Baptism

Can you believe it is only one month (31 days) before Easter?  Time goes by so quickly.  Between now and Easter Sunday, I'd like to look at the book of Matthew.  Specifically, I want to look at the ministry of Jesus leading up to his persecution, crucifixion, death, and resurrection.  We're going to start with the baptism of Jesus by John at the river Jordan.


John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness in Judea telling his followers that they needed to “repent”.  He wasn’t talking to merely feel sorry for their sins, but to change directions, to turn away from them.  He was also preaching a message that the “Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”  The main message being that the Messiah is coming.  Charles Spurgeon said “Men’s hearts were like a wilderness, wherein there is no way; but as loyal subjects throw up roads for the approach of beloved princes, so were men to welcome the Lord, with their hearts made right and ready to receive him.”  We, too, need to prepare our hearts, to make our paths straight for the coming of the Messiah. 

Many were being baptized by John.  John would completely immerse those he baptized.  As John was baptizing those in Judea, Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized. 

Matthew 3:13-17 says,

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.  14 John tried to prevent him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?"  15 Jesus said to him in reply, "Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."  Then he allowed him.  16 After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him.  17 And a voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

We often ask ourselves, why would Jesus need to be baptized.  Isn't He the Messiah?  If He never sinned, why would he need to be baptized?  John was even hesitant to baptize Jesus.  John recognized that Jesus was without sin and had no reason to repent.  But, Jesus wanted to be baptized to "fulfill righteousness".  He knew that this was part of the fulfillment of God's plan. 

There were three things that happened at the moment that Jesus came up out of the water:  the heavens opened up, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father's voice was heard from heaven.  Jesus' baptism became the anointing of Jesus as the Messiah.  

As believers, we too, must submit ourselves to baptism.  For a long time, I struggled with baptism.  I am of a firm belief that baptism is not what brings about your relationship with Christ, nor does it guarantee our entrance into heaven.  Our salvation does not rest on baptism, it our hearts and attitudes of submission, as well as repentance that brings about salvation.  Baptism is an outward symbol to others that you've submitted your life to Christ.  It's obedience to the will of the Father.

If you, like I did myself, are struggling with baptism, go ahead and do it.  You will not regret it.   

Submission and Beauty

I'm a wife.  Sometimes I have problems with the word "submit" or "obey".  I like being in control.  I don't like being told what to do.  I'm pretty sure if you are a woman and you are reading this you feel the exact same way, especially when it comes to your husband.  But, let me ask you this:  Do you allow your husband to be the head of the household?  If you want to know what Peter tells us in this next chapter, read on!

"Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,  when they see your respectful and pure conduct." ~1 Peter 3:1-2

Peter gives us clear instructions on how to behave toward our husbands.  It may not be what the world says we should do, but it is how God wants us to behave.  The women that Peter was talking to were wives of men who were not saved.  So, with that in mind, this was for evangelistic purposes.  He was telling these women that their behavior, being will to be submissive to their husbands, would be and influence to their husbands.  Being submissive didn't mean taking abuse.  It meant having a servant's heart.  See that in verse 2, he says we should be "respectful' and have "pure conduct".  We are to be an example.  This verse gives me hope.  Look at it.  If we are respectful and pure in conduct, we could lead someone to Christ without ever saying a word.  Isn't that great news?

Another thing in 1 Peter 3 I would like to point out is how Peter describes the beauty of a woman.  

"Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear-but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." ~1 Peter 3:3-4

Let me ask a few questions.  How much time do you spend in front of the mirror each morning?  How much time do you spend fixing your hair?  Do you buy a lot of makeup?  Do you go every couple of weeks for a mani/pedi?  Do you buy a lot of beauty products and then spend a lot of time using them?  What about your clothing?  Do you choose your clothing just to get the attention of a man (even your husband)?

My point in these questions is this:  Do you spend more time getting beautified than you do with Jesus?  Your outward appearance should not be your chief concern.  Rather, Peter points out that what is most important is the "gentle and quiet spirit".  The outer appearance does very little to win the world to Christ.