God's Sinless Son - Matthew 3:1 - 4:16

In the matter of all the time there is [from seconds to eternity] time is suspended in endless space, without beginning and without end; it has a definition much like that of God who said “I am.” Time was, and is and will always be and those who are alive today will spend the rest of an endless journey suspended in that space of time. The conditions surrounding their existence depend upon their acceptance or rejection of Jesus Christ at this point in time. There have been some gaps in time that we know nothing about. For reasons known only by God, he kept man in the dark for one gap in time that might have been billions or trillions of years, no doubt during all of the time it took for him to plan for the creation of all things, and the order in which each would exist and play its part. Then one day he opened his spiritual office and announced to the world that he was the one and only God, and explained how he created the earth and all that is there in. He introduced Adam and Eve as the first of his human creation, and we have the Holy Bible that keeps us informed about most of the time since that day.

The children of Israel, freed from four thousand years of bondage, and promised a land of milk and honey, disobeyed God and remained as wondering pilgrims in the desert for forty miserable years. They thought that God had left them there to die. They later entered Judah and Jerusalem and prospered, built the greatest of all temples and worshipped God. Then because of disobedience they were allowed to be exiled into Babylon for seventy years of lost life and wasted time. Upon their return they started the rebuilding process, and on two occasions the work stopped, and extended years of progress was lost again. On their second failure, God disappeared again, and this time there were no messages from him for a gap of over 400 years.

In last Sunday’s lesson we found that God returned after his four hundred year departure, not as an angel, not through a dream or a vision, not even in his God person with his voice of instruction to his people; but he returned as God and man in the person of his Son Jesus Christ. He was born in Bethlehem, and was immediately rejected by his own chosen people, as had been prophesied. His life was threatened and he had to escape to Egypt until the death of Herod the Great as it had been prophesied. When Herod died Jesus returned to the holly land, but to a different town…he went to Galilee to a town called Nazareth; again this was to fulfill prophesy that he would be called a Nazarene. Here comes another gap in time….from the date of his return to Nazareth until he visited the temple with his parents, little is known about his life—this gap lasted about ten years. He traveled to Jerusalem with his parents, and as a teenager, exhibited wisdom and knowledge that confounded the most powerful minds of men. He became separated from his parents, who returned to Jerusalem and found him in the temple and took him with them back home. Then the last gap that concerns us at this time started and nothing is known about him until he shows up on his way to be baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordon—there must have been about fifteen years between the temple scene and his baptism which marked the beginning of his three year ministry that preceded his death, burial and resurrection.

What did he do in Nazareth? How did his life compare to those of other boys his age in his home town?
When did he start to school? Or, did he go at all? Did he have a girl friend? Did his parents have any problems to solve in which he was involved? What were his favorite foods, games, and hobbies? Did he have any of the childhood health problems that were prevalent in that day? Did he personally communicate with his heavenly father? When did he realize for the first time that he was the spiritual Son of God? How did that knowledge come to him? The other apostles answered a few of our questions, but Matthew skipped about 30 years of the life of Christ and today, as we open the third chapter of his gospel. Matthew starts off by telling us that “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the district of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’” Again, Matthew was interested in John’s part in the story, BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN PROPHISIED BY THE PROPHETS OF OLD—HIS JEWISH ANCESTORS—AND MATTHEW IS TRYING TO EMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT CHRIST WAS THE ONE PROMISED AS THEIR MESSIAH. Just to make sure, Matthew reminds them that this is the one spoken of by the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah was not the only one, many predicted his birth. It is amazing to me that just a few pages back in the bible, the last book in the OT, Malachi 3: 1, but four-hundred-years [400 YEARS] ago, Malachi said: “See, I will send my messenger who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come.’ [Accurate prophecy should build and strengthen your faith. Prophecy and its fulfillment, on time, every time helps me to KNOW that my God is real!] My faith grows deeper each time I review the story of Jesus Christ that was fore-told over four thousand years ago and I have seen and continue to see those prophecies come to pass just as God has promised.

In Matthew’s gospel, almost thirty years has passed [a gap] and now John the Baptist explodes onto the scene. He was easily recognizable because his appearance, clothing, food and message were new and different. The most important of these characteristics was the message. You may ask why it was different. It was different because of the new covenant. In all days past, in order for sins to be forgiven there had to be an atonement made by the sacrifice of some animal…it was a blood sacrifice that had to be repeated over and over, year after year. BUT NOT ANY MORE! When Christ died, shed his blood on the cross, it happened one time and it applied to every person who ever lived or will ever live on earth. John’s new message was one of REPENTANCE and faith in the one, Jesus Christ, who would die once and for all. The accomplishments of Christ did not destroy the law…but fulfilled it. The law had no saving power, but rather it pointed or guided people toward this one, Jesus, who shed his blood that covered all sin for everyone who would repent of their sin and accept him.

Everyone seems to know that repentance means doing an about face—making a 180 degree turn in the direction one is traveling. It does! But let us look at what that entails. Repentance is a turning away from the kind of self-centeredness that leads to wrong actions such as lying, cheating, stealing, gossip, revenge, and all kinds of immorality. Repentance removes all rebellion from your way of life and the new direction is going in the way with God. Remember that you can not forgive or remove your sin, only God can do that. You simply recognize that you are a sinner and repent asking God to do the forgiving. The bible assures us that “He is faithful and just to forgive our sins.”

Now, let us look at the rest of the second verse in the third chapter. Why should they repent? “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.” The kingdom of heaven [or of God] began the moment that God entered human history as a man. Christ Came to establish his kingdom on earth and wants it to be as it is in heaven—pure, sinless, and holy. Today Christ reigns in the hearts of all believers, but the kingdom of heaven cannot be to his satisfaction until all sin has been judged and removed.

You may have thought of John the Baptist as a great preacher—he was, but he was one of the most unique PROPHETS that spoke of the coming Christ. You will remember that John met Jesus, face to face, in the same room while both were in the fetus stage of life. Though yet unborn, John recognized Jesus as the Son of God, and informed Martha, his mother, that the child Mary was carrying was indeed the new Messiah. [He leaped in her womb—maybe, kicked her in the stomach] This personal fore-knowledge only increased the tenacity with which John proclaimed the arrival of the Savior. John quoted Isaiah, whom I believe to be the greatest of the OT prophets. They both agreed that the need for repentance was good news to those who believed but terrible news to all who refused to listen and obey.

Matthew says in verse three that John was preparing the way for the coming of the Lord. This represents the task of each of us who know Christ—we too are to prepare the way; that is, we must help prepare the people we know and serve, to recognize Christ when they meet him…even of greater importance is that we prepare them to realize that they have a spiritual need that only he can fulfill. Lost man must first realize they are lost, admit it, and desire to become a member of his bride—the Church. We can also be successful in “making their pathway straight” by correcting misconceptions that may be hindering people from approaching Christ. Someone you know may be ready to accept Christ. Are you prepared and ready to show them the way? Can you help make their pathway straight?

As you read verses four through six you will note that John looked, lived and acted somewhat different from the ordinary man on the street. If for no other reason he might have done this to attract attention of the people he met. The bible teaches that the general public should be able to look at you and see a difference from the ordinary man on the street. If Christians do not act, react and associate with others in a Christian way, how can they otherwise be determined to be different? If John the Baptist would have submitted his résumé to our church—I have often wondered if our church would have called him to be pastor. I personally have a problem with the dress worn by some Christians at worship. Somehow, I keep thinking that we owe God our best and that is dress clothes and a tie if we have them. However, I truly believe that if one does not have a suit, God is well pleased with overalls if they are clean. It is the spirit on the inside that is important—however, what you see on the outside usually reflects what is within. [Just a side note: I personally observed the student’s respect for class room teachers decrease as a result of their de-grading dress and attire during the 1960’s.]

Read verses seven through twelve and you will see that pages could be written and hours spent in explaining the content of these verses. I believe that John fore-knew the problems that the Pharisees and Sadducees would cause our Savior leading finally to his crucifixion, and this must have stirred his fervor or passion against them and resulting in his calling them a brood of poisonous snakes. It is to John’s credit, that while his temper must be at its height, he admits that he is inferior to the coming Lord who wears sandals that he is not even worthy to unlatch or carry. [That act was the place of a slave…so he considered himself less than a slave as compared to the one he proclaimed.]

We often wonder how we are to tell when a messenger is truthful—how we are to know a Christian to be worthy. John uses an example that God has used all through his word and compares a person to a fruit tree. Good trees bear editable fruit; thorn trees bear stickers of pain—and we can know a tree by its fruit. John told these who came to hear him preach that God had sent his ax [Jesus his son] who had already aimed at the roots of the ones that were bearing evil fruit and they would be hewn down and destroyed.

John must have realized that some were enamored with him and his powerful preaching and he wanted to set them straight. He said that he was baptizing with water those who repented of their sin only to point them to the one who was more powerful and would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He assured them that Christ would come with his winnowing fork in his hand and would use it to cleanse the threshing floor. Do you believe in hell, a place of fire and destruction? Sorry, it doesn’t matter what you believe, that alters nothing. You and I are a part of the wheat that is on the floor and we are mixed in with the worthless chaff. On judgment day Christ will use his winnowing fork to separate the wheat from the chaff—the wheat will remain in his barn—the chaff will be destroyed with unquenchable fire. Folk are uncomfortable sitting under a preacher that makes this kind of strong assertion from the pulpit today. Jesus must have approved since he went to John to be baptized.

On one of these days, John had preached and some had accepted Christ and were submitting to baptism in the Jordon River. John looked up and saw Jesus approaching him asking that John baptize him in Jordon. John did not refuse, but was reluctant and tried to ‘deter’ him. It is easy to realize that John felt that it would be more appropriate for Christ to baptize him. Why did Christ seek to be baptized? He had never sinned; therefore he had no reason to repent. Christ said it was to “Fulfill all righteousness.” In his commission to the church later, he instructed that all who repented be baptized—not to save them but as a picture of their death-burial and resurrection from the sinful life. Baptism is a picture of your being in accord with what is just and moral. Christ was just and moral; however he wanted to show others what he expected of them. He set the example. He expects Christians to set the right example; not only in baptism but in every act of their Christian life. John consented and baptized Jesus that day. Why?

Christ saw this as a way to advance God’s mission for him—he was advancing God’s work on earth. No, he had no sin; however, he was confessing the sins of the nation as the prophets had done. He was baptized by John to show his approval of the message John was preaching. It is the belief of many that he was baptized to show the starting point of his earthly ministry. No doubt that there were many of the critical Pharisees gathered at the river to show their resistance to John’s preaching—and Christ approved and took part in his ministry and was baptized just to show them that they were wrong. Was this an important act on Christ’s part? It absolutely was. The last two verses in the chapter say that: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water…heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”’

In the first eleven verses of chapter four, Matthew explains how Jesus was immediately tempted by Satan who tried every trick of his trade to break the spirit of our Master. Withstanding thee temptations proved that Jesus was the Messiah…the Son of God. No one can show true obedience until they have been tempted to sin. Deuteronomy says God led Israel into the desert to humble and test them. You are, or you will be tested so just remember your convictions are only strong when they are able to hold out against the pressure that will come to bear. Satan tempted Eve in the garden and you know the sad story of the results. She succumbed and now sin abounds.

The temptation of Jesus shows us that he was human as well as God’s son. So we are human and this proves that a human can resist the devil. Resist him and he will flee from you. Remember that temptation in itself is not sin. Sin enters when we give in to temptation and disobey God. Think about it, Christ was not tempted while he was with John at the river, before or after his baptism, while he was with friends and supporters all around—but Satan waited until he was alone, hungry, thirsty and uncomfortable. He will attack us when we are most vulnerable; when we are in physical or emotional stress, when we are lonely or tired or weighted with some important decision or face with a crucial uncertainty.

We need to consider the crafty choices made by Satan to use in his seduction of Christ. It just so happens that these three areas of need are the most critical in our lives today. We are prone to give in to our physical needs. We are possessive to the point that we seek wealth and earthly processions, and there is an inward craving for power and recognition. The third area of human need is a deadly one when misused…human pride. These are the exact areas where Satan tried to overcome the will of Jesus to remain holy. Christ was hungry. So why didn’t he turn the stones into bread and eat. Jesus had power and recognition so Satan took him to a high point in the city, and told him that if he was really the Son of God he should jump off the wall and see if God would break his fall…prove that you can save your life after you jump. Finally Satan promised him the entire world if he would only worship him.

I have intentionally left out the answers that Christ gave to Satan’s questions…the reasons he gave for not following his suggestions, and this is for a special reason. I continually seek ways to get you [my class] and [now my readers] to be more diligent in your bible study. You must study to show thyself approved and able to rightly divide [explain] the word of God. Jesus was able to resist all of the devil’s temptations because he not only knew the scriptures {and he quoted scripture as his answers} but he also obeyed the scriptures. Ephesians 6:17 tells us that the scriptures are the weapons we need in spiritual combat. Read your bible first—then use commentaries to help you better understand and sometimes to broaden your understanding. Don’t just read your bible; study it!

PLEASE NOTE: God has blessed me with the ability to study his word and my greatest desire is that I can share with others what I have learned. These lessons are mailed to over one hundred people each week and that is great! However, I wish I could share them with thousands each week and I can with your help. I now have a blogspot…web site…that already has 18 lessons written in 2006, and all of the lessons written in 2007 and will continue to carry the current lesson each week. REQUEST: Tell others you know to go to the web page and study along with us. Ask them to let me know that they are receiving the word…Please! The address is: http://drjohnss.blogspot.com:80/ TELL OTHERS!

JUST THINK ABOUT IT! WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE GREAT COMMISSION AND ACTUALLY GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL.

YOU COULD BE THE ONE LINK THAT BRINGS SALVATION TO SOME PERSON TODAY! God has promised that HIS WORD will not return unto him void.