Luke 3:16

John insists he is unworthy even to untie the Messiah's sandals; the Coming One will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. John's water-baptism only prepares for Christ's greater work.

Cross-references · 22

• Matt 3:11I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
• Acts 1:5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
• Acts 11:15–16As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He had fallen upon us at the beginning.
• John 1:33I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
• Acts 19:4–5Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
• John 1:26“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know.
• Joel 2:28–29And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
• Acts 2:3–4They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
• Isa 4:4when the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains from the heart of Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.
• Mark 1:7–8And he began to proclaim: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
• Mal 3:2–3But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap.
• Zech 13:9This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”
• 1 Cor 12:13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.
• Isa 32:15until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high. Then the desert will be an orchard, and the orchard will seem like a forest.
• Acts 2:17–18‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
• Acts 13:24–25Before the arrival of Jesus, John preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
• Acts 2:33Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
• Prov 1:23If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you.
• John 7:38Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”
• Isa 44:3–4For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.
• Acts 10:44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message.
• Ezek 36:25I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.

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