Luke 15:11-32
For me this is one of those portions of scripture I would rather just skip over because, I admit, the parable of the prodigal son is my least favorite of all the parables. I was not looking forward to writing about this since I side with where the older son is coming from, and thought the lost son didn't deserve the royal treatment he received. I mean look at how selfish the lost son is...demanding a fortune he didn't earn, blowing it all on drinking and illicit sex, and then returning for a hand out. Now I know he didn't ask for the red carpet to roll out for him, it was the Father's mercy that provided for that but come on, it just seems like rewarding the lost son for doing wrong and taking the older Son for granted. Well, obviously I have to step back, confess my sinful attitude and ask the Lord to help me see and receive this message the way He intended. What I get is the understanding that I am seeing things from a human perspective not from a spiritual one...not from His perspective. In the larger sense this is an illustration of the Pharisees response at the prospect of a sinner becoming acceptable to God. On a more practical level for us it may be an unmerciful superior attitude...the one that says, "I can't believe he/she, after being an alcoholic, or homosexual, stealing, or having an abortion can come to Jesus and act like nothing ever happened. We think, "How can they just be forgiven for all that they have done and act like they did nothing wrong?" "That seems rather convenient", we say to ourselves, "to act like nothing ever happened"! What I think this parable and the last two parables are telling us, is that we have a loving Heavenly Father who seeks for, rejoices over, and runs to embrace us when we have come to our senses and turn to Him. Jesus wants us to see that He is ready to forgive anyone, the wayward lost soul and the self-important, hard-working, loyal, law-abiding legalist; both are in need of salvation. Neither son fully understood mercy, I pray that we can.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Lost Coin
Luke 15:8-10
Right now in my house, this parable could read, "Or what woman, having a very nice cell phone (with a qwerty keyboard), if she loses it, does not light a lamp, sweep, the house, and search carefully hoping to find it? And would certainly call (or text) everyone to say, 'Rejoice with me', for I have found the piece which I lost!" I might even blog about it too! But I'm not rejoicing yet since I still can't find it. :( I can certainly however, identify with this woman now who searched diligently for something very precious. Don't you think Jesus is emphasizing here that our spiritual connection to Him should be so important to us that we will thoroughly search for it. Can you imagine that the woman who lost the coin was singularly focused, almost driven to find that precious piece? Think of something special you have lost lately, how important did it become to you to find? Now, let's think about our relationship with Jesus, how diligently do we search for Him in our daily life? How valuable is fellowship with Jesus and eternal life with the Father to us? Remember His promise, "ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened. Ask, seek, and knock...be diligent, conscientious, vigilant in attaining fellowship with Jesus and we will not be disappointed, we will be found by Him! And just think how excited even the angels will be!
Right now in my house, this parable could read, "Or what woman, having a very nice cell phone (with a qwerty keyboard), if she loses it, does not light a lamp, sweep, the house, and search carefully hoping to find it? And would certainly call (or text) everyone to say, 'Rejoice with me', for I have found the piece which I lost!" I might even blog about it too! But I'm not rejoicing yet since I still can't find it. :( I can certainly however, identify with this woman now who searched diligently for something very precious. Don't you think Jesus is emphasizing here that our spiritual connection to Him should be so important to us that we will thoroughly search for it. Can you imagine that the woman who lost the coin was singularly focused, almost driven to find that precious piece? Think of something special you have lost lately, how important did it become to you to find? Now, let's think about our relationship with Jesus, how diligently do we search for Him in our daily life? How valuable is fellowship with Jesus and eternal life with the Father to us? Remember His promise, "ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened. Ask, seek, and knock...be diligent, conscientious, vigilant in attaining fellowship with Jesus and we will not be disappointed, we will be found by Him! And just think how excited even the angels will be!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Lost Sheep
Luke 15:1-7
Sometimes, it seems hard to understand the mindset of the Pharisees and scribes, here they are complaining about Jesus associating with tax collectors, and "sinners". They being the spiritual leaders of the day should have compassion for them, instead they are disgusted by them. I read that in their culture if you ate at the same table with someone it meant that you approved of them, I guess they saw Jesus as approving of their lifestyle rather than just loving them for who they were. Jesus replied to the Jewish leaders with a series of beautiful and famous parables which all have the same theme...being lost and then found. In each one the lesson is the same, Jesus came to save sinners which should bring praise to God. He begins with one lost sheep being found and compares the joy of finding that one sheep to heavens rejoicing over one sinner who repents. It is the hope of a changed heart that Jesus associated with the undesirable. Jesus came to seek and save those who where lost, I couldn't be more grateful that He did. He spoke at the end of the parable about those who need no repentance...who is that...haven't we all sinned and come short? Yes, the scriptures speak to that fact but I believe His statement was a rehtorical way of describing the attitude of the Jewish teachers of the day, they believed they didn't need to repent because they weren't lost, an attitude any of us are capable of I'm afraid and one we all need to guard ourselves against.
Sometimes, it seems hard to understand the mindset of the Pharisees and scribes, here they are complaining about Jesus associating with tax collectors, and "sinners". They being the spiritual leaders of the day should have compassion for them, instead they are disgusted by them. I read that in their culture if you ate at the same table with someone it meant that you approved of them, I guess they saw Jesus as approving of their lifestyle rather than just loving them for who they were. Jesus replied to the Jewish leaders with a series of beautiful and famous parables which all have the same theme...being lost and then found. In each one the lesson is the same, Jesus came to save sinners which should bring praise to God. He begins with one lost sheep being found and compares the joy of finding that one sheep to heavens rejoicing over one sinner who repents. It is the hope of a changed heart that Jesus associated with the undesirable. Jesus came to seek and save those who where lost, I couldn't be more grateful that He did. He spoke at the end of the parable about those who need no repentance...who is that...haven't we all sinned and come short? Yes, the scriptures speak to that fact but I believe His statement was a rehtorical way of describing the attitude of the Jewish teachers of the day, they believed they didn't need to repent because they weren't lost, an attitude any of us are capable of I'm afraid and one we all need to guard ourselves against.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Discipleship
Luke 14:25-35
Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living". As Jesus was traveling great multitudes went with Him, pursuing for various reasons I'm sure. It was time for them to count the cost of following Him, to examine their life and relationship to Him. The essence of discipleship, he told them, is giving Him first place. Jesus begins with explaining that they must forsake all one's family and then carry His cross. Not literally but in terms of first love, rejection, and suffering. One must be ready to be rejected by those who do not honor Jesus and suffer humiliation for His sake. He uses the illustration of a man building a tower and of a king going to war. His final comparison of discipleship is to salt with saltiness...meaning that an ineffective commitment means being cast aside...not fit for use. Remaining useful to God means remaining faithful to Him. As we travel this Lenten journey of examination this portion of scriptures seems particularly relevant...am I counting the costs...forsaking all...willing to suffer rejection for Him. We must count the cost to be a disciple of Jesus, that certainly is a life worth living.
Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living". As Jesus was traveling great multitudes went with Him, pursuing for various reasons I'm sure. It was time for them to count the cost of following Him, to examine their life and relationship to Him. The essence of discipleship, he told them, is giving Him first place. Jesus begins with explaining that they must forsake all one's family and then carry His cross. Not literally but in terms of first love, rejection, and suffering. One must be ready to be rejected by those who do not honor Jesus and suffer humiliation for His sake. He uses the illustration of a man building a tower and of a king going to war. His final comparison of discipleship is to salt with saltiness...meaning that an ineffective commitment means being cast aside...not fit for use. Remaining useful to God means remaining faithful to Him. As we travel this Lenten journey of examination this portion of scriptures seems particularly relevant...am I counting the costs...forsaking all...willing to suffer rejection for Him. We must count the cost to be a disciple of Jesus, that certainly is a life worth living.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Teaching
Luke 14: 1-24
John 11:1-16 tells us that while Jesus was ministering in Perea He received word that His beloved friend Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary, was sick and dieing. The emotional appeal was for Him to come quickly back to Bethany in Judea (just two miles from Jerusalem) while there was still time. Notice the intensity of the situation as Thomas, His disciple, knowing the extreme danger, was ready to defend Jesus to the death. Jesus acknowledged the sickness but intentionally delayed His return, not out of fear knowing they were seeking His arrest, rather once again following the timetable that would bring glory to God. During this brief delay Jesus taught the teachings preserved for us in Luke 13-17. Of the three charges the Pharisees tried to convict Jesus of, failure to observe cleanliness rituals, associating with people of low reputation, and working on the Sabbath, the third was the most serious as they could use Scriptural commands against working on that day. Wanting to mount evidence against Jesus a Pharisee invited Him to dinner with the express purpose of finding sin in Him. That was some dinner party! Jesus not only healed the man with dropsy but spent the evening sharing examples and parables that taught the importance of humility and service in the kingdom of God, after noticing the guests jockeying for position at the table. In an effort to show that works of mercy are acceptable and good on the Sabbath He begins with an example of saving a donkey or ox by pulling them from the well. Their laws allowed for an ox to be pulled from a well on the Sabbath but wanted to keep Jesus from rescuing a human being. Jesus goes on to explain that true followers of the Kingdom don't pridefully demand the best for themselves but rather humble themselves seeking the best for others. True hospitality and service is given to those who can not repay you and God will not overlook your service to Him. He ends the evening with The Parable of the Great Supper in which a man gives a great feast and invites many but one by one they give excuses for not coming. The man becomes very angry and invites the poor, maimed, lame, and the blind (those rejected by society). Having still more room at the table invitations go out to those in the highways and hedges (the gentiles). It is a stern warning to those at this Pharisees dinner party that even though they may think they are God's chosen elite they need to exam themselves for they may be excluded from the Kingdom. Next we are told in Luke of great multitudes going with Jesus while He explains the cost of discipleship and His further response to the Pharisees regarding His association with sinners. We will look at those teachings this coming week. This has been quite alot to ponder for today.
John 11:1-16 tells us that while Jesus was ministering in Perea He received word that His beloved friend Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary, was sick and dieing. The emotional appeal was for Him to come quickly back to Bethany in Judea (just two miles from Jerusalem) while there was still time. Notice the intensity of the situation as Thomas, His disciple, knowing the extreme danger, was ready to defend Jesus to the death. Jesus acknowledged the sickness but intentionally delayed His return, not out of fear knowing they were seeking His arrest, rather once again following the timetable that would bring glory to God. During this brief delay Jesus taught the teachings preserved for us in Luke 13-17. Of the three charges the Pharisees tried to convict Jesus of, failure to observe cleanliness rituals, associating with people of low reputation, and working on the Sabbath, the third was the most serious as they could use Scriptural commands against working on that day. Wanting to mount evidence against Jesus a Pharisee invited Him to dinner with the express purpose of finding sin in Him. That was some dinner party! Jesus not only healed the man with dropsy but spent the evening sharing examples and parables that taught the importance of humility and service in the kingdom of God, after noticing the guests jockeying for position at the table. In an effort to show that works of mercy are acceptable and good on the Sabbath He begins with an example of saving a donkey or ox by pulling them from the well. Their laws allowed for an ox to be pulled from a well on the Sabbath but wanted to keep Jesus from rescuing a human being. Jesus goes on to explain that true followers of the Kingdom don't pridefully demand the best for themselves but rather humble themselves seeking the best for others. True hospitality and service is given to those who can not repay you and God will not overlook your service to Him. He ends the evening with The Parable of the Great Supper in which a man gives a great feast and invites many but one by one they give excuses for not coming. The man becomes very angry and invites the poor, maimed, lame, and the blind (those rejected by society). Having still more room at the table invitations go out to those in the highways and hedges (the gentiles). It is a stern warning to those at this Pharisees dinner party that even though they may think they are God's chosen elite they need to exam themselves for they may be excluded from the Kingdom. Next we are told in Luke of great multitudes going with Jesus while He explains the cost of discipleship and His further response to the Pharisees regarding His association with sinners. We will look at those teachings this coming week. This has been quite alot to ponder for today.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Salvation
Luke 13:22-30
"and many believed in Him there" (John 10:42)...Luke begins the Perean ministry with the inquisitive question presented to Jesus, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" I can imagine there were all types of people surrounding Him there, He had gained many followers, religious leaders also came testing Him, recent converts of John were in this area, and even the sick of whom Jesus "healed many" were there. This is where John had baptized many and subsequently where John called into question Herod's marital relationship which resulted in Him being imprisoned and killed. We are not told who asked Jesus this question but based on His indirect answer (because Jesus always answers according to the thoughts and intents of the heart) it isn't hard to imagine one in the religious crowd trying to ensnare Him once again and lessen His reputation. Jewish leaders taught that all Israel should have a place in the world to come but Jesus was telling them to, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate", suggesting that you can only attain salvation on God's terms not their own. Jesus went on to remind them that in the coming kingdom the old testament patriarchs and prophets would be feasting with many from all over the world, alluding to the Gentiles being included. Whoever asked the question one thing about the answer is clear, some are excluded because He didn't know them. The Master of the house rises up and shuts the door. What door? The door of distinction, the door of mercy and grace that has allowed all those who believe to freely come and sup with the Master. The time will come when God's presence can not be gained any longer, we must enter through the narrow gate now before the door is shut. He tells us it is not enough to know or even teach about Him if you don't, in your heart, believe or trust Him. Jesus has already told them earlier, "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." We must trust in Jesus or be excluded. Rather than to ask how many will be saved a better question would be to ask, "Shall I be saved?". The answer of course can be a resounding yes! The door is still open and their is still access through the narrow gate. The scriptures say, "Today is the day of salvation"....we must cry out like the Philippian jailer who said, "What must I do to be saved"...the answer is simply, "if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10: 9&10. I can see why, "many believed in Him there", John had prepared the way for many to believe in the Messiah and now they could see that this man was the one...the Messiah had come. Our Messiah...to those who believe. Good place to start the Perean path, confessing to Jesus our belief in His death as the sacrifice for sin and His resurrection from the dead. Then He will know us for sure and I would really rather be at the feast supping with the saints than where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth...and I want all of you at the feast too!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Perea
Matthew 19:1; Mark 10:1; Luke 13:40; John 10:40
Well, I found out the number and order of events in Jesus' journey throughout Perea is not as absolutely definitive as I thought, but there is some generally accepted chronology that we will use which can give us a good idea of the flow of His life and teachings. These verses above speak of Jesus going beyond the Jordan which is the region of Perea, a territory east of the Jordan river ruled by Herod Antipas. It is inhabited by the Israelite Tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. The Perean ministry began with Jesus' departure from Galilee and ended with His final trip to Jerusalem. And even though it began in Perea Jesus did not always stay in that region, during this time He also traveled to Bethany, Ephraim, Galilee, and Jericho. In His heart and mind though He was always "making His way" ultimately to Jerusalem. Luke is the gospel most closely associated with this period of Jesus' ministry. The other gospels make mention of various teachings and events but Luke offers the main source of information for this period. Jesus' teachings during this time cover a broad range of subjects but He is primarily teaching His disciples what is required to be a follower of His. He uses a number of parables to give understanding on our relationship to money, people, and life in general. There are only four recorded miracles throughout this last three months the emphasis seems to be on strengthening His disciples for what the future holds. As I am reflecting on this aspect of Jesus ministry It seems pretty apropos to what I and maybe others in the body of Christ need at this time and I can't wait to get into the heart of His teaching. This is going to be a good Spring Training I do believe. I also wanted to draw your attention to the passage in John 10:40-42 when Jesus went back to where He was baptized. It says in verse 42, "and many believed in Him there"...it seems significant, what do you think?
P.S. See you Monday...just a reminder...lent is observed six days a week and doesn't include Sunday since that day represents a celebration of Jesus' victory over sin and death. Lent rather is the preparation of the believer through prayer, repentance, giving, and self-denial for the annual commemoration of Easter or in our case Spiritual Spring Training for our daily walk with our Redeemer with a special emphasis on His Resurrection from the dead.
Well, I found out the number and order of events in Jesus' journey throughout Perea is not as absolutely definitive as I thought, but there is some generally accepted chronology that we will use which can give us a good idea of the flow of His life and teachings. These verses above speak of Jesus going beyond the Jordan which is the region of Perea, a territory east of the Jordan river ruled by Herod Antipas. It is inhabited by the Israelite Tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. The Perean ministry began with Jesus' departure from Galilee and ended with His final trip to Jerusalem. And even though it began in Perea Jesus did not always stay in that region, during this time He also traveled to Bethany, Ephraim, Galilee, and Jericho. In His heart and mind though He was always "making His way" ultimately to Jerusalem. Luke is the gospel most closely associated with this period of Jesus' ministry. The other gospels make mention of various teachings and events but Luke offers the main source of information for this period. Jesus' teachings during this time cover a broad range of subjects but He is primarily teaching His disciples what is required to be a follower of His. He uses a number of parables to give understanding on our relationship to money, people, and life in general. There are only four recorded miracles throughout this last three months the emphasis seems to be on strengthening His disciples for what the future holds. As I am reflecting on this aspect of Jesus ministry It seems pretty apropos to what I and maybe others in the body of Christ need at this time and I can't wait to get into the heart of His teaching. This is going to be a good Spring Training I do believe. I also wanted to draw your attention to the passage in John 10:40-42 when Jesus went back to where He was baptized. It says in verse 42, "and many believed in Him there"...it seems significant, what do you think?
P.S. See you Monday...just a reminder...lent is observed six days a week and doesn't include Sunday since that day represents a celebration of Jesus' victory over sin and death. Lent rather is the preparation of the believer through prayer, repentance, giving, and self-denial for the annual commemoration of Easter or in our case Spiritual Spring Training for our daily walk with our Redeemer with a special emphasis on His Resurrection from the dead.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Samaria
Luke 9:51
Okay, so let me sum up...Jesus was baptized by John some three years earlier and began His public ministry. He gathers followers, cleanses the temple in Jerusalem for the first time (He does it twice) which insights the religious crowd. He then travels throughout Galilee for approximately 12-18 months miraculously healing the sick and feeding multitudes of people, delivering the demonically enslaved, and teaching the truth about the Kingdom of God. For a short while He withdraws from Galilee and continues to prepare His disciples giving them a fuller revelation of who He is and His impending death, hence the Transfiguration and the voice from Heaven. The first indication that Jesus was turning his attention toward His final suffering in Jerusalem was when He was in Samaria, "Now it came to pass, when the time was come that He should be received up, He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem" Luke 9:51. Wanting to manage the growing conflict with the Jewish leaders to God's timetable He travels throughout Judea for three months and then turns towards the Perean region for approximately another three months, back to where He began His ministry...the baptismal waters of John the Baptist, how fitting. It is the Perean ministry I would like to concentrate on for the next few weeks and then end our final week of Lenten season with the Passion week of Christ. Well, I think the Lord has our course set for us now and I know He will richly bless us each day as we seek and search to know more about His Beloved Son, in whom He is well pleased...may the Lord open our ears to hear him.
Okay, so let me sum up...Jesus was baptized by John some three years earlier and began His public ministry. He gathers followers, cleanses the temple in Jerusalem for the first time (He does it twice) which insights the religious crowd. He then travels throughout Galilee for approximately 12-18 months miraculously healing the sick and feeding multitudes of people, delivering the demonically enslaved, and teaching the truth about the Kingdom of God. For a short while He withdraws from Galilee and continues to prepare His disciples giving them a fuller revelation of who He is and His impending death, hence the Transfiguration and the voice from Heaven. The first indication that Jesus was turning his attention toward His final suffering in Jerusalem was when He was in Samaria, "Now it came to pass, when the time was come that He should be received up, He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem" Luke 9:51. Wanting to manage the growing conflict with the Jewish leaders to God's timetable He travels throughout Judea for three months and then turns towards the Perean region for approximately another three months, back to where He began His ministry...the baptismal waters of John the Baptist, how fitting. It is the Perean ministry I would like to concentrate on for the next few weeks and then end our final week of Lenten season with the Passion week of Christ. Well, I think the Lord has our course set for us now and I know He will richly bless us each day as we seek and search to know more about His Beloved Son, in whom He is well pleased...may the Lord open our ears to hear him.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Transfiguration
Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-35; 2 Peter 1:16-18
Caesarea Philippi/A.D. 29
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" This startling revelation came again a second time from a voice in the heavens. Jesus once more received from God the Father glory and honor. Leading up to the Transfiguration, in all three Gospels Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, Jesus predicts His death and resurrection to the disciples, and Jesus explains that the cost of following Him would mean losing your own life, high stakes but eternal rewards. Jesus is preparing his disciples to understand what His Messiahship truly meant, in particular Peter, James, and John. A few days later Jesus toke those three disciples up to a mountain, transcends time and pulls back His humanity for a brief moment. He becomes radiant with the Glory He once had in the Heavenlies and in the midst of this grandeur He is seen speaking with Moses and Elijah about His impending death in Jerusalem. Now, it seems to me the drama is mounting and at this point I would think the disciples adrenalin would be pumping so much they would be beside themselves but Luke records that, "the disciples were heavy with sleep". I don't even know what to say about that except if the truth be known it is probably something I would do too...how pathetic. I'm wondering now if the Father was using His 'parental' voice when He spoke to the disciples. Maybe He was waking them up! Not sure where we are headed tomorrow, after I wake up I will see what happened next and report back. Blessings!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Baptism
Matthew 3:1-17; Mark 1:1-9; Luke 3:1-22; John 1:19-34
By tradition Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lenten season, a forty day period of repentance and reflection leading to the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ on Easter. A day historically set to vigilantly consider yourself before God and repent, for some it is even done symbolically with ashes on their head. Personally I don't have that tradition ingrained and view repentance as an act that is continually done in a daily growing walk with the Lord as He convicts me through His Holy Spirit. However, I do like that attitude (of repentance) as a starting point and see it as a good beginning to this devotional journal. Christ certainly was not in need of repentance...being perfect, but it pleased the Father that in the fulness of time (I just love that term) His Son would come and fulfill all righteousness, beginning His ministry with baptism. John, the forerunner preparing the way for the Messiah, urged all to bring fruits worthy of repentance...a different way of thinking...a changed life. Turning from sin and living rightous lives, not ceremonial living, not hollow traditions but rather a life baptised in the very Spirit of the Living God. A spiritual life of belief and trust that leads to rightousness and peace in spite of circumstances. An inward life lived in a close relationship with the Heavenly Father made possible now through the coming of His Son, well you get the idea. Jesus' baptism though was not admitting He was sinful and needed to change, He was consecrating Himself to His ministry. We though, having no power of our own over a sinful nature, need the power that comes from above and can only be found through Jesus. Now, in water baptism we are identifying ourselves with Jesus, in effect saying we are putting off the old man and putting on a new one. We are now clothing ourselves in a new way of life, learning to please God and longing for the same words the Father spoke to Jesus at His baptism, "This is my beloved Son (or daughter:-), in whom I am well pleased". This brings me to where we are headed next in our forty day journey to know Jesus better. There are only two times in scripture that God spoke from heaven, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased", once was as Jesus came out of the water at His baptism and the other one we will find out about tomorrow. So I hope to see you then!
For a deeper look at repentance visit (but be prepared to get serious): http://www.frontlinemin.org/repentance.asp
By tradition Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lenten season, a forty day period of repentance and reflection leading to the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ on Easter. A day historically set to vigilantly consider yourself before God and repent, for some it is even done symbolically with ashes on their head. Personally I don't have that tradition ingrained and view repentance as an act that is continually done in a daily growing walk with the Lord as He convicts me through His Holy Spirit. However, I do like that attitude (of repentance) as a starting point and see it as a good beginning to this devotional journal. Christ certainly was not in need of repentance...being perfect, but it pleased the Father that in the fulness of time (I just love that term) His Son would come and fulfill all righteousness, beginning His ministry with baptism. John, the forerunner preparing the way for the Messiah, urged all to bring fruits worthy of repentance...a different way of thinking...a changed life. Turning from sin and living rightous lives, not ceremonial living, not hollow traditions but rather a life baptised in the very Spirit of the Living God. A spiritual life of belief and trust that leads to rightousness and peace in spite of circumstances. An inward life lived in a close relationship with the Heavenly Father made possible now through the coming of His Son, well you get the idea. Jesus' baptism though was not admitting He was sinful and needed to change, He was consecrating Himself to His ministry. We though, having no power of our own over a sinful nature, need the power that comes from above and can only be found through Jesus. Now, in water baptism we are identifying ourselves with Jesus, in effect saying we are putting off the old man and putting on a new one. We are now clothing ourselves in a new way of life, learning to please God and longing for the same words the Father spoke to Jesus at His baptism, "This is my beloved Son (or daughter:-), in whom I am well pleased". This brings me to where we are headed next in our forty day journey to know Jesus better. There are only two times in scripture that God spoke from heaven, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased", once was as Jesus came out of the water at His baptism and the other one we will find out about tomorrow. So I hope to see you then!
For a deeper look at repentance visit (but be prepared to get serious): http://www.frontlinemin.org/repentance.asp
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