Man it has been awesome to read your insights into the study! I am stoked to see Jesus moving and revealing Himself to each of us in new ways...Praise God! I would ask you to pray for those whose post or comment you're reading. Again like we would if we were meeting in a small group at the church, we would take time to pray for one another. Please do the same as you read others and their comment on the day's study!
Summary...
Matthew 3 talks a lot about John the Baptist, and even though we are studying Jesus, I think there are some key things about John that we need to know! John was hardcore for God! The Bible tells us that he was out in the wilderness, not in the city streets...out in the wilderness preaching to any who would listen. Matthew tells us of John's purpose and he uses Isaiah 40:3 to do it. John was to simply prepare the way for the Lord. His job was to say...don't look at me, it is Him you want to look at and be about! Don't miss this guy Jesus, He is the One. John's job was always to point toward Jesus. The other cool thing about John was his message. Repent...turn from your sins. Does that message sound familiar? Do you think we will hear Jesus preaching that as well? John was so sold out for God that he would preach on whatever God asked him to preach on. Even if it was to the religious leaders, or even to the king, John was willing to be obedient even to the point of death...EXTREME FAITH!! My favorite verse from this reading, that also hits me hard is Matthew 3:8. Lord please help me live this out!!
We finally get to Jesus and what He is up to in verse 13. Now my question to you is in verse 13 Jesus was about 30 years old. When we left off yesterday Jesus was a child. What was going on in our Savior's life for 30 years? What was He doing? What was He learning? What was going on with Jesus during this time?
I have often wondered about this, and while we are not exactly sure of what He did everyday of His life during this time, more than likely He was handling the little things. He was being a good Son and Brother. He was waiting for His time that had not yet come. In my study, what stood out to me was that Jesus, ruler of it all, would say, 'It's simply not My time yet.' I mean He is the Ruler, He is the King...not His time yet? Jesus in this moment displayed for me EXTREME OBEDIENCE to His Father...God Almighty! Jesus took care of the little things even though He knew He was to save the world from its sin! Too many times in my life, I am not willing to do the little things. I want to jump right into the big things...mission trips, preaching and leading worship, instead of doing the the little things...being a good son and brother and simply helping others as I develop my relationship with God. But Jesus shows us the importance of the little things. I mean if I desire to be a better follower of Christ, than I must embrace the little things and not just the big things from God!
Jesus being baptized always seemed weird as well to me. When you are baptized you are saying to the world, "I am turning from sin and turning to God!". But Jesus had no sin. So why get baptized? And Jesus answers that in verse 15, but also Jesus did it for the Jews. Jewish people almost had this stuck-up mentality that they were the "chosen" people, descendants of Abraham, and they really didn't need to get baptized. Jesus comes in and simply declares His need for God, He declares His love for God. Jesus was a Jew, and yet he declares His ultimate need for God Almighty! What a beautiful moment that was..."As the heavens open up and God almighty declares...This is my Son!" And like that wasn't good enough...He says, "Whom I am well pleased with!" God says you better keep your eyes on this Guy, my precious Son. This marks the start of Christ's ministry on earth! It is now His time to begin doing His thing!!
Questions...
- What was the relationship like between Jesus' mom and John the Baptist's mom...look at Luke 1. Were Jesus and John the Baptist around the same age?
- As you picture John the Baptist out in the woods preaching this intense message, what are some of the response's you think he got?
- Has Jesus being baptized ever stuck out to you? Do you understand why He did indeed get baptized?
- How well do you do the little things in life compared to the big things. I mean i think a lot of us would jump in a plane tomorrow to go save as many children that were dying from hunger that we could, but most of us are not willing to take even 5 minutes to pray for them. God is into the little things, are you?
- Picture this scene of Jesus coming out of the water, and the heavens parting, and the voice of the One True God saying...This is My Son, and I am well Pleased with Him! What are some things that would be running through your head as you heard the voice of God in that precious moment?
Lord, please bless us as we study more about You and Your Son whom we desperately want to be more like! Draw us closer to You and to one another I pray...
In Jesus Name, Amen!
tom
