Matthew 3, The Message

Thunder in the Desert!

^1-2 While Jesus was living in the Galilean hills, John, called “the Baptizer,” was preaching in the desert country of Judea. His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: “Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.”

³ John and his message were authorized by Isaiah’s prophecy:

Thunder in the desert!
Prepare for God’s arrival!
Make the road smooth and straight!

^4-6 John dressed in a camel-hair habit tied at the waist by a leather strap. He lived on a diet of locusts and wild field honey. People poured out of Jerusalem, Judea, and the Jordanian countryside to hear and see him in action. There at the Jordan River those who came to confess their sins were baptized into a changed life.

^7-10 When John realized that a lot of Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: “Brood of snakes! What do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It’s your life that must change, not your skin! And don’t think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. What counts is your life. Is it green and flourishing? Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire.

^11-12 “I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama—compared to him I’m a mere stagehand—will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He’s going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.”

* * *

^13-14 Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him. John objected, “I’m the one who needs to be baptized, not you!”

¹⁵ But Jesus insisted. “Do it. God’s work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism.” So John did it.

^16-17 The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God’s Spirit—it looked like a dove—descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus, who had no sins to repent, came to John to be baptized showing the world that He had come to restore a relationship with God that centuries of unrighteousness had broken.  This was a “sign” that we will be reconciled to God by Jesus, His Son. 

It pleased God that His Son was on track with His mission!  “This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.” 

The prophets told the world they lived in of the promise of the Messiah and now He has come to save them from all their sins.  How will He be received?  There will be mixed reactions.

Do we really believe what God says about His Son and His mission to save us really real?  Our hearts with resulting behaviors will answer this question. To say we believe is not enough.  John points that out to the Pharisees, Teachers of the Law, Sadducees and other religious leaders who are used to getting what they want when they want it.

John, the earthly cousin to Jesus, knew his mission well and obeyed God in preparing the way for Jesus’ mission to save the world of all sin now and for all in the succeeding centuries to come for all who believe.  The baton has been passed.  All is well.  God is pleased with both John and Jesus.

Why? –All because of God’s love for us.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

Believe, really believe and be saved forever!  Rejoice and be glad for what God has done to save us!

Lord,

Thank you for saving my soul and making me whole.  Thank you for your Holy Spirit that guides me.  Forgive me when I think my way is better.  Thank you for pulling me back on the path when I am distracted by the pull of the world.  Thank you for loving me the way you do and teaching me how to love others.  I believe.  I yours.  I love you with all my heart, mind and soul. 

In Jesus Name, Amen