Matthew 3: The King’s Herald

MATTHEW 3 STRUCTURE
    │
    ├─ vv. 1-6    JOHN'S MINISTRY → Breaking the Silence
    │   ├─► Appears in wilderness
    │   ├─► Message: "Repent, kingdom of heaven is near"
    │   ├─► Fulfills Isaiah 40:3 ("voice in wilderness")
    │   └─► People confess sins, are baptized
    │
    ├─ vv. 7-12   WARNING TO LEADERS → Confronting False Security
    │   ├─► Pharisees/Sadducees come to baptism
    │   ├─► John: "You brood of vipers!"
    │   ├─► Don't claim "We have Abraham"
    │   ├─► Produce FRUIT of repentance
    │   └─► Coming One will baptize with Spirit and fire
    │
    └─ vv. 13-17  JESUS' BAPTISM → Identity Declared
        ├─► Jesus comes from Galilee to be baptized
        ├─► John protests: "I need to be baptized by you"
        ├─► Jesus: "To fulfill all righteousness"
        ├─► Heaven opens, Spirit descends, Father speaks
        └─► "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased"

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR THE KING?
    │
    ├─ JOHN'S ANSWER (vv. 1-6):
    │   └─► REPENT
    │       Change your mind
    │       Change your direction
    │       │
    │       └─► Not: Clean up externally
    │           IS: Internal revolution
    │
    ├─ RELIGIOUS LEADERS' ASSUMPTION (vv. 7-10):
    │   └─► We're already prepared
    │       We have Abraham as father
    │       We keep the law
    │       │
    │       └─► Trusting HERITAGE
    │           Not HEART CHANGE
    │
    └─ JESUS' PREPARATION (vv. 13-17):
        └─► Identify with sinners
            Though sinless, enters sinner's baptism
            │
            └─► Preparation = Solidarity
                Not distance from sin
                Entering into humanity's condition

THE SETTING (v. 1)
    │
    └─► "In those days John the Baptist came"
        │
        ├─ TIMING: "In those days"
        │   └─► ~30 years after chapter 2
        │       Jesus has grown up in Nazareth (silent years)
        │       Now: public ministry begins
        │
        ├─ PERSON: "John the Baptist"
        │   └─► Greek: Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτιστής (Iōannēs ho baptistēs)
        │       Identified by his ACTION (baptizing)
        │       Not "the priest" or "the scholar"
        │       │
        │       └─► Background (Luke 1):
        │           Son of Zechariah (priest)
        │           Cousin of Jesus
        │           Prophesied before birth
        │
        └─ LOCATION: "Preaching in the wilderness of Judea"
            │
            └─► Desert, not temple
                Margins, not center
                │
                └─► Significance:
                    Isaiah's "voice in wilderness"
                    Exodus echoes (Israel in wilderness)
                    Outside religious establishment

"REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN HAS COME NEAR"
    │
    ├─ COMMAND: "Repent"
    │   └─► μετανοέω (metanoeō)
    │       │
    │       ├─ μετά (meta) = "change, after"
    │       └─ νοέω (noeō) = "mind, thinking"
    │           │
    │           └─► Literal: "Change your mind"
    │               │
    │               └─► Not just feeling sorry
    │                   Not just behavior modification
    │                   FUNDAMENTAL REORIENTATION
    │
    ├─ REASON: "For the kingdom of heaven has come near"
    │   └─► ἤγγικεν (ēngiken) — "has drawn near, is at hand"
    │       │
    │       └─► NOT: "will come someday"
    │           IS: "has ARRIVED"
    │           │
    │           └─► Present reality
    │               Imminent breakthrough
    │               │
    │               └─► "Kingdom of heaven" =
    │                   God's rule, God's reign
    │                   Heaven invading earth
    │
    └─► THE LOGIC:
        │
        └─► IF the King is coming
            THEN you must prepare
            │
            └─► HOW? Repent
                Turn from current trajectory
                Align with King's rule

WHAT REPENTANCE IS NOT
    │
    ├─ NOT: Feeling bad about sin (that's remorse)
    ├─ NOT: Trying harder (that's moralism)
    ├─ NOT: Religious ritual (that's formalism)
    └─ NOT: Gradual improvement (that's self-help)

WHAT REPENTANCE IS
    │
    └─► CHANGE OF MIND
        │
        ├─ Old mind: I'm the king
        └─ New mind: Jesus is King
            │
            └─► Results in:
                │
                ├─ Change of DIRECTION (behavior)
                ├─ Change of ALLEGIANCE (worship)
                └─ Change of IDENTITY (who I am)

ISAIAH 40:3 FULFILLED (v. 3)
    │
    └─► "A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
         'Prepare the way for the Lord,
          make straight paths for him.'"
        │
        ├─ ORIGINAL CONTEXT (Isaiah 40:3):
        │   └─► Written during Babylonian exile
        │       Comfort to Israel
        │       God will return, lead them home
        │       │
        │       └─► Imagery: Ancient kings
        │           Sent heralds ahead
        │           Prepare roads, remove obstacles
        │
        └─ MATTHEW'S APPLICATION:
            │
            └─► John = the herald
                Jesus = the King
                │
                ├─ "Voice in wilderness" = John
                │   Outside establishment
                │   Calling from margins
                │
                └─ "Prepare the way" = Repentance
                    Remove obstacles in HEART
                    Not literal road construction
                    │
                    └─► The path to prepare:
                        Hearts, not highways

"JOHN'S CLOTHES WERE MADE OF CAMEL'S HAIR"
    │
    ├─ CLOTHING: Camel hair with leather belt
    │   └─► Rough, uncomfortable, ascetic
    │       │
    │       └─► ECHOES: Elijah (2 Kings 1:8)
    │           "Garment of hair with leather belt"
    │           │
    │           └─► Malachi 4:5-6 prophecy:
    │               "I will send Elijah the prophet
    │                before the great day of the Lord"
    │               │
    │               └─► John = Elijah figure
    │                   Preparing the way
    │
    └─ DIET: Locusts and wild honey
        │
        └─► Wilderness food
            No dependence on society
            Total independence from system
            │
            └─► CONTRAST: Religious leaders
                │
                ├─ John: Wilderness, simple, prophetic
                └─ Pharisees: City, elaborate, comfortable

"PEOPLE WENT OUT TO HIM FROM JERUSALEM" (vv. 5-6)
    │
    ├─ WHO CAME:
    │   ├─ Jerusalem (religious center)
    │   ├─ All Judea (surrounding region)
    │   └─ Whole region of Jordan
    │       │
    │       └─► MASS MOVEMENT
    │           Not fringe phenomenon
    │           Widespread hunger for God
    │
    ├─ WHAT THEY DID (v. 6):
    │   │
    │   ├─ "CONFESSING their sins"
    │   │   └─► ἐξομολογέω (exomologeō)
    │   │       "Acknowledge openly, admit"
    │   │       │
    │   │       └─► PUBLIC confession
    │   │           Not private guilt
    │   │           Open acknowledgment
    │   │
    │   └─ "Were BAPTIZED by him in the Jordan River"
    │       └─► βαπτίζω (baptizō)
    │           "Immerse, dip, plunge"
    │           │
    │           └─► Full immersion
    │               Symbolic cleansing
    │               Visible repentance
    │
    └─ SIGNIFICANCE OF JORDAN:
        │
        └─► Historical location:
            │
            ├─ Israel crossed Jordan into promised land (Josh 3)
            ├─ Naaman cleansed of leprosy (2 Kings 5)
            └─► Symbolism: Crossing from old to new
                Cleansing from unclean to clean
                │
                └─► John's baptism:
                    Confess old life
                    Enter new reality

JOHN'S BAPTISM
    │
    ├─ NOT: Routine Jewish purification
    │   └─► Those were repeatable, self-administered
    │
    └─ IS: One-time, public declaration
        │
        ├─ Confession = Admit need
        ├─ Baptism = Public identification
        └─ Preparation = Ready for Messiah
            │
            └─► Unprecedented in Judaism
                Jews didn't get baptized
                (Only Gentile converts)
                │
                └─► SHOCK: John saying
                    "You need what Gentiles need"
                    Ethnic privilege ≠ spiritual standing

THE ARRIVAL (v. 7a)
    │
    └─► "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees
         coming to where he was baptizing..."
        │
        ├─ WHO:
        │   │
        │   ├─ PHARISEES:
        │   │   └─► Separated ones, strict law observers
        │   │       Oral tradition experts
        │   │       Theological conservatives
        │   │       Believed: resurrection, angels
        │   │
        │   └─ SADDUCEES:
        │       └─► Temple aristocracy, priests
        │           Political pragmatists
        │           Theological liberals
        │           Denied: resurrection, angels
        │           │
        │           └─► RARE: Pharisees + Sadducees together
        │               Usually enemies
        │               United only in opposition to Jesus
        │
        └─ WHY THEY CAME:
            │
            ├─ Curiosity? (Check out new movement)
            ├─ Control? (Infiltrate, manage)
            └─► Validation? (Get baptized, look righteous)
                │
                └─► John sees through it

"YOU BROOD OF VIPERS!" (v. 7)
    │
    └─► γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν (gennēmata echidnōn)
        "Offspring of snakes"
        │
        ├─ ECHOES: Genesis 3
        │   └─► Serpent in garden
        │       Satan = deceiver
        │       │
        │       └─► John saying: You're Satan's children
        │           Not Abraham's
        │
        └─ TONE: Not diplomatic
            Not seeker-sensitive
            PROPHETIC CONFRONTATION
            │
            └─► "Who warned you to flee
                 from the coming wrath?"
                │
                └─► Implying: You're not here to repent
                    You're here to escape judgment
                    Without heart change

"PRODUCE FRUIT IN KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE" (v. 8)
    │
    └─► καρπὸν ἄξιον τῆς μετανοίας
        "Fruit worthy of repentance"
        │
        ├─ FRUIT (καρπός, karpos):
        │   └─► Visible evidence
        │       Observable change
        │       │
        │       └─► Not just:
        │           ├─ Baptism (external ritual)
        │           ├─ Confession (verbal claim)
        │           └─► IS: Changed LIFE
        │               Actions match words
        │
        └─ "IN KEEPING WITH" (ἄξιον, axion):
            └─► "Worthy of, consistent with, matching"
                │
                └─► The fruit must MATCH the claim
                    If you claim repentance,
                    WHERE'S THE EVIDENCE?

"DO NOT THINK YOU CAN SAY TO YOURSELVES,
 'WE HAVE ABRAHAM AS OUR FATHER'"
    │
    ├─ THEIR ASSUMPTION:
    │   └─► Ethnic privilege = spiritual security
    │       │
    │       ├─ We're Abraham's descendants
    │       ├─ Covenant people
    │       └─► Therefore: Safe from judgment
    │           │
    │           └─► Pedigree = passport
    │
    └─ JOHN'S CORRECTION:
        │
        └─► "I tell you that out of these STONES
             God can raise up children for Abraham"
            │
            ├─ STONES: Literal rocks in Jordan
            │   └─► Wordplay possible:
            │       Hebrew: אֲבָנִים (abanim) = stones
            │               בָּנִים (banim) = sons
            │       │
            │       └─► God can make SONS from STONES
            │
            └─► THE POINT:
                │
                └─► God doesn't NEED your lineage
                    He can create children from NOTHING
                    │
                    └─► Abraham's true children =
                        People of FAITH (Gal 3:7)
                        Not ethnic descent

"THE AXE IS ALREADY AT THE ROOT OF THE TREES"
    │
    └─► Imminent judgment
        Not future, distant threat
        ALREADY POSITIONED
        │
        ├─ AXE: Judgment tool
        ├─ ROOT: Foundation, core identity
        └─► TREES: People claiming righteousness
            │
            └─► "Every tree that does not produce good fruit
                 will be cut down and thrown into the fire"
                │
                ├─ STANDARD: Fruit production
                │   └─► Not ancestry
                │       Not religious position
                │       FRUIT
                │
                └─ CONSEQUENCE: Fire
                    │
                    └─► Judgment imagery
                        Final separation
                        Eternal consequences

WHAT IS FRUIT?
    │
    ├─ NOT: Religious performance
    │   ├─ Attending services
    │   ├─ Keeping rules
    │   └─ Claiming heritage
    │
    └─ IS: Life transformation
        │
        ├─ Character change (Gal 5:22-23)
        │   └─► Love, joy, peace, patience...
        │
        ├─ Justice, mercy, humility (Micah 6:8)
        │   └─► How you treat people
        │
        └─ Obedience to Jesus (John 15:8)
            └─► Actions match profession
                │
                └─► Fruit = Evidence
                    Not for salvation
                    FROM salvation

JOHN'S LIMITATION (v. 11a)
    │
    └─► "I baptize you with WATER for repentance"
        │
        ├─ ELEMENT: Water
        │   └─► Physical, external
        │       Symbol of cleansing
        │       But LIMITED
        │
        └─ PURPOSE: "For repentance"
            └─► Preparation, not completion
                Points FORWARD
                Not the end goal

"BUT AFTER ME COMES ONE WHO IS MORE POWERFUL THAN I"
    │
    ├─ COMPARISON: "More powerful"
    │   └─► ἰσχυρότερος (ischyroteros)
    │       Stronger, mightier
    │       │
    │       └─► Not just "a little better"
    │           CATEGORICALLY GREATER
    │
    ├─ HUMILITY: "Whose sandals I am not worthy to carry"
    │   └─► Carrying sandals = slave's job
    │       Lowest servant task
    │       │
    │       └─► John saying:
    │           "I'm not even qualified to be
    │            His lowest servant"
    │           │
    │           └─► From crowds' perspective:
    │               John = great prophet
    │               John's perspective:
    │               Jesus = infinitely greater
    │
    └─ HIS BAPTISM (v. 11c):
        │
        └─► "He will baptize you with the HOLY SPIRIT and FIRE"
            │
            ├─ ELEMENT 1: Holy Spirit (πνεῦμα ἅγιον)
            │   └─► Internal transformation
            │       Not external symbol
            │       ACTUAL change
            │       │
            │       └─► What water baptism symbolizes,
            │           Spirit baptism accomplishes
            │
            └─ ELEMENT 2: Fire (πῦρ)
                │
                └─► Dual meaning:
                    │
                    ├─ PURIFYING fire (for believers)
                    │   └─► Refines, cleanses
                    │       Burns away impurity
                    │       (1 Cor 3:13-15)
                    │
                    └─ JUDGING fire (for unbelievers)
                        └─► Consumes, destroys
                            Final judgment
                            (v. 12)

"HIS WINNOWING FORK IS IN HIS HAND"
    │
    └─► Agricultural imagery: Harvest judgment
        │
        ├─ WINNOWING FORK:
        │   └─► Tool to separate wheat from chaff
        │       Throw grain in air
        │       Wind blows away chaff
        │       Wheat falls, collected
        │
        ├─ "HE WILL CLEAR HIS THRESHING FLOOR"
        │   └─► Complete separation
        │       No mixture allowed
        │       │
        │       └─► Threshing floor = Israel
        │           Mixed crowd
        │           True/false worshipers
        │
        ├─ "GATHER HIS WHEAT INTO THE BARN"
        │   └─► Wheat = Genuine believers
        │       Gathered = Saved
        │       Barn = Eternal security
        │
        └─ "BURN UP THE CHAFF WITH UNQUENCHABLE FIRE"
            └─► Chaff = False professors
                │
                ├─ "Unquenchable" (ἄσβεστος, asbestos)
                │   └─► Cannot be put out
                │       Eternal judgment
                │
                └─► DIVISION:
                    Two groups
                    Two destinies
                    No middle ground

MESSIAH'S ROLE
    │
    ├─ NOT: Universal inclusion
    │   "Everyone gets in"
    │
    └─ IS: Decisive separation
        │
        ├─ Wheat (genuine faith) → Saved
        └─ Chaff (false profession) → Judged
            │
            └─► The difference: FRUIT
                Wheat has substance
                Chaff has appearance only
                │
                └─► Back to v. 8:
                    "Produce fruit worthy of repentance"

JESUS ARRIVES (v. 13)
    │
    └─► "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan
         to be baptized by John"
        │
        ├─ FROM: Galilee (Nazareth)
        │   └─► ~70 miles journey
        │       Public ministry begins
        │
        ├─ TO: Jordan River
        │   └─► Where John is baptizing
        │
        └─ PURPOSE: "To be baptized"
            │
            └─► PROBLEM: Why?
                │
                ├─ John's baptism = repentance
                ├─ Jesus = sinless (Heb 4:15)
                └─► Why would sinless One
                    enter sinner's baptism?

"BUT JOHN TRIED TO DETER HIM"
    │
    └─► διακωλύω (diakōlyō) — "prevent, hinder"
        │
        └─► John's objection:
            │
            "I NEED to be baptized by YOU,
             and do YOU come to me?"
            │
            ├─ Recognition: Jesus is greater
            │   └─► v. 11: "I'm not worthy
            │       to carry your sandals"
            │       │
            │       └─► Now Jesus comes to be baptized?
            │           Role reversal seems wrong
            │
            └─ Confession: "I NEED to be baptized by you"
                │
                └─► John knows:
                    He's the sinner
                    Jesus is the Savior
                    │
                    └─► Why is the clean One
                        entering unclean water?

"LET IT BE SO NOW; IT IS PROPER FOR US
 TO DO THIS TO FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS"
    │
    ├─ "LET IT BE SO NOW"
    │   └─► ἄφες ἄρτι (aphes arti)
    │       "Permit now, allow at present"
    │       │
    │       └─► Not forever, but NOW
    │           Temporary role reversal
    │           For specific purpose
    │
    └─ "TO FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS"
        │
        └─► πληρῶσαι πᾶσαν δικαιοσύνην
            (plērōsai pasan dikaiosynēn)
            "Fulfill all righteousness"
            │
            ├─ πληρόω (plēroō) = "fulfill, complete, accomplish"
            │   └─► Not just "obey"
            │       COMPLETE, fill full
            │
            └─ δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē) = "righteousness"
                │
                └─► What does this mean?
                    │
                    ├─ OPTION 1: Obey God's command
                    │   └─► Fulfill what Father requires
                    │
                    ├─ OPTION 2: Identify with sinners
                    │   └─► Enter humanity's condition
                    │       Though sinless, stands WITH us
                    │
                    └─ OPTION 3: Inaugurate mission
                        └─► Begin public ministry
                            Ordained for task
                            │
                            └─► ALL THREE:
                                Obey Father
                                Identify with sinners
                                Begin mission to save

JESUS' BAPTISM ACCOMPLISHES
    │
    ├─ IDENTIFICATION with humanity
    │   └─► Though sinless, enters sinner's baptism
    │       Solidarity with those He came to save
    │       │
    │       └─► 2 Cor 5:21: "God made him who had no sin
    │           to be sin for us"
    │
    ├─ INAUGURATION of ministry
    │   └─► Public beginning
    │       Anointing for mission
    │       │
    │       └─► Identity declared BEFORE works
    │           "This is my Son" (v. 17)
    │           THEN ministry begins (ch. 4+)
    │
    └─ ILLUSTRATION of gospel pattern
        └─► Death (descent into water)
            Resurrection (rising from water)
            │
            └─► Rom 6:3-4: "Baptized into his death...
                raised from the dead"

"AS SOON AS JESUS WAS BAPTIZED,
 HE WENT UP OUT OF THE WATER" (v. 16a)
    │
    └─► Emergence from water
        Resurrection imagery
        New beginning

THE SON (v. 16a)
    │
    └─► "Jesus... went up out of the water"
        │
        ├─ ACTION: Baptized, emerges
        └─► ROLE: Obedient Son
            Identified with humanity
            │
            └─► The One who ENTERS mission

THE SPIRIT (v. 16b)
    │
    └─► "Heaven was opened,
         and he saw the Spirit of God
         descending like a dove
         and alighting on him"
        │
        ├─ "HEAVEN WAS OPENED"
        │   └─► σχίζω (schizō) — "split, torn apart"
        │       (Mark's gospel: "torn open")
        │       │
        │       └─► Barrier between heaven/earth removed
        │           Direct access
        │           God breaking through
        │
        ├─ "SPIRIT OF GOD DESCENDING"
        │   └─► Isaiah 61:1 fulfillment:
        │       "The Spirit of the Lord is on me"
        │       │
        │       └─► ANOINTING for ministry
        │           Empowerment for mission
        │
        └─ "LIKE A DOVE"
            │
            ├─ Why a dove?
            │   └─► Genesis 1:2: Spirit "hovering" over waters
            │       New creation beginning
            │       │
            │       └─► Genesis 8:8-12: Dove after flood
            │           Peace, new start
            │
            └─► ROLE: Empowering presence
                The One who ANOINTS for mission

THE FATHER (v. 17)
    │
    └─► "And a voice from heaven said,
         'This is my Son, whom I love;
          with him I am well pleased.'"
        │
        ├─ "A VOICE FROM HEAVEN"
        │   └─► φωνή (phōnē) — audible voice
        │       Not inner impression
        │       SPOKEN declaration
        │
        ├─ "THIS IS MY SON"
        │   └─► Υἱός (Huios) — "Son"
        │       │
        │       ├─ Echoes Psalm 2:7:
        │       │   "You are my Son;
        │       │    today I have become your Father"
        │       │   │
        │       │   └─► Messianic coronation
        │       │       Royal identity
        │       │
        │       └─ "MY Son" = Unique relationship
        │           Not adoptive
        │           Eternal Son
        │
        ├─ "WHOM I LOVE"
        │   └─► ἀγαπητός (agapētos) — "beloved, dearly loved"
        │       │
        │       └─► Echoes Isaac (Gen 22:2)
        │           "Your son, your only son, whom you love"
        │           │
        │           └─► Foreshadows sacrifice
        │               Beloved Son will be offered
        │
        └─ "WITH HIM I AM WELL PLEASED"
            └─► εὐδοκέω (eudokeō) — "delight in, approve"
                │
                ├─ Echoes Isaiah 42:1:
                │   "My servant... in whom I delight"
                │   │
                │   └─► Suffering Servant prophecy
                │       Mission approved
                │
                └─ TIMING: Before ministry begins
                    │
                    └─► Father's approval based on:
                        ├─ NOT: What Jesus will do
                        └─► IS: Who Jesus IS
                            │
                            └─► Identity > Activity
                                Being > Doing
                                │
                                └─► ROLE: Affirming Father
                                    The One who VALIDATES mission

FIRST TIME IN SCRIPTURE
    │
    └─► All three persons visible TOGETHER
        │
        ├─ Father: Speaking
        ├─ Son: Being baptized
        └─ Spirit: Descending
            │
            └─► UNITY of purpose
                ONE mission to rescue humanity
                │
                └─► Pattern for gospel:
                    ├─ Father sends (John 3:16)
                    ├─ Son accomplishes (John 19:30)
                    └─ Spirit applies (Titus 3:5)

MATTHEW 3: PREPARING FOR THE KING
    │
    ├─ JOHN'S MINISTRY (vv. 1-6):
    │   ├─► Breaks 400-year silence
    │   ├─► Calls for repentance
    │   ├─► Baptizes in Jordan
    │   └─► Fulfills Isaiah 40:3
    │       │
    │       └─► PREPARATION: Change your mind
    │           Kingdom is near
    │
    ├─ WARNING TO LEADERS (vv. 7-12):
    │   ├─► Pharisees/Sadducees confronted
    │   ├─► "Brood of vipers"
    │   ├─► Heritage ≠ security
    │   ├─► Fruit required
    │   └─► Coming One will separate wheat/chaff
    │       │
    │       └─► CONFRONTATION: No false security
    │           Pedigree means nothing
    │
    └─ JESUS' BAPTISM (vv. 13-17):
        ├─► John protests, Jesus insists
        ├─► "Fulfill all righteousness"
        ├─► Heaven opens, Spirit descends
        └─► Father speaks: "This is my Son"
            │
            └─► INAUGURATION: Identity declared
                Mission begins
                Trinity united

PREPARATION REQUIRES
    │
    ├─ REPENTANCE (vv. 1-6)
    │   └─► Change of mind/direction
    │
    ├─ FRUIT (vv. 7-12)
    │   └─► Evidence of genuine change
    │
    └─ IDENTITY (vv. 13-17)
        └─► Knowing who the King is
            Before following Him
            │
            └─► Father declares Jesus' identity
                BEFORE ministry begins
                │
                └─► Being precedes doing
                    Who you are > what you do

WHAT THAT SILENCE FELT LIKE
    │
    ├─ God had spoken constantly (prophets for centuries)
    └─ Then: Nothing
        │
        ├─ Exile over, but no prophet
        ├─ Temple rebuilt, but no voice
        └─ Waiting, watching, wondering
            │
            └─► "Has God forgotten us?"

WHAT I EXPECTED
    │
    └─► "Welcome, Pharisees! So glad you came.
         Let's discuss your spiritual journey."

WHAT JOHN SAID
    │
    └─► "You're SNAKES. Offspring of Satan.
         Show me fruit or face the axe."

BECAUSE THEY ASSUMED
    │
    ├─ Heritage = security ("We have Abraham")
    ├─ Religion = righteousness (Pharisees' rules)
    └─ Baptism = insurance (escape wrath without change)
        │
        └─► All FALSE securities
            │
            └─► John rips off the Band-Aid
                Exposes the wound

MY RESISTANCE
    │
    └─► I want: Repentance = one-time decision
        │
        └─► John says: Repentance = ongoing fruit
            │
            └─► Not just:
                ├─ Prayed the prayer
                ├─ Got baptized
                └─ Believe right theology
                │
                └─► WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE?

THE THREAT
    │
    └─► You think you're indispensable?
        God can replace you with ROCKS.
        │
        └─► Your privilege means NOTHING
            if there's no fruit

THE LOGIC PROBLEM
    │
    ├─ John's baptism = repentance from sin
    ├─ Jesus = sinless
    └─► Why would sinless One enter sinner's water?

WHAT THIS MEANS
    │
    └─► Jesus identifies with sinners
        │
        ├─ Not: Standing apart, clean, distant
        └─► IS: Entering INTO our condition
            │
            └─► Though sinless,
                steps into sinner's baptism
                │
                └─► This is the gospel pattern:
                    │
                    ├─ Born as human (Incarnation)
                    ├─ Baptized as sinner (Identification)
                    ├─ Dies as criminal (Substitution)
                    └─ Rises as victor (Vindication)

TRINITY IN ACTION
    │
    ├─ SON: Identified with humanity (baptized)
    ├─ SPIRIT: Empowers for mission (descends)
    └─ FATHER: Affirms identity (speaks)
        │
        └─► ALL working together
            to rescue humanity

WHY?
    │
    └─► Pleasure based on IDENTITY
        Not ACTIVITY
        │
        └─► "This is my SON"
            Not "This is my servant who will accomplish X"
            │
            └─► Being > Doing