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by Sandy Shaw
In Luke 3:21 we read of Jesus walking onto the scene. Imagine what has been happening in contemporary terms. Coaches full of curious and interested men and women have been making their way down to the Jordan to hear this preacher John, and to respond to his call to repent and get their lives sorted out and be baptised that they are serious and for real. Crowds have been traveling to the River Jordan for weeks and some folks return to Nazareth and tell Jesus.
“Jesus, have you been down yet to the Jordan Valley yet, where this man John is attracting thousands? Jesus, tax collectors and Roman soldiers and some of the most ordinary people are listening to him and responding positively. In fact, the only ones who do not seem to be paying heed to what he is saying are the religious leaders in Jerusalem, although they did send down a committee – a delegation – to find out what he was preaching and why he was doing what he was doing. Jesus, do you know what he is doing? Ducking people! Taking them into the river and plunging them under the water. The whole nation seems to be flocking down to hear what he is saying and we all think God is in all this. Jesus, you ought to go and hear him. We are arranging another bus for next Monday. Come with us.”
When all the people had gone out to John and when they had been baptised, Jesus hangs up his carpenter’s apron for the final time. Jesus has been waiting for 18 years. We have not heard anything about Jesus since that incident in the Temple when he was twelve years old.
John had prepared and readied the people. It was now time.
JESUS chooses to be baptised - to fulfill all righteousness. Matthew tells us that. Jesus did not need to be baptised. He had no sin to confess and nothing he had to get sorted out in his life, but it is right to do what is right.
JESUS associates with what GOD is doing. Jesus makes that break with the past.
Be involved in what GOD is doing. When Jesus called these first disciples his invitation and command was so very simple and straightforward: “FOLLOW ME.” Jesus sets the example for us when it comes to baptism. John was reluctant at first to baptise Jesus in the waters of the Jordan, because John knew that he needed to be baptised by Jesus. John wanted Jesus to baptise him, but of course, Jesus does not use water. Jesus baptises with the Holy Spirit, and it would be the crucified, resurrected, risen, and ascended Lord Jesus Christ who would do that. He is the only one who can do it.
When Jesus emerges from the water it is as if the clouds part, and something like a dove is fluttering and descending – it is the Holy Spirit. There is also a voice which speaks such reassuring words: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased. God the Father gives His approval of what Jesus had done. The Father was so pleased with Jesus.
This significant occasion is recorded in all four Gospels.
Immediately following the baptism of Jesus, we are given Jesus family tree. Imagine if the ancestry of Jesus Christ had been traced back, only to arrive at - some family of apes - or a colony of chimpanzees. I have never had any time for this monkey business, and over these past twenty five years this is one topic to which I have given serious study – the subject of Creation.
Consider what we have been reading about and studying together over these past few weeks – just touching on them as we have made our way through these opening passages in Luke’s Gospel - Poverty – Faithfulness - Corruption - Bullying - Pay and Greed - Persecution (imprisonment) - Baptism - Description of the Ministry of Jesus - Anointing of the Holy Spirit - Creation.
Read and study and learn. We will never exhaust the riches of God’s Word. They are not simply for study, important though that it – they are for putting into practice in our every day lives as disciples of Jesus. They are there to equip us for service and to strengthen us as we seek to be the salt of the earth, and the light of the world, wherever we go.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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