Either-Or

“I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.” [Matthew 3.11-12]

Lest we forget, these are the words of John the Baptist about Jesus. Remember, John leaped in his mother's womb when Mary first came to Elizabeth. To say John knew Who Jesus was is an understatement.

What John said about Jesus therefore should be given great attention and consideration.

John said Jesus would baptize "you" (speaking in context to the Pharisees and Sadducees, but obviously to all) with the Holy Spirit and with fire. In the course of Jesus' life it was recorded that He came in the power of the Holy Spirit and with fire. He said this of Himself:

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” [Luke 4.18-19]

In Jesus' way of healing the sick and performing many miracles, He demonstrated what the power of the Holy Spirit looks like. Not only did Jesus "do the works" but very clearly instructed all who would follow Him to do the same (even instructing them to pray to that end):

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” [Matthew 9.35-38]

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” [Mark 16.15-18]

Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” [John 20.21-23] 

As we study and learn what the Bible says for ourselves, these passages (and many others like them) serve to "separate the wheat from the chaff." Even today, people are divided about what Jesus actually instructed His followers to do. The "doers" of Jesus' works are the wheat - the rest are chaff to be burned forever. Just the scriptures listed here are compelling to this end, but supported in full by other individual statements made by Jesus and others, not to mention, the entire context of the Bible and God's merciful and forgiving nature.

It is not ironic that the Holy Spirit manifested to the early Church like the sound of a mighty wind (Acts 2.2)... The use of a winnowing fork to separate wheat from chaff requires wind! When tossed together in the air, the wind (Holy Spirit) separates the wheat from the chaff by their weight - their substance. In winnowing, the wind (Holy Spirit) blows the lighter chaff away so that it might be burned (fire).

Where will we fall when the wind of the Holy Spirit blows? Will we fall to the "save" pile, or be blown to the "burn" pile? It's "either-or."

Father, I want to be and do all Jesus said I should be and do.