A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

JOHN FOCUSES UPON THE LAST DAY      

Matthew 3:11-12 “I baptize 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 baptize 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.” 

In today’s devotional verses, John the Baptist is not comparing the baptism of repentance he is administering with Jesus’ command to baptize found in Matthew 28. The focus of John’s words is on the Last Day, the Parousia, the day when Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats (see Matthew 25.)  

Jesus will on the Last Day separate out the chaff from the wheat, the believers from the unbelievers, the sheep from the goats. On that day all will come before Jesus to be judged by Him as to their relationship with Him. Whoever believes in Him will not perish. They will receive the gift of everlasting life. Unbelievers, those who reject Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, the fire of everlasting judgment will be their lot. There will be no escape, no second chance, no change of mind on Jesus’ part. 

On those who repented, on the Last Day Jesus will pour out the Holy Spirit as they look to Him to come to reign as King. John the Baptist, in the wilderness at the Jordon, ushers in the warning of the end times. Jesus, in His public ministry repeated this warning of John the Baptist when He proclaimed, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 4:17) You confess that you believe this day will come in these words of the Nicene Creed: “He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead.” 

Jesus poured out His Spirit on Pentecost for salvation, for forgiveness and reconciliation with God. The Holy Spirit given you at your baptism is God’s downpayment of the inheritance that will become fully yours on the Last Day. God sent His Son Jesus to usher in the last days which are here and The Last Day which is yet to come. 

Prayer: Prepare me, O Lord, for The Last Day through the working of Your Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Christ is surely coming Bringing His reward,  
Alpha and Omega, First and Last and Lord:  
Root of Stem of David, Brilliant Morning Star;  
Meet your Judge and Savior, Nations near and far! 

See the holy city1 There they enter in,  
All by Christ made holy, Washed from ev’ry sin;  
Thirsty ones, desiring All He loves to give,  
Come for living water, Freely drink, and live! 

Grace be with God’s people! Praise His holy name!  
Father, Son, and Spirit, Evermore the same;  
Hear the certain promise From the eternal home;  
“Surely I come quickly! Come, Lord Jesus, come!”  (LSB 509)