and cut you down. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.” The crowd replied, “What do you want us to do?” “If you have two coats,” he replied, “give one to the poor. If you have extra food, give it away to those who are hungry.” Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and eager to know whether or not John was he. This was the question of the hour and was being discussed everywhere. John answered the question by saying, “I baptize only with water; but someone is coming soon who has far higher authority than mine; in fact, I am not even worthy of being his slave. He will baptize you with fire with the Holy Spirit. He will separate chaff from grain, and burn up the chaff with eternal fire and store away the grain.” He used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people. Then one day, after the crowds had been baptized, Jesus himself was baptized; and as he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove settled upon him, and a voice from heaven said, “You are my much loved Son, yes, my delight.” FRIENDS, JOHN PREPARED AND POINTED THE WAY TO JESUS, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD. John 14:6, Jesus told him, “I am the Way yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me.