Christ Begins His Ministry

Matthew 3:13 - 4:12
Jesus was baptised in the River Jordan near Bethany by John the Baptist in the fall of A.D. 26 and began His ministry in the region of Galilee during the Spring of A.D. 27 when He was about 30 years old.  Immediately following His baptism Jesus compelled by the Holy Spirit, consciously decided to enter the Judean dessert thus replicating the Israelites wilderness experience.  Through forty days in the wilderness, withstanding wild animals, hunger, thirst, and relentless attacks by Satan, Jesus remained firm in righteousness and faith in God unlike Israel who fell to sin and unbelief.  This begins this years' 40 day Spiritual Spring Training, a look at the early ministry of Jesus. When and where He traveled during the early part of His ministry.  How He lived, loved, and cared for others.  What instruction and examples He gave to those who want to follow Him. Jesus determined it was time to leave His hometown of Nazareth, possibly after His father Joseph died He now felt it time to set out to fulfill Gods plan.  His baptism was an act of public consecration, a dedication and anointing to obey God's will.  His wilderness testing demonstrated the strength and power of God to live righteously by faith as an example to us as to how to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh.