A STUDY ON THE LIFE OF JESUS (3)

Jesus' thirty "Hidden years" and His humble entrance into his public ministry through baptism — identifying with sinners from the waters of jordAn to the cross of calvary

Humility — absolute dependence on God and absolute submission to God. The humility of Jesus is seen in his early life as he submitted Himself to Mary and Joseph, grew up and lived in the obscure, remote and even despised town of Nazareth (John 1:45-46; Isaiah 11:1), was a carpenter's son and known as a carpenter Himself, a common laborer (Mark 6:3 - versus rabbinical training and a religious leader) and, with the exception of his appearance and words at the temple at age 12, no other words spoken by Him are recorded until age 30. Even Jesus the God-Man was trained up by His Father through humility, suffering and submission to human parents. Yet He knew He must be about His "Father's business" even as a young boy. "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" "Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart." "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (See Luke 2:41-52; Hebrews 2:10 and 5:8)

And the humility of Jesus is seen in His entrance into public ministry — identifying with sinners through baptism (recorded in all 4 gospels). John the Baptist's call to baptism was different from the ritualistic repeated washings of the religious leaders and the required baptism of all gentiles in order to become a Jew. John called all, religious sinners and common sinners alike, to repent from trusting in their own righteousness and to turn to Jesus for "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." (Matthew 3:12) And the humility of Jesus is seen in His entrance into public ministry — identifying with sinners through baptism (recorded in all 4 gospels). John the Baptist's call to baptism was different from the ritualistic repeated washings of the religious leaders and the required baptism of all gentiles in order to become a Jew. John called all, religious sinners and common sinners alike, to repent from trusting in their own righteousness and to turn to Jesus for "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and "fire. (Matthew 3:12)

"Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near" - get right with God through trusting Jesus and submit to God's rule (kingdom) is both a warning of impending judgment to come (Revelation 20:12-15; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15) and a call to a whole new way of living evidenced by fruits of repentance — a changed life that glorifies God (Romans 12:1-2).

"to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15) Jesus' perfect life as a Man and His substitutionary death as God's sacrificial Lamb who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29) is the culmination of God's saving activity prophesied in the Old Testament. 2 Corinthians 5:21 "God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Jesus' baptism was also His coronation day — the public presentation of the long hoped for Messiah of Israel and was attested to by the Trinity as the Father spoke His words of love and affirmation to His Son and the Spirit came upon Him to anoint Him for ministry. The symbol of a dove was both a symbol of deliverance from God's judgment as seen in Noah's day (Genesis 8:8-12) and a symbol of the sacrifice used by the poor — pointing to the humility of Jesus who identified with the poor and outcasts and became "the sacrifice". Thus John the Baptist knew Jesus was the One (John 1:33) as he witnessed the Spirit come upon Jesus.

"heaven was opened" ("by God'- Matthew 3:16) to reveal and communicate something new, profound and momentous the coronation and commissioning of Israel's Messiah and God's righteous Servant Who will carry out God's saving and sanctifying work in the power of the Spirit. (Remember God hadn't spoken to His people through His prophets for some 400 years — He breaks the silence through John the prophet and Jesus "The Prophet" — the Spokesman for God.)

Application: Jesus came to His own but they (many) received Him not (John 1:12) because they were looking for a temporal deliverer from Rome versus a spiritual deliverer from sin. We too must let Jesus reshape our thinking as we turn from trusting in our own righteousness to trusting in His alone and serving His eternal kingdom rather than the world's temporal agenda. At salvation Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and fire for empowerment for witnessing and ministry (Acts 1:8; John 14:12) and cleansing from sins — often through suffering like our Savior. (Hebrews 5:8)

Have you been baptized after salvation in obedience to Jesus' command (Mark 16:16) and as a public testimony of your identity as a child of God and a dedication of your life to God? (Romans 6: 3-4; 12:1-2)

Ephesians 5:18 - Have you asked (and do you continue to ask) the Holy Spirit to fill you, control you and empower you to witness to Jesus and exercise the gifts God gave you at salvation to serve His people and to glorify His Name? (1 Peter 4:10) Three kinds of people (By Dr. Bill Bright) Non-Christians; Carnal Christians (1 Corinthians 3:1-3) and Spirit-filled Christians.