January 2, 2015
The Preaching of John the Baptist (2)
A reading from the Gospel of Saint Luke 3, 15 – 20:
Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. John answered them all saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier that I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people. Now Herod the tetrarch, who had been censured by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil deeds Herod had committed, added still another to these by also putting John in prison.
After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
I had a quiet New Year’s Day and I spent much time in prayer asking the Lord to bless you all during this New Year. I prayed too for the sick and all those who do not have faith that the Lord will heal the sick and give the gift of faith to all the unbelievers. We had a lovely day and it was sunny in the afternoon although it was cold. In the afternoon it was minus 5 Celsius.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“Come My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters as I explain to you the role of Saint John the Baptist and what My baptism was all about.
The Jewish people who came to be baptized by John the Baptist thought that John was the Messiah. He told them that he was not and he was baptizing the people with water at the Jordan River but the Messiah will come and He will baptize the people with the Holy Spirit and fire. This happened at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came down on the Apostles. At the end King Herod had Saint John the Baptist put in prison for criticizing him for taking his brother’s wife, which was forbidden by Jewish law. At the end Saint John the Baptist was martyred in prison.
It was also Saint John the Baptist who baptized Me with water and after this the Holy Spirit came upon Me. The Holy Spirit is not a dove but He came upon Me like a dove. My Heavenly Father also spoke at the same time saying, “You are My beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” So you see that My baptism was very important indeed as the Holy Spirit was there and My Heavenly Father too. Why was My baptism so important? I did not have any sins to be forgiven. My baptism was My “yes” to the Father that as I began My public life, I wanted to follow all that My Father had asked of Me. When I went under the water this meant that I accept to die for the atonement of the sins of all the people. My rising from the water shows that I would be raised from the dead to live forever. The Holy Spirit came to strengthen Me in My resolve and My Father spoke to show how pleased He was that I wanted to obey Him in everything. I was now ready to begin My work as the Messiah, the Savior of the world. I came to save you all so come, My Friends, and follow Me. I love you all.”
Father Melvin