Jesus came to John the Baptist, asking to be publically marked through baptism. He was the one person who had nothing to repent of, for He never sinned, yet Jesus wanted to set an example for all who want to be holy, and set apart as God's person.

John the Baptist prophesied about Jesus, that while he (John) baptized with water for repentance, the one coming after him is more powerful. He (John) is not even worthy to carry His sandals. The One coming will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Furthermore, John said this Coming One will also harvest and winnow out those people that are not truly His, and burn them up like chaff with an unquenchable fire.

In this context of baptism, I think we could say that John knew he was publically marking individuals who were repentant and ready for God's next move. However, the One to come after him would mark all those that were ready with the Holy Spirit of God. Furthermore, that One would mark them with a fire-like life and passion.

This One to come would have the power to sort out His results and would winnow out those that were not true wheat (harvest), and dispose of that chaff with an eternal or everlasting burning. That is not an often taught aspect of Jesus' life.

Is this a view of Jesus that you and I know personally? I'm asking myself; have I been baptized with the Holy Spirit, and with a passionate life that is truly holy and alive? How will I do in the harvest?

Yes, I believe I have been baptized, (or publically marked, to stick with our lesson), with the Holy Spirit, and a new dimension of abundant life has been added to me. I do confess though, that sometimes I have not lived life as abundantly as it is available to me.

I believe I will survive the winnowing in the great harvest time of the Lord. I am definitely wheat and not chaff, and I hope my works will prove worthy to escape or withstand the fire too.

How about you? Where do you stand?

You know, don't you, that by a sincere decision of your heart before God, you can move to the right side? You can be publically marked by Christ?