“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear.” – Matthew 3:11
The Herald’s Task
In medieval England, royal heralds rode ahead of the king’s procession. Dressed in distinctive colors and carrying the royal banner, these messengers announced the monarch’s approach to every town and village. Their task required both authority and humility. They spoke with the king’s voice, yet they remained servants. The crowds gathered because of their message, yet the herald always stepped aside when the king arrived.
This ancient role captures something essential about worship and witness. We have news to announce. Someone mightier has come, and we exist to make Him known. Our worship begins when we recognize the greatness of the One we serve. Our witness flows when we tell others about Him. Like John the Baptist standing in the Jordan, we point beyond ourselves to Jesus Christ.
Psalm 72: The Prayer for a King
The psalmist prays for a king who will bring justice to the poor and peace to the land. This king will judge righteously and break the power of oppressors. The vision extends across generations: peace will last as long as the moon endures. The prayer concludes with a doxology blessing God’s name and asking that His glory fill the whole earth.
This psalm teaches us to long for righteous leadership and justice. Every time God’s people prayed these words, they cultivated hope for a king who would truly deliver. The psalm shapes our desires around what God values: justice for the vulnerable, peace that endures, and glory that spreads to all nations. Worship begins with desiring what God desires.
Isaiah 11: The Branch from Jesse
Isaiah moves beyond any earthly king to describe the coming Messiah. A shoot will grow from Jesse’s stump—from David’s line after it seemed cut down. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him in fullness: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord. He will judge with perfect righteousness and speak with authority that transforms reality itself.
The prophet describes a world remade: predators lying down with prey, children playing safely with serpents, knowledge of the Lord covering the earth like water covers the sea. Then comes the key phrase: the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples, and the Gentiles will seek Him. The vision expands from Israel to all nations. This Messiah will draw people from every tribe and tongue into His kingdom of peace.
Matthew 3: The Herald Announces
John the Baptist appears in the wilderness, calling people to repent because the kingdom of heaven has arrived. He baptizes in the Jordan River, preparing the way exactly as Isaiah prophesied. When religious leaders come to watch, John challenges them: produce fruit that matches your repentance. Physical descent from Abraham means nothing compared to genuine transformation.
Then John speaks the words that define his ministry: “He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear.” John baptizes with water, but the Coming One will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. He will separate wheat from chaff, gathering His harvest and burning what remains. John stands at the hinge point between promise and fulfillment. The Mighty One Isaiah described stands ready to step onto the stage. The herald’s task culminates in this announcement.
Romans 15: The Promise Fulfilled
Paul writes to believers in Rome about unity between Jewish and Gentile Christians. He reminds them that Scripture was written to teach us, give us endurance, and provide hope. Jesus came as a servant to the Jewish people to confirm God’s promises to the patriarchs. Yet those promises always included the Gentiles, who would glorify God for His mercy.
Paul quotes the Old Testament repeatedly to prove this point, culminating in a direct citation of Isaiah 11:10: “There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.” The promise has become reality. The Mighty One has come. The banner Isaiah saw has been raised. People from all nations now trust in Jesus Christ, worshiping together across every human boundary. What the psalmist prayed for, what Isaiah prophesied, what John announced—Paul celebrates as accomplished fact.
Conclusion: Living the Herald’s Message
These passages call us to embrace the herald’s task. We have encountered the Mighty One. We worship Him. Now we tell others.
This means we speak about Jesus with confidence and humility held together. Confidence because He truly is mightier—His kingdom brings justice, His Spirit transforms lives, His salvation extends to all who trust Him. Humility because we remain messengers, servants who point to our King.
Practically, this shapes how we interact with others. When friends ask about our faith, we talk about Jesus rather than just our experiences. When we gather for worship, we focus on His character and works rather than our feelings. When we pray for others, we ask that they would see Christ clearly and trust Him fully.
John the Baptist shows us the pattern. He decreased so Jesus could increase. He stayed focused on his message even when crowds followed him. He prepared people to receive the King by calling them to repentance. We do the same: we get out of the way, we stay on message, and we prepare hearts to meet Jesus.
The root of Jesse stands as a banner. Our worship acknowledges His greatness. Our witness invites others to look up and see Him too.
Points to Ponder
- When you talk about your faith, do you spend more time describing Jesus or describing your own journey?
- How can you “decrease” this week so that Christ “increases” in your conversations, relationships, and priorities?
- Who in your life needs to hear about the Mightier One? What specific opportunities do you have to point them to Jesus?
- How does knowing that God’s plan always included people from all nations shape your view of mission and evangelism?
Prayer
Father, You sent Your Son as the fulfillment of every promise. He is the King we longed for, the Branch from Jesse, the Mighty One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. Give us John’s heart—eager to announce Your Son, willing to step aside, focused on making Him known. Fill us with Your Spirit so we can speak about Jesus with clarity and love. Open doors this week for us to point someone to Christ. May Your glory fill the earth as we join the chorus of worshipers from every nation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.” – Isaiah 11:10
Josh Cehulik 