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Once again Luke sets his story in the context of world history (vv.1-2). He then declares John to be the person expected to prepare the way for the Lord. With his concern for the church’s universal mission, Luke extends the quotation from Isaiah 40:3-5 as far as the statement that all humanity will see God’s salvation (vv.4-6).
At the heart of John’s message was the call to a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (v.3). This baptism symbolized both initiation and cleansing. It was used as a rite of initiation for gentile converts to Judaism, and the Jews practiced frequent ritual washings to cleanse themselves from defilement. The Baptist’s claim that God could raise up from stones children to Abraham (v.8) suggests that he regarded baptism as an initiation into a spiritual Israel. He also saw it as a symbol of cleansing from moral defilement. He put great emphasis on judgment and the need to bear fruit in conduct (vv.7-9). He addressed social questions, including the sharing of clothes and food, honesty among tax collectors, and avoidance of injustice by soldiers (vv.10-14). His denunciation of Herod Antipas for marrying his brother’s wife and for other unnamed evil things was his most provocative ethical teaching. It was this denunciation that led to the Baptist’s imprisonment and death (vv.19-20; see Mt 14:1-12; Mk 6:14-29).
The Baptist prophesied the coming of one more powerful than himself who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (vv.16-17). This baptism took place at Pentecost and, of course, on subsequent occasions.
Spirit baptism may be accompanied by outward manifestations, but, being spiritual, it is essentially an inward change. It is described as a baptism with fire, says Clarke (1:53, on Mt 3:11), because the Spirit is “to illuminate and invigorate the soul, penetrate every part, and assimilate the whole to the image of the God of glory.” The Spirit, says John Wesley (Notes, 24, on Mt 3:11), inflames people’s hearts with the “fire of love.” The image of fire is often used for divine judgment. But insofar as judgment effects purification, it is not separate from baptism with the Spirit; it is part of the Spirit’s work of inward change.
O that it now from heaven might fall,
And all my sins consume!
Come, Holy Ghost, for Thee I call,
Spirit of burning, come!
Refining fire, go through my heart,
Illuminate my soul,
Scatter Thy life through every part,
And sanctify the whole.
Charles Wesley (1:329)