TRYING TO UNDERSTAND JESUS WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING ...
THE BAPTISM OF JOHN WAS “UNTO REPENTANCE”
It is not the baptism we observe today. Acts 19:1-5 The promise of a coming “baptism” of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled in Acts 2.
THE BAPTISM WE OBSERVE TODAY IS—
JANUARY 12, 2013 | MATTHEW 3:1-17, MARK 1:2-11, LUKE 3:1-38
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND JESUS WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM IS FUTILE AND WILL LEAD TO FALSE CONCLUSIONS.
1
A key to understanding the times: “the people were in expectation” (Luke 3:15) The Kingdom of God was their expectation. John’s message was of the arrival of the Kingdom. Matthew and Luke both make reference to Isaiah 40, a passage about the arrival of the Kingdom. Luke refers to Malachi 3, also about the coming Kingdom. Avoid the typical spiritualization of this passage: “The imagery of preparing the way by creating straight paths, filling in every valley, making low every mountain and hill, straightening the crooked roads, and smoothing the rough ways is understood by Luke in terms of repentance. The proud must become humble (mountains must be made low), and the corrupt must repent (crooked must become straight). The great reversal must begin. Only then will the road be prepared for the coming of the Messiah, so that all mankind will see God’s salvation.”1 The first presentation of Jesus was not of His grace, but of judgment. It was not of His church, but of His kingdom.
Black, Mark C. Luke. Joplin, MO: College Press Pub., 1995. Print. College Press NIV Commentary.
Not “unto repentance,” as John practiced. Not a “Sacrament,” as Catholicism practices. Not a “Seal of the Covenant,” as reformed theology practices. It is a new baptism, and is a symbolic representation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS BY JOHN WAS “TO FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
Not as an act of repentance because Jesus didn’t need any. This was an act of ceremonial cleansing for the priestly role that Jesus was about to fulfill. This was His ordination service. The testimony of God about Jesus is given at the beginning of His public ministry and will be given again at the beginning of His Kingdom.
TIMELINE
Fall, 29AD – Jesus is Baptized December, 29 AD – Jesus turns 30
It is not the baptism we observe today. Acts 19:1-5 The promise of a coming “baptism” of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled in Acts 2.
THE BAPTISM WE OBSERVE TODAY IS—
JANUARY 12, 2013 | MATTHEW 3:1-17, MARK 1:2-11, LUKE 3:1-38
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND JESUS WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM IS FUTILE AND WILL LEAD TO FALSE CONCLUSIONS.
1
A key to understanding the times: “the people were in expectation” (Luke 3:15) The Kingdom of God was their expectation. John’s message was of the arrival of the Kingdom. Matthew and Luke both make reference to Isaiah 40, a passage about the arrival of the Kingdom. Luke refers to Malachi 3, also about the coming Kingdom. Avoid the typical spiritualization of this passage: “The imagery of preparing the way by creating straight paths, filling in every valley, making low every mountain and hill, straightening the crooked roads, and smoothing the rough ways is understood by Luke in terms of repentance. The proud must become humble (mountains must be made low), and the corrupt must repent (crooked must become straight). The great reversal must begin. Only then will the road be prepared for the coming of the Messiah, so that all mankind will see God’s salvation.”1 The first presentation of Jesus was not of His grace, but of judgment. It was not of His church, but of His kingdom.
Black, Mark C. Luke. Joplin, MO: College Press Pub., 1995. Print. College Press NIV Commentary.
Not “unto repentance,” as John practiced. Not a “Sacrament,” as Catholicism practices. Not a “Seal of the Covenant,” as reformed theology practices. It is a new baptism, and is a symbolic representation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS BY JOHN WAS “TO FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
Not as an act of repentance because Jesus didn’t need any. This was an act of ceremonial cleansing for the priestly role that Jesus was about to fulfill. This was His ordination service. The testimony of God about Jesus is given at the beginning of His public ministry and will be given again at the beginning of His Kingdom.
TIMELINE
Fall, 29AD – Jesus is Baptized December, 29 AD – Jesus turns 30
