Matthew 3 - Jesus the Baptized
In this episode, we explore the significant role of John the Baptist in Matthew Chapter 3. John serves as a bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament, concluding the Old Testament and ushering in the New Testament through his ministry. John’s message centers around his baptism of repentance and his preaching about the coming of the kingdom of heaven. His lifestyle and mission mirror those of the Old Testament prophet Elijah, fulfilling the prophecy of Elijah’s return before the Messiah.
The crowd that comes to John for baptism is diverse, including people from inside and outside Israel, Pharisees, Sadducees, and possibly some future apostles. This reflects a universal longing among people for cleansing from sins and a closer relationship with God. However, John rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees, warning that a mere claim to religious or ethnic heritage is not enough for salvation. He uses vivid imagery of a fruit-bearing tree and a wheat separation process to emphasize the importance of genuine repentance and righteous living.
A pivotal moment occurs when Jesus arrives to be baptized by John. Despite John’s initial resistance, considering himself unworthy to baptize Jesus, Jesus insists, marking the beginning of his public ministry. The Holy Spirit descends on Jesus like a dove, and God’s voice affirms Jesus as his beloved Son, pleasing to Him even before the start of his ministry. This event signifies Jesus’ fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and His readiness to embark on his divine mission.
Consider where you would place yourself in the crowd around John and Jesus. The key takeaway is the universal call to repentance, confession of sins, and reliance on God’s love and grace rather than on personal achievements or heritage.
Download blank templates, schedules here:
https://schmern2.notion.site/Downloads-Template-Word-and-Excel-Schedule-67439d14449d4c20bfe00efe069f78b8
Logos RAMPS Workflow - RAMPS Bible Study - The Bible in Small Steps in Logos Workflows
Jill’s Links
https://jillfromthenorthwoods.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@smallstepswithgod
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/smallstepspod
https://twitter.com/schmern
Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com
“Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.”
Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
“The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® http://netbible.com copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved”.
Bible Maps and images used with permission from https://www.bible.ca/maps/ or https://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/bj-ot-world/
Copyright 2014 Faithlife / Logos Bible Software. Free for non-commercial use by individuals or organizations. May be presented before live audiences; may be posted on social media; may be re-distributed. May not be used commercially. May not be modified or included in published works without permission; contact permissions@faithlife.com. Attribute as: “Copyright 2014 Faithlife / Logos Bible Software ()”.
By choosing to watch this video or listen to this podcast, you acknowledge that you are doing so of your own free will. The content shared here reflects personal experiences and opinions and is intended for informational and inspirational purposes only. I am not a licensed healthcare provider, psychiatrist, or counselor. Any advice or suggestions offered should not be considered a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. You are solely responsible for any decisions or actions you take based on this content.
