A Faithful Voice in the Wilderness
Lessons from J. C. Ryle on Matthew 3:1-12
Matthew 3:1-12 introduces us to the ministry of John the Baptist, the forerunner of our Lord Jesus Christ. Few men in Scripture occupy such a singular role, and few ministries produced such widespread effect. Matthew tells us that “Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him.” Even more striking is the testimony of Christ Himself, who declared that among those born of women, none was greater than John.
J. C. Ryle urges us not to rush past this passage. John’s ministry is not merely historical; it is instructive. In a time of confusion, religious formalism, and false assurance, John’s voice rings with a clarity the Church still desperately needs.
Ryle highlights several defining marks of John’s preaching, marks that characterize every truly faithful ministry.
John the Baptist Spoke Plainly About Sin
John’s message begins with a command, not a suggestion: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Repentance was not optional, nor was it vague. John insisted that repentance must be real and visible: “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”
Ryle reminds us how necessary this emphasis is. By nature, we are spiritually dull and dangerously content with outward religion. Church attendance, religious language, and family heritage can easily become substitutes for genuine heart change. John shattered that illusion. He warned his hearers not to rest in their ancestry or their religious privileges. God does not save grandchildren of faith; He saves repentant sinners.
This truth cuts across every generation. Without repentance, there is no salvation. A Christianity without repentance is not biblical Christianity at all.
John the Baptist Spoke Plainly About Christ
John never allowed his ministry to terminate on himself. Though crowds followed him, his message consistently pointed forward. One was coming after him, one far mightier, one whose sandals John was unworthy to carry.
Ryle emphasizes that John understood his role rightly. He was a servant; Christ is the King. John could baptize with water, but Christ alone could deal with sin, grant new life, and one day judge the world.
Here we are confronted with a vital question: Where does our faith rest? Many are content with church membership, religious routines, or sacramental participation. John would not allow such substitutes. He pressed his hearers toward personal dealings with Christ Himself. Salvation hinges not on our connection to religious institutions, but on our union with the Savior by faith.
John the Baptist Spoke Plainly About the Holy Spirit
John taught that forgiveness alone was not the full extent of God’s saving work. Christ would baptize not merely with water, but with the Holy Spirit.
Ryle is careful and clear here: the work of Christ for us must be accompanied by the work of the Spirit in us. There must be more than pardon; there must be transformation. More than a title to heaven, there must be a heart prepared for heaven.
This is a desperately needed correction in every age. External religion can exist without inward renewal, but true salvation never does. The Spirit changes desires, reshapes affections, and produces holiness. The baptism of water is a great privilege, but it must never be mistaken for the regenerating work of the Spirit.
John the Baptist Spoke Plainly About Judgment
John did not shy away from hard truths. He warned of wrath to come. He spoke of an unquenchable fire. He declared that fruitless trees would be cut down and burned.
Ryle insists that this is not unloving preaching; it is faithful preaching. A gospel that never warns is not the gospel Christ preached. Scripture speaks plainly of both heaven and hell, eternal life and eternal punishment. To emphasize one while ignoring the other is to distort the character of God.
We are prone to remember God’s mercy while forgetting His holiness. John would not allow such an imbalance. The danger of remaining unrepentant is real, eternal, and terrifying, and it must be spoken plainly.
John the Baptist Spoke Plainly About the Safety of Believers
Yet John’s message was not only one of warning; it was also one of deep comfort. He spoke of a barn where the wheat would be gathered a place of safety for all who belong to Christ.
Ryle tenderly reminds us that believers need encouragement. They live in a fallen world, face constant temptation, and often feel weak. John pointed them to a faithful Savior who would gather His people and keep them secure. The same Christ who judges the world also preserves His own.
Believers are not forgotten chaff; they are treasured wheat. They will be safely brought home.
A Ministry Worth Imitating
Ryle concludes by urging us to remember the marks of a faithful ministry: clear preaching on sin, Christ, the Spirit, judgment, and salvation. Such preaching may not always be popular, but it is eternally profitable.
We live in an age of soft words and blurred lines. John the Baptist reminds us that clarity is kindness, and truth is love. The Church would be stronger, healthier, and more faithful if more voices sounded like his.
May the Lord grant us ears to hear and hearts quick to repent and believe.
