A Baptism of Fire

Four hundred or so years after the prophecy of Malachi, Judea heard the voice of Elijah.

John the Baptist began preaching in the wilderness of Judea: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” … John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the Jordan River. John told them:

I baptise you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:1-12)

The “baptism of fire” has come to refer to an introduction to some new thing via a severe ordeal. It’s easy to forget this aspect of Jesus’ ministry, especially compared to the Jesus of the popular imagination. But Jesus brought a message of judgement as well as of salvation. And this salvation would not come cheaply.