John baptized converts with water for "in regards to/on the basis of" repentance, yet Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire. So what did Jesus mean by fire? The very next verse (vs. 12) says - His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Fire like salt or water is used two ways .One to cleanse the other to destroy.
John from the tribe of Levi an official, officiator baptizes with water those who desire to become a member of the priesthood of God.
When Arron baptized his children having a desire to enter the ministry they offer strange fire . The water did not convert. They were consumed as with fire but their priestly attire did not suffer . the opposite
and Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there
went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Leviticus 10:1-3
The opposite use of fire in Daniel... it cleansed the three
Daniel 3:25He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose,
walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God
Baptism is a ceremonial law as a shadow made complete in Christ, as the Son of man .It does not convert but recognizes a person has a desire to go out into the world as a kingdom of priest with the gospel.
The Son of Man Jesus who was from the tribe of Judas needed a Levite like John to perform the ceremonial old testament law before he was sent by the Father out into wilderness to begin his priestly duty as our High Priest .It is not longer typified by the tribe of Levi but after the new order of Christ, the shadow became substance.
It would appear to be the subject matter is about the ceremonial purifying. Now Jesus from the tribe of Judah was baptizing those who desired to enter the kingdom of Priests.
Again baptism has its roots in the old testament. Not a new innovation from the new testament side of the cross used to confirm a person has the Holy Spirit, as another sign gift.
For John was not yet cast into prison.Then there arose
a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews
about purifying.
And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold,
the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. Mathew 3: 24-26