9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted[g] by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Proclaiming: To announce or declare the good news of Jesus Christ.
Repent: Turning from sin, asking God for forgiveness and turning to God and obeying Him.
Believe: To have faith, and trust in something or someone.
Question 1
What strange things happened in Jesus’s baptism that is different from everyone else’s?
Question 2
When you’re preparing for something difficult like a test or competition, what kind of things help you?
Now that John has paved the way, it is time for Jesus to begin his work, and he begins in the most remarkable way. While the other people were coming to repent of their sins and be baptised, something very different happens to Jesus. As he comes out of the water God says he loves Jesus. In this passage, God shows us something that was not made clear in the past. As God the Holy Spirit descends from heaven the voice of God the Father praises God the Son. What begins to become clear here is that although there is only one God, God exists as three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – yet there is only one God. This idea is really beyond us because as people we can never fully understand God.
After the delightful experience of hearing his Father’s voice giving him praise, he was sent by the Spirit into the desert. In that miserable place he spent over a month tempted by the devil. Why did this need to happen? First this shows us that Jesus was able to resist temptation even in a desert, unlike Adam, the first man, who gave into temptation when he was in a lovely garden. Secondly, Jesus showed that he was succeeding where the Israelites had failed when they were in the desert after leaving Egypt. Thirdly, this period of testing prepared Jesus for the hard years of work he had ahead of him – work that would lead to his death on the cross.
Question 3
Why is it comforting to us to think that Jesus had been tempted in every possible way, yet he didn’t sin?
Question 4
In what ways is God able to use difficult times in our life to prepare us to do His work?
Pray:
that God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit will help you to understand the Bible, to rely on the strength Jesus Christ and to believe that every situation is for your good and prepares you for the future.
