Matthew 3   John the Baptist "came preaching"... he arrived on the scene at just the right moment to "Make ready the way of the Lord."   John preached repentance.  His message was clear.. " ... the kingdom of heaven is at hand."   God was doing something in Israel that was brand new.  It had been many years since there was this kind of movement in the spiritual realm.  Years since a prophet had prophesied.. years since the people had hope of truth and salvation.  All Israel seemed to be waiting on such news.. for they came to John out in the wilderness..  "Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea, and all the district around the Jordan." 

Even the Pharisees and Sadducees came.  They wanted the baptism... but they were unwilling to confess their sins.. to acknowledge that their righteousness was not real and that they were not ready to repent.

To repent is to change your mind about your sin. Repentance comes when you acknowledge your actions and regret them.. when you feel compunction - the sting of guilt, the pricking of your conscience.. dissatisfaction with your choices.. so much so that you desire to change.. to turn from those things. 

True repentance results in a change.  John put it this way.. "Therefore bring forth the fruit in keeping with repentance." 

Baptism is a proclamation of one's decision to change.. to acknowledge your sin..  to turn away from sin.. all kinds of sin.. and to turn to God.  To decide that you don't want to live in the way you have been living.. but in the way of the Lord.  

The Pharisees and Sadducees were counting on their connection to Abraham for their salvation.  They were not willing to confess that they needed to change anything. The fruit of their lives didn't matter, in their eyes... pride, selfishness, cruelty, self-righteousness, deceit, stealing and cheating... these sins were not even pricking their consciences.  Truly they were a "brood of vipers". 

John taught them about baptism.  The "water" baptism was for repentance. The greater baptism to come would be for so much more.. "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."  Baptized - overwhelmed - overpowered, overturned, covered over, poured out from above.    John told Jesus, "I have need to be baptized by You... "  O Yes!  We need that too - to be overwhelmed, covered over, and overpowered by Jesus Christ.. His Spirit poured down over us from above!

Jesus asked John to join Him in fulfilling "all righteousness".  This baptism was unlike any other.  Jesus submitted to the Father, going under the water.. going down into death.  ".. The heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and coming down upon Him."  The Spirit overwhelmed Him.  And the Father spoke.. "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 

Yes,  something was happening in Israel. Something happened in this world on that day.. Jesus came to bring the Kingdom of heaven to earth. Hallelujah!

Father in heaven, we praise Your Name.  We give thanks for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, Your Beloved Son. Thank You for the gift of repentance. We know that we can't even do that without Your help. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who has been poured out upon us.. to overwhelm us with true righteousness and peace, with love and grace, with hope and joy.  May the fruits of true repentance, the fruits of Your Spirit fill our lives as we choose to follow Jesus.  We lay down our lives and take up our crosses and follow Jesus.. overflow in our lives Holy Spirit.. that the Father will be pleased. amen.