Nearly a week away from Christmas, I can’t help but remember the story of John the Baptist. The book of Matthew begins with the genealogy of Jesus and His birth. Chapter three has a heading, “John the Baptist Prepares the Way.” I want to take a look at a couple of verses out of this chapter that really help me to put a perspective on the time of the season.
Let’s start at the end of the chapter and work backwards, Matthew 3:13-14 says, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’” What an honor! John baptizes Jesus so that righteousness can be fulfilled. According to Luther’s Small Catechism, Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s word. We need baptism so that the “old Adam or old Eve” in us can be drowned and die with the rest of our sins. Jesus, even though perfect had to do the same. He was born, and was baptized and died for our sins. With baptism we need not fear death, or the devil, also through it we receive eternal salvation. Like Joe was talking about in his last post, this too allows us to be one big family. Everyone is baptized in the exact same way, “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” We are all members of one body, and that is the body of Christ. One last comment on this is that Jesus died and rose from the dead for our sins, and baptism allows us to “live a new life” (Romans 6:4). Yet again it shows us how we truly are part of the body of Christ.
Now let’s go back to the beginning. Verse 2 says, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.” To be honest I was a little confused when this first statement was made, but after reading the footnotes it makes a lot more sense. Matthew uses the phrase kingdom of heaven, whereas Mark and Luke use the phrase kingdom of God. They are used in the same way and are both present and future. Without Jesus’, death, and resurrection we would have no hope. We often trust in our hope. A comment was made about how trusting in God can be difficult at times, and I have to agree. But like so many of the stories we have read in the Bible, we find that God does so many miraculous things, that we simply have no other choice. Who wouldn’t trust in a God who parted a sea so that people could cross into safety? Who wouldn’t trust in a God who fed 5,000 people? Who wouldn’t trust in a God who died on the cross for each and every one of our sins? I know it may be difficult, but when I find that I am struggling to trust in Him, all I have to do is go back and look at all he has done for me, past and present, then look forward to how he will continue to look after me in the future. Because of the trust that I have in Him, I know that I will eventually spend eternity in heaven with Him. What a future to look forward to!
One last verse, Matthew3:3b, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.” This is a quote from Isaiah 40. Jesus’ birth was foretold in the Old Testament, and is shown again that it was in this verse in Matthew (as well as in Mark and Luke). We are to prepare the way for the Lord. So, how are you preparing for the Lord this holiday season?
Today and everyday I hope that you can remember how important your baptism really is, and that we can find peace in the Lord even when we are finding it difficult to trust in Him. Rejoice and give thanks the Christmas season!
The official Biblical blog of Dan Schelp and Joseph Highley We try to take on topics and Bible passages whenever we can, and we really appreciate comments as well!
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Trust in God. I'm borrowing a verse that was posted in a comment on another post. "Trust in the Lord your God with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5 It is so hard for us to do this. To trust Him with everything. We want to do it ourselves. There is a verse in a Relient K song "All I was trying to do was save my own skin. But so were You. So were You." This what we try to do. We try to save ourselves by relying on ourselves. But it doesn't work. I think the Isrealist have been mentioned in an earlier post and just like them we screw up over and over. But God still loves us and wants to help us. All He is trying to do is save us. Dan bring's up a good point. Who wouldn't trust in a God that has done so many amazing miracles for us! Miracles in the Bible, plus all the miracles He's done in our own personal lives. I definately need to work on trusting in Him. Praise the Lord that He always forgives us and gives us another chance.
Thanks Em. . .
I think it would be great to hear about some personal miracles God has done for you or just to hear about some of your favorite miracles in the Bible. That is, if you want to.
Also i thought that I would mention that i was playing pingpong with joe and andrew last week and we were talking about Deuteronomy 6:5. We need not only trust God, but we need to also "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all our soul, and with all your strength." Continue on with that passage, it truly is a blessing all that we have. Thanks guys!
A sermon I remember had a good analogy for this whole idea of trusting God: If someone were to buy you, say, a new car, it would be a pretty safe bet that the same person could also afford to buy you lunch. Likewise, God sent His son Jesus Christ to die on the cross and rescue us from sin, death, and the Devil, assuring us a place in heaven with Him. How much more, then, should we trust him with everyday things in our lives?
What I meant by miracles in our personal lives would be how God works in them everyday. I don’t know if those can be called miracles or not, maybe I used the word too lightly, but God has done some amazing work in all of our lives. Sometimes we don't even realize it. I guess one of the many ways He has worked in my life would be with jobs. He always comes through for me. I won't have one and I'll need one so I'll apply a bunch of places and pray about getting one. Sometimes it takes awhile, but He always comes through for me. And they are great for that time in my life. I think they are what He wants me to do at that time. As far as miracles in the Bible go, I must say my favorite is when Jesus appears to Paul (Saul) on the road to Damascus. Acts 9:1-19
This might be a little off topic, but jobs and God working in our lives made me think of it. I was fired from my first job. It was surprised when it happened, but it turned out to be a good thing because, I don't remember how long, but a while after that, there were some issues between the boss and an employee. I heard that the police were even called in on one issue. I think it was a God thing, because I wouldn't have quit. I had no reason to, but I think the Lord knew what was comming and didn't want me invovled so I'm thankful that I wasn't there for that. Which leads me into this verse. Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Also, E-mac, that was a good analogy.
Trust. I made a post about trust in the other blog that I have. For some reason now everytime I hear the word trust I think of Charlie Brown and Lucy. Even when we think we are disappointed we are still supposed to run up and fall flat on our backs after missing the football.
With God though, we are never disappointed. When we trust on our own understand we fall. When we trust in God then we actually kick the ball. I believe that we are called to trust other people too. Jesus did. He trusted his disciples to do his work. There is a difference between trusting something, and trusting in something. Jesus never trusted in his disciples. That is for God alone. If we trust in ourselves, in our own abilities, in others we will fail. If we trust in God we will not. It is he who has the plan for our lives. At the same time, we should not close ourselves down to others and have not trust them. Jesus trusted his followers. Sometimes we will be hurt by others. Jesus was betrayed by Judas. But he still trusted. He still opened himself up and forgave others and did not withdraw from the world.
The Bible says that we are not of this world. We aren't. But we are still going to be in it for a short time. While we are here we are supposed to worship God and make a difference in other peoples lives.
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