By the grace and mercy of Jesus may we be prepared.

John

{1:32} And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
{1:33} And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
{1:34} And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.


God sent John to baptize with water.
God told John that the Spirit would descend and remain on the one which would baptize with the Holy Ghost.


Picture it...


God called John to baptize with water. To make way the coming of the Lord. He called to repentance.


Matt.

{3:1} In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea
{3:2} And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.


John was preparing people telling them something was coming, something was happening and they needed to be ready for it. All their lives they lived with the need to repent of their sins, they were raised with the sacrifical services part of their every day life. But now they were being told something more was happening. They knew their sacrifical service was pointing to something else. They knew a Messiah was to come.


Hope was revived with John preaching in the wilderness. Hope was come to them that the Messiah was indeed on His way. Hope was to be realized and people needed to be ready. They needed to realize their sinfulness, to understand that the Messiah was coming and they needed to be ready.


John did what he was told to do and then one day as he was baptizing people what he was told would happened- happened.


The Spirit descended and remained upon Jesus, upon the Son of God.


Can you imagine the awe! The wonder as John saw what he'd been told come to pass? It's amazing when predictions come to pass, amazing and awe inspiring. God's wonder is amazing, His love for us is unbelievable.


Jesus Himself told us He would come again for us and He will. The people of Israel had to wait thousands of years to see the realization of the Messiah's coming. The people of the world over have been waiting for thousands of years to see the realization of Jesus' return. God's promises are realized. We must believe, we must have faith, we must have hope.


By the grace and mercy of Jesus may we be prepared.


Amen.