Pastor Leslyn Musch
Lighthouse Regional Church
Matthew 3:13-14 13Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”
John had a good question, one you may have as well. Why did Jesus need to be baptized? John was baptizing people who wanted to repent, turn away from their sin and turn toward God. Jesus was (and is) God, he lived a sinless life and so we know it was not for repentance. Philippians 2 and Hebrews 2 give us some answers to our question and it is really good news!
From the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry to the very end, he was all about identifying with you and me in every way as our Savior. Though he was God, he emptied himself and became human, just like us. He came to be a servant, to humble himself even to the point of death on a cross for sin that he did not commit—our sin. If that wasn’t enough, he was tempted in every way that you and I are, but didn’t sin so that he could give his perfect life in place of ours.
The waters of baptism represent the movement from death, caused by sin, to eternal life. Jesus was all in; he held nothing back on our behalf. His life and ministry was marked by humility and submission seen here by identifying completely with us in baptism. He did not stop there; he gave the last full measure of devotion for us. Jesus not only identified with us but actually died for us on a cross to give us eternal life.
Jesus baptism, like his life and ministry, was motivated by love. Love for you. If you have not yet given your life to Jesus and you want this life he has made freely available to you, then you can do it now. Talk to him like you would a friend. Tell him that you want to follow him, to live for him and have the sin in your life removed completely.
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for your death on the cross that gives me life today and for eternity. Forgive me completely. I want to follow you. I want to give my whole life to you (either for the first time or in a fresh way today). You gave all of yourself for me and I give all of myself to you. Amen
I love, “Jesus was all in; he held nothing back on our behalf.” I am all in too, well sometimes, when I think about it, when I am not all in somewhere else, when I am not too busy with what “I” am doing. Its not that I am holding anything back any particular day, its just I have given it away somewhere else. Can I then even say, “I want to follow you?” I can say, forgive me completely, today I want to want to follow you, I want to want to give myself wholly to you in a fresh way. Thank you for loving me all in, even when I am scattered all over. Thanks Leslyn for a fresh invitation.
It’s interesting that even the individuals appointed by God, people we would consider to be under the Holy Spirit’s influence, still try to restrain Jesus from not doing what He must (Matt 3:14). It’s not only being “all in”, but also being ready to do what we are called to do. Lord, protect us from our own thoughts, and
magnify our ears for Yours!
“… he held nothing back on our behalf.” A good reminder that all we see in Jesus, all his action – all his obedience .. is for our salvation. It’s humbling and wonderful. Thank you Leslyn!
“All to Jesus I Surrender” is an everyday opportunity for us even though we did it the first time to become His child. I thank Him for his never ending love, forgiveness, encouragement. . . . .