Matthew 3:13-14…Ready

Matthew 3:13-14…Ready

Then (Expresses purpose and determination) Jesus (About 30 years of age-(Luke 3:23)) came from Galilee (A small town in Galilee called Nazareth.  A 60 mile walk taking several days. Nazareth had a low and despised reputation.-(John. 1:46) ) to the Jordan (Jordan River) to be baptised by John. (Not that Jesus had sins to repent of, but in preparation for His public ministry) 14 But John tried to deter him, (forbad-K.J.V.-2697-A persistence effort to discourage, dissuade. Was no casual hesitation, but a earnest and persistent protest as in “No way” or “God forbid”.) saying, “I need to be baptised (Saved, Redeemed) by you, and do you come to me?” (Expresses John’s awareness of his own sinfulness in light of Jesus’ holiness.)

Continued From Book

“Displays Jesus’ willingness to identify and stand in the place of sinners. (Jesus steps in the plight and mire of our sinful life.)” ⇒ Jesus will assume our place on the cross by dying as a substitute for sinners. Jesus came to a place where He did not belong so we could go to a place where we could not belong.

“Calls for submitting to all that God commands no matter the pain, toil, or cost.” ⇒ Jesus took a long and arduous journey from Nazareth to the Jordan river to be baptized by John. Along the way, Jesus must have faced various challenges and obstacles. He faced doubts, temptations, and the weight of His mission. Our Lord left the familiarity of Galilee and the comforts of home as He embarked on His mission to Save the world and change the course of history. In the same way, we are called to step out of our comfort zones, to leave behind whatever hinders us, and to follow God wherever He leads. Jesus shows us the power of obedience and encourages us to embark on our own spiritual pilgrimage. Jesus’ baptismal journey also reminds us of the value of preparation and anticipation in our spiritual lives. Jesus did not rush into His public ministry, but took time to prepare through prayer and this major journey. So to we need times of silence, prayer, and reflection to prepare us for active service in the world. This balance of contemplation and action is essential for a healthy spiritual life. Since it took Jesus several days to travel to where John was baptising, we have to assume that He must have contemplated much about His baptism, His mission, and what He was about to embark on. Which teaches us the importance of balancing contemplation and action in the Christian life. As we reflect on this pivotal moment, may we be inspired to follow Christ more closely, allowing our own baptism to shape our lives and mission in the world.

“Teaches the importance of baptism. If Jesus thought baptism was important, no believer should skip it or put it off .“ ⇒ If Jesus thought baptism was the right thing to do, no believer should skip it or delay it, everyone should get baptised. Even though Baptism is an ordinance commanded by Christ Himself.-(Matt. 28:16-20) Yet some treat baptism as a suggestion, non-essential, or something that can be postpone or got around to at their convenience. Other people will argue against being baptized by saying: “Well, I don’t have to be baptized to be Saved. The thief on the cross wasn’t baptized. And that’s true you can be Saved and not be baptized.” But I bet you if the thief could come down off the cross he would have been baptised. It wasn’t that he WOULDN’T be baptized; it was that he COULDN’T be baptized. Listen in the early church, baptism was considered to be a person’s “Profession of faith.” Baptism is the first act of obedience that Jesus Christ commands you to make, as your Lord. If Jesus whom you claim is now your LORD is the One who gave the Great Commission to all His followers, to be BAPTIZED. But you, who say you are now  “following Christ Jesus as your Lord”, but are not doing the VERY FIRST THING He commanded you to do! Can you see how not being baptized might call into question whether you are truly Saved and He’s really your “Lord”, when you haven’t done the first thing He asked you to do? Like Jesus said in the Gospel of Luke “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?”I-(Luke 6:46) If you feel any hesitation in getting baptised or doing anything that God requires of you will you look to Christ your example and master.

“Teaches how the proper response to God is always one of awe, that He would want to associate with sinners like us.” ⇒ At some point or another we’ve all asked it. Sometimes it just seems too incredible to believe that God would come to us. Maybe it’s because we see God as distant, cold, and uninvolved. Maybe it’s because we see ourselves as unworthy and undeserving. Maybe it’s because we were taught that God is more concerned about our behavior than our life. Maybe the pain, difficulty, and losses of our life have caused us to wonder whether God even cares. Maybe God’s ways don’t fit within our expectations.

“Teaches the importance of humility. (We all fall short and are unworthy to serve the Lord.” ⇒ As we journey through life, we must continually empty ourselves of pride and self-importance, allowing God’s grace to fill us and work through us……(To be Continued)

“Warns how trying to deter Jesus from doing anything is going to be a lost cause and losing battle! ⇒ Your intentions may be good, but don’t think that you know better than the Lord!”……(To be Continued)

 Additional Notes & Applications

Calls for giving Jesus all glory. Who is above all and over all. Who alone is worthy of all honor, worship, and praise.

Teaches how sometimes we need to step out of the showdowns and unto the stage.

Teaches how faithful preaching receives the Lord’s validation and witness.

Teaches how perfect love will embrace all things for the sake of others, even that which is not required. Will you take any humiliation necessary in order to help others, even if it means being marginalized, disliked, and misunderstood as a result.

Teaches how Jesus by being baptized shows how far God is willing to go to be apart of our lives.

Teaches how questioning any reason that would makes us hesitate has no place.

Calls for humbly admitting that no matter how perfect we think we are there’s always room for improvement. (V. 14 Philp. 3:12-14)

Displays how even in light of all our sins, failures, and mistakes, we can still become vessels for God’s use and service! (V. 13)

As “great” as John the Baptist was in his day, even “being filled with the Spirit from birth” felt unworthy to baptize Jesus. How much more unworthy are we in ministering to Christ. (cf. Matt. 11:11, Luke 1:13-15, 1:41-44, Matt. 8:8)

A question arises as to how did John come to know the righteousness of Christ, which prompted his protest. And where to he get that knowledge? Though Matthew does not record it. In John’s Gospel it quotes John the Baptist just prior to Jesus’ baptism as saying, “I did not recognize [Jesus], but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God”-(John 1:33-34). All indications are that the two already knew each other, what John meant was that though he knew Jesus personally, He did not know Him as the Messiah until after he witnessed the voice from heaven and the Spirit descend upon Jesus after His baptism. John as Jesus’ cousin, knew Jesus well enough when He arrived at the Jordan to be baptized. Certainly John must have heard stories about the events surrounding Jesus’ own birth.-(cf. Luke 1:39-45)—how Jesus’ birth was so much more marvelous than his. Also, John may well have known about the event recorded in Luke 2:41-52 about Jesus’ knowledge of Scripture at such a young age. Whatever it was, John knew that he was inferior to Jesus, and at this stage he still did not know Jesus was the Messiah.

The Gospels tell us very little about the 30 years of Jesus’ life prior to His baptism. We do know of the flight and return of Jesus with His parents from Egypt as a young child.-(Matt. 2:13-14) And how Jesus grew up in a small village called Nazareth of Galilee,-(Matt. 2:19-23) And how the Gospel of Luke tells the story of when Jesus was twelve years of age his parents found Him in the Temple debating with the teachers of the law who were astonished at His wisdom and understanding.-(Luke 2:49) We also learn that Jesus had spent much of His time as a carpenter in the family business.-(Matt. 13:55) That He had brothers and sisters who He had grown up with him.-(Matt. 13:55-56) And how Jesus was John the Baptist’s cousin.-(Luke 1:36-38) Nor do the Gospels specify if Jesus traveled with others, we know that throughout His ministry, He gathered disciples and friends around Him. Our faith journey is not meant to be solitary; we are called to walk together, supporting one another, as members of the Body of Christ.

   WHY JESUS WAS BAPTIZED

• Jesus was identifying with sinful humanity

• Jesus was inaugurating His public ministry

• Jesus was revealing Himself to John as the Messiah and Savior of the world

• Jesus was confirming John’s ministry and message of repentance

• Jesus was acting out of obedience to God’s will and purpose

• Jesus was foreshadowing His death, burial, and resurrection

• Jesus was setting an example of obedience to us

MEANING OF BAPTISM

• Baptism is a public confession of faith in Jesus as Lord & Savior

• Baptism is a outward sign of a inward grace

• Baptism is identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ in which we die to our old life and raise to a new life in Christ Jesus.

• Baptism is a pledge to follow Jesus the rest of our lives

• Baptism is a sign of obedience to what Christ commanded-(Matt; 28:18-20)

WHAT BAPTISM IS NOT

• Baptism is not some secret initiation rite with magical properties

• Baptism is not a work of Salvation

• Baptism does not wash away your sins (It is by grace you have been Saved through faith)

• Baptism does not remove temptations or demonic attacks (Satan will attack you even more)

• Baptism does not bring miraculous gifts, speaking tongues, power to preach

• Baptism does not remove physical ailments or health issues

• Baptism does not free you from the struggles, trials, adversities of life

• Baptism is not some magical transformation or super holiness with God

• Baptism does not make you invincible to sin & temptation (Jesus was tempted, you will be)

• Baptism does not make sins go away (No ones perfect, we all fall into sin at times)

• Baptism does not take the place of faith and repentance

• Baptism is not a license to sin

• Baptism does not confer an additional act of grace

(For more Applications get the Whole Book)

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