The Pleasure of God in His Son (Luke 3:15–22) from South Woods Baptist Church on Vimeo.

One sociological nuance that fascinates me is how two people can look at the same thing and yet come to wildly different conclusions.

In one of the least serious ways, this plays out during sporting events, in particular with officiating. If the ball goes out of bounds in basketball, for example, almost immediately you see the guys in the red jerseys pointing one direction and the guys in the blue pointing the opposite. Of course, their limited perspective in that moment makes those contradictions less incredulous. However, on those close calls, fans in the stands or in their living rooms can watch the same replay––in slow motion––and come to vastly different conclusions.

In a more serious way, hung juries serve as another example. The exact same evidence is brought before the eyes of men and women day after day in this or that trial, but when it’s time for a verdict, one person sees the matter this way and another the opposite.

In a more personal way, we do the same thing with people. Some people are polarizing.

The Gospel of Luke tells the story of the most polarizing human to ever walk the earth. The scope is what’s astounding. While Christians throughout history hold that Jesus of Nazareth created the world and then saved it, others are willing to kill for their hatred of Him.

As you recall, Simeon worshipped in the temple after seeing the Christ. Then he turned toward Mary and said, Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel (Lk 2:34). In other words, some would see Him for who He is. Others would not. Essentially, he told Mary that her baby boy would soon divide the nation. Our text, among many, shows some of that fulfillment. We’ll note that God appointed Jesus for the fall and rising of many.

God did not appoint John for this.

I told you last week’s text was largely preparation. Through John the Baptist, God was preparing His people for the arrival of the Messiah. It’s quite likely the Jewish crowds loved their celebrities as much as we do. John built quite the following. Today he would’ve had book deals and someone would’ve set up Johnthebaptist.com. People would’ve flocked to his conferences.

V. 15 reads, As the people were in expectation. John didn’t just preach once. And his urgency in last week’s text was not an aberration. He’d said over and over, in essence, “Get ready. Be prepared. The Christ is coming.” As the crowds grew, so did the anticipation. They expected something soon.

In fact, they were so expectant some of them didn’t wait long enough. V. 15 continues, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ. Speaking of polarizing characters, the men he called a “brood of vipers” last week probably did not think too highly of John. But this crowd began to wonder if he were the Christ. When Luke includes that all were questioning in their hearts, it does not mean they only did this internally. The fact that John responds in a moment makes clear they didn’t keep this notion to themselves. “In their hearts” means they questioned on a deep personal level.[1]

But Simeon didn’t say God appointed John for the fall and rising of many. And John the Baptist knew it. He’s merely setting the table. So he answers the rumors, v. 16, John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

John’s setting up a comparison here. He’s saying, sure I do this, but, you’ll see, someone else mightier is coming. What He will do dwarfs what I am doing.

John initially points out how mighty this one to come was by saying, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. In this era, the student of a prominent teacher would do nearly everything for their mentor. We’d say the student got the teacher’s coffee, scraped the ice off his windshield, pulled his car up to the front door,[...]