Matthew 3

Notes for BSF

JESUS KNOWS OUR STRUGGLES BECAUSE HE IS ONE OF US (Luke 2:40-52)

Jesus grew up in obscurity
Although the Scripture does not elaborate much on Jesus' life before his ministry, we get a glimpse of his childhood here and there. For example, a simple sentence or two describes that Jesus grew and became strong, that he grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.

We know Jesus as a great man, a great teacher, our great God! What many of us misses is that Jesus was also a great kid, despite the difficult situations he had to face. 

Jesus was a foreigner to his own family, a stranger to his mother’s own children (Psalm 69:8)
Jesus’ half-brothers, James and John, did not support Jesus or his ministry until AFTER Jesus died and was resurrected. In Psalm 69, we can get a hint of what Jesus went through when he was young. He grew up with the neighbors knowing that he had no (human) father. We can imagine back in those days, the kind of ridicule and despise Jesus received because of this. People were not kind to those who were born out of wedlock. Jesus had a difficult childhood -- not only did neighborhood kids mocked him, even his own half-brothers pushed against him!

As man, Jesus was temped (Hebrews 2:10–18; Hebrews 4:15–16; Hebrews 5:7-9)
Jesus was fully man, like us, of flesh and blood. And because he was flesh and blood, he suffered like we do; he was tempted like we are. And because he has lived through our pain -- He knows exactly what it means to be human -- we can look to him for practical guidance as we walk through life's valleys. Jesus is not just a king who sits on the throne and is completely clueless to the hard life of his people; he is a king who has literally walked in our shoes!

Jesus was obedient -- Not just to his earthly parents but to God as well (Luke 2:51; Hebrews 5:7-9)
I don't think we will ever be able to completely understand the concept of the Trinity in this life time. How is God 3 persons, and how could Jesus be both the Son of Man and Son of God? I don't completely understand this concept myself (and I look forward to learning all about it when His Kingdom come), but this is the main perspective I keep in mind:

While on Earth, Jesus was man and did not posses nor use his heavenly powers

Whenever Jesus healed someone, he always stresses, "Your faith has healed you." The miracles that Jesus performed were not the result of him being God but because of his FAITH in God the Father. I can say this with confidence because if his godly powers allowed Jesus to perform the miracles, then he wouldn't have been able to send his disciples out, who also healed many and drove out demons. Further, we learn that while Jesus was man on Earth, he was not fully aware of the Father's plan: "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36, NIV)

In every sense, while on Earth, Jesus was man. Period. He didn't triumph over Satan's temptations (Matthew 4:1-11) or performed miracles because he had supernatural powers. After all, the miracles he performed were repeated by his disciples. Instead, his prayers were answered because he was obedient to God the Father. Jesus was up early at sunrise everyday to spend time with God in prayer. He had struggles, and he suffered pain -- but through it all, he prayed and followed God's will.

As we continue our own walk through life, it is encouraging to keep the above perspective -- that as one of us, Jesus showed us how to live depending completely on God. 


JOHN THE BAPTIST POINTED TO JESUS, OUR MESSIAH (Matthew 3:1-12; Luke 1:5-25, 57-80; Malachi 4:5-6)

John 3:28
I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him.

As a great man of God, John the Baptist had a following of disciples. Never once though, did John ever claim glory for himself, because he knew God's will was to use him as an arrow to point straight to Jesus.

John 3:30
He must increase, but I must decrease.

And so, once Jesus came, John the Baptist slowly faded into the background, named as the last prophet of the Old Testament.

John the Baptist preached repentance and forgiveness of sins (Luke 3:1-20)
The main message of John the Baptist was for us to repent of our sins. He also preached on other topics (share our fortunes with others; do not take advantage of others; be content with what we have), but his life's work was to point people toward Jesus for our ultimate repentance and forgiveness of sins.

When we repent, we admit we are sinners and commit to turning away from sin. When God accepts our repentance, we are forgiven, declared clean.

John cleansed sinners with water. Water only temporarily cleans, and it cleans only our physical filth. To be eternally cleansed, water was not enough. This is why we need Jesus.

Jesus cleanses us with the Holy Spirit. When we repent of our sins and accept Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells within us. We die in our old selves and are born again in the Holy Spirit. This cleansing of our soul is permanent. Through Jesus, we are forgiven and declared clean for the eternity.


JOHN BAPTIZED JESUS (Matthew 3:11-12)

John preached about Jesus
- Jesus is more powerful than John
- Jesus will baptize us with the Holy Spirit (while John could only baptize with water)
- Jesus will one day judge the world (clear the threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire)

The Holy Spirit works in the life of a Christian
When we accept Jesus and receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we don't immediately become the most amazing and perfect people in the world (as I'm sure our family and friends will readily confirm).

However, as we remain committed to the Lord, we will be guided by the Holy Spirit and begin to see our lives changed -- This is stressed by the entire book of James.

John bore witness of Jesus Christ (John 1:32-33)
"I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."

God announced Jesus as His Son (Matthew 3:17)

Matthew 3:13-14, NKJV
Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"

Since baptism is the public confession of our sins and acceptance of eternal cleansing of our souls of sin -- and Jesus is SINLESS -- why did Jesus sought to be baptized?

Matthew 3:15, NKJV
Jesus answered and said to him,"Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."

Jesus was baptized...
1. To fulfill ALL righteousness
2. To publicly declare his ministry

As Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended upon him, with God announcing to the world, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17, NKJV).

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were all at the start of Jesus’ public ministry.