Jesus speaks of a consuming fire. The fire here is not the chemical reaction that results in light and heat. Rather, this is a descriptive word used to illustrate an ongoing action/reaction after Jesus completes his work. What was that work; preaching, teaching, raising disciples, the cross, his resurrection, his ascension, or the work of the Holy Spirit he would send? Theologians have taken the fire here to refer to anyone and several of these.
After Jesus’ death and resurrection, he sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit took the seed that Jesus planted and acted to quickly spread it all over the world. His work was and is like a violent altering consuming fire.
Luke 3:16 reveals more. Matthew 3:11 is the same. They record John the Baptist saying, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Keys to “fire” being the Holy Spirit is that Jesus wanted it to come, being God’s nature which is always good. Jesus places this after his death. He was just talking about his disciple’s responsibilities. Jesus states that he is distressed until it is completed. Finally, Jesus uses “baptism” as a descriptive word for his suffering and death, the second part of this bi-fold revelation. The fire that Jesus is speaking of continues still.
