Matthew 3

One of the promises God made to His people was that the Messiah would be preceded by one who would prepare the way for His arrival.  The last Old Testament prophet, John, declared through his life and testimony that this is exactly what God had called him to do.  His ministry declared the soon and close arrival of the Kingdom of God.  He encouraged his audience to not only declare themselves ready for God's Kingdom, but to act in such a way that their statements were evidenced through their own living.  John also pointed ahead to One, the coming Messiah, who would deliver all the world from their separation from God.

The day arrived when Jesus of Nazareth, John's cousin, came to the site where John was baptizing his followers.  He submitted to John's baptism, picturing that He was now ready to usher in that promised kingdom.  Many were ready for political deliverance.  Would this son of a Nazarene carpenter be a political messiah?  Only time would tell.