I AM NOT WORTHY TO EVEN CARRY HIS SANDALS
Lets check out by answering the below questions .
- Why should we know about John the Baptist?
- Baptism without repentance is just for show.
- Why is true repentance so important?
- Why John prepared the way for Jesus?
- Be ready for the coming judgment before it’s too late.
WHO WAS JOHN THE BAPTIST ?
John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin, miraculously born to Zacharias and Elisabeth in their old age about six months before Jesus. He grew up among the Essenes, a group that lived apart from society, rejecting the religious authorities of the time. They lived simply in the wilderness, wearing camel’s hair and eating locusts and wild honey.
John practiced frequent ritual washings (mikvah), similar to baptism, and shared their Messianic hope of two coming figures — one priestly and one kingly.
Crowds from Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond came to him at the Jordan River a name meaning “to go down” symbolizing humility as they confessed their sins and were baptized. (Matthew 3:5–6)
CALLING OUT HYPOCRISY
Matthew 3:7 – John saw Pharisees and Sadducees coming and rebuked them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?"
Though respected by society, these religious leaders were hypocrites. John recognized that they weren’t truly seeking repentance but simply following the crowd.
Matthew 3:8–9 "Produce fruit worthy of repentance. And do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Father Abraham.’"
John warns them: heritage doesn’t save. Don’t rely on being physical descendants of Abraham. God can raise children for Abraham from stones if He wishes.
What matters is a transformed life with fruit ( the fruit of Holy spirit Galatians 5:22-23)
JUDGEMENT IS COMING
Matthew 3:10 – "Even now the axe is laid at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
Repentance is urgent and those who reject it face judgment. God’s desire is to see His people turn back to Him, but without repentance, there’s only separation.
- Good fruit: a life turning from sin, showing love, obedience, and holiness.
- Bad fruit: a life pretending to follow God, but unchanged at heart.
Repentance isn’t optional. It’s the root that produces lasting change without it, we face separation from God. Those who refuse to repent will face consequences, symbolized by the fire.
POINTING TO THE MESSIAH
Matthew 3:11 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
John’s baptism was symbolic — a public act of repentance, showing a heart ready to turn from sin. It prepared people to receive the Messiah.
John’s baptism prepared hearts, but he pointed beyond himself. This is Jesus, the One who transforms and purifies. The Holy Spirit refines us, burning away sin like fire refines metal, and makes us new from the inside out.
THE FINAL SEPARATION AND JUDGEMENT
Matthew 3:12 "His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor. He will gather His wheat into the barn, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire."
This is a message of separation. The Gospel divides: the wheat (true believers) will be gathered; the chaff (the unrepentant) will face eternal judgment.
The word "unquenchable" here suggests eternal punishment not temporary or symbolic. The fire will not go out.
And the call is the same today: Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.
To Learn more about "This is my beloved Son." Matthew 3:13-17 , Click here