Because we are 2,000 years this side of the cross we tend to forget heir deep need for God.ow exciting it must have been when Jesus stepped into history. Consider how for over 400 years God had not spoken to Israel. He had left them to their own devises until the time was just right for Jesus to come. Suddenly John the baptist arrives to make way for Jesus. A word from God, the first Israel has had since Malachi and the people are excited. Some supposed that John was Messiah, but clearly he was not, he even told them so. Israel is energized as they consider what this may all mean.
It is in this moment, in the midst of tremendous excitement the people begin to see their deep need for God. The Bible declares that all Israel is coming to John, to both hear him and be baptized of him. Put yourself in the place of this God hungry people and then look as Jesus steps into the Jordan to be baptized of John. I know what it is like to preach repentance and have people come in repentance to be baptized. I know the thrill of seeing people change their hearts and minds. I can only imagine what John must have felt as he watched Jesus step into the water to be baptized. This would be an Isaiah moment as Isaiah 6 describes. It is a Peter moment as he declares depart from me Lord for I am a sinner. It is a John the baptist moment in which he declares: “It is I that have need of being baptized by you.” Jesus simply says, “We must do this to fulfill all righteousness.” John simply states, “Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.”
For the uninitiated when Jesus is led into the wilderness to be tempted of Satan, please notice the God whom we serve. Jesus’ ministry is to be defined not by events but by His attitude. I don’t know about you but sometimes I just don’t do too good with temptations and I have not had to deal with Satan face to face. Nor do I want to have face time with him. Read Matthew 4:1-11, what do you see? Many read this and say so what? Jesus is God of course He overcame. If you are one of these, maybe you missed the point. Jesus overcomes the temptations not by using his Godly attributes, He overcomes the temptations as a man. Satan says, “Since you are the son of God, command these stones to become bread.” Jesus answers from Deut. 8:1-5. What Satan is trying to do is to see if Jesus will use His supernatural powers for His own use. Now dig deeper into this and of course we can see Jesus in the wilderness for 40 days, Israel in the wilderness for 40 years and Jesus of course lives by God’s Word whereas Israel did not and a generation perished. Adam failed and died. Israel failed and fell. You and I both know if we are honest that we have all to the man sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Jesus is given the same task and passes the test. What kind of God do I serve? A victorious God that can go toe to toe with Satan and win, not by using His Godly nature but by using the same weapon God has given to us, the “sword of the Spirit” the Word of God. Jesus succeeded not by miraculous measures, but by trusting in our God.
Steve Webb, evangelist
(c) 2016
Unity of the Faith 