Matthew 3: Connection & Culmination

​In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
    make his paths straight.’”
4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
 
Meditation
Christians are united with Christ in faith, buried with Jesus in baptism that “we too might walk in a newness of life” (Romans 6:1-5). Today’s trinitarian revelation (13-17) is an intimate invitation for Christian participation in God’s eternal love, celebrating the culmination of redemptive history and cultivating gratitude for intimate covenantal realities.
 
Jesus “fulfills all righteousness” (15) as the true representative of Israel. Greater than Abraham and David (1:1) and leading a more comprehensive exodus than Moses. Jesus is the true king who passes through the waters so all peoples who believe can be free from the slavery of sin.
 
The representative work of Jesus connects believers with the transforming covenantal reality of God’s eternal love (John 17:23-24). Union with Christ makes the Father’s words to Jesus true for believers in Him: You are God’s beloved child, and in Jesus, the Father is pleased with you (17).
 
John’s baptism was one of repentance, a voice calling people to turn from other loves and return to God’s love. People came to confess sin as John prepared the way for Jesus (1-6). Pharisees and religious leaders came to condemn, not keeping fruit of repentance (7-10). Repentance from disproportionate affection for other loves is the first step of returning to God’s covenant love in Christ.

Jesus represents God’s people as son (Exodus 4:22). Jesus baptizes with the Spirit (11) who seals adoption and by whom believers cry, “Abba, Father!” (Romans 8:15). Believers walk in a newness of life, learning to live FROM the eternal love of our Father that is ours in Christ.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading?
 
-What is the import for your life and leadership in seeing the work of Jesus as a culmination of redemptive history AND a connecting covenantal reality for all who believe?
 
-Where can you walk in a newness of life, by God’s Spirit living FROM the covenantal identity Christians have as children of God?
 
Key Verse
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.