Churches Together in Hexham 

“PEOPLE are wondering whether John the Baptist is the long-awaited one who would rescue them from their troubles; chiefly for the Jews this meant Roman oppression. We can imagine how they were feeling if we were promised some great world leader in our present times who could take to the world stage and have the ability to resolve current difficulties such as the Middle East, the refugee crisis, and other injustices.

“The strong anticipation meant that they ‘jumped the gun’ and assumed John was their man. He was a strong leader and the first prophet – or spokesman of God – for over 400 years. John has to explain that the Christ (Messiah in their ancient language) was to follow him and although John baptised with water Christ would baptise ‘with the Holy Spirit and with fire’. The use of elemental language such as ‘fire’ and ‘water’ pointed to a significance in the spiritual realm. It would take many months and even years of patient explanation to show that the Messiah’s role and rule would not simply be of this world.

“The uncertainty of John’s identity contrasts with the confirmation of the identity of Jesus. When it comes to his own baptism a voice from heaven says ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ As well as hearing this, the bystanders had visual confirmation – the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove. Was anyone left in any doubt as to who Jesus was? The question is who do we think Jesus was or is?”