his hopes. When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? It was "the Lord's doing, and it was marvellous in his eyes." The Pharisees, he knew, were filled with self-righteousness, and seemed to themselves to "need no repentance." The Sadducees denied a resurrection, and could therefore dread no wrath to But God had touched these hearts by his grace, and many of them also came to his baptism. May our hearts continually feel the effect of the same sovereign power! come. But John knew that the heart may be touched, yet not subdued. Men are often led by the talents of a preacher, or the example of others, to "receive the word with joy," who still "bring no fruit to perfection." It is one thing to feel the emotions of sorrow and alarm; but another thing to "overcome the world," and "endure unto the end," striving against sin. Therefore he adds, Bring forth, therefore, fruits meet for repentance. "The grace of God that bringeth salvation" has this object, that men should lead godly, righteous, and sober lives; such lives as are a preparation for heaven. He who will come at last to take account of every man's works, will use an awful scrutiny. His fan is in his hand, to distinguish between the wheat and the chaff in his church, and separate the one from the other. He will thoroughly purge his floor-gather out of his kingdom all things that 5 For the same metaphor, see Isa. xli. 16; Jerem. xv. 7, and offend, and them that do iniquity:-he will sift the house of Israel, like as corn is sifted in a sieve;— yet shall not the least grain of it fall upon the earth: not the least of those who have believed in him, and brought forth fruits meet for repentance, shall perish. Lastly, the Baptist warns his hearers to avoid another snare, which often hinders the first efforts of repentance. The evil seems distant; too distant to be dreaded. But even while we are trusting to this, and delaying, the danger may be close at hand. And now also the axe is laid to the root of the trees. When the axe is laid to the root of the tree, its destruction is nigh, and nothing but a change in the mind of him who lifts the axe, can save it. So at this moment destruction was near the Jewish nation, "even at their doors," all thoughtless and unconscious as they were. And so, as death is always nigh to every individual, destruction is always nigh to every sinner. The axe is constantly at the root of every mortal man; no one can tell when it may strike; but every one may reckon that it must strike soon. See, therefore, that the tree is sound, and proving its soundness by its fruits for every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 6 Amos ix. 9. Mark i. 9. LECTURE V. BAPTISM OF JESUS. MATT. iii. 13-17. 13. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? It was part of the mysterious plan now about to be developed for man's redemption, that Christ should remain unnoticed in the province of Galilee till this time, when he was "about thirty years of age." (Luke iii. 23.) So it had been written: "He shall grow up as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground." (Is. liii. 2.) The Baptist was aware who it was that now approached him; and he forbad him with these striking words: I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? As much as to say, I am performing an office which assumes superiority in character and authority;-God has made me "great in his sight;"—has given me such authority over my sinful brethren. But comest thou to me, who art not one of these, and hast no sins to confess and repent of? Again: comest thou to me, who have need to be baptized of thee? I have need to be baptized of thee, for thou art "the Lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world ;" and I am one of that world of sinners. "Among them that are born of woman there had not risen a greater than John the Baptist:" yet such was his humility. We had an example of it before, in his declaring to the people, He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He claims nothing: he even represses the homage paid to him. And from that time to this it has been found, that those who possess the fullest measure of the Spirit of God, have been the first to see their need of more; that the best and holiest of men have had the deepest sense of their unworthiness; and have most cordially assented to the scripture, "which has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." (Gal. iii. 22.) Imprint, O Lord, this truth upon our hearts! Not only when we have transgressed against thee, but in the best works by which we strive to serve thee: I have need to be baptized of thee. 15. And Jesus answering, said unto him, Suffer it to be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. Our blessed Lord here, while he insists on what became him in his own peculiar character, leaves a record of the duty of mankind in general:' that He uses the plural, uac; in which form, it is observed, he never speaks of himself. Various purposes were served by the baptism of our Lord. 1. A testimony was given to him from heaven, in a place of general concourse. 2. He added authority to the ministry and baptism of John. 3. He sanctified the rite of baptism by his example. 4. He bore himself the symbol by which others were to be initiated into his religion.-See Poole in loco. Mark i. 9. LECTURE V. BAPTISM OF JESUS. MATT. iii. 13-17. 13. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? It was part of the mysterious plan now about to be developed for man's redemption, that Christ should remain unnoticed in the province of Galilee till this time, when he was "about thirty years of age." (Luke iii. 23.) So it had been written : "He shall grow up as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground." (Is. liii. 2.) The Baptist was aware who it was that now approached him; and he forbad him with these striking words: I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? As much as to As much as to say, I am performing an office which assumes superiority in character and authority;-God has made me "great in his sight;"-has given me such authority over my sinful brethren. But comest thou to me, who art not one of these, and hast no sins to confess and repent of? Again: comest thou to me, who have need to be baptized of thee? I have need to be baptized of thee, for thou art "the Lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world ;" and I am one of that world of sinners. |