Jesus began His earthly ministry by being baptized. He did not need to do this from the standpoint that John was baptizing people who were repenting of their sins. Jesus had no sin to repent. But He was baptized anyway, “to fufill all righteousness.” He was beginning His ministry in the same way that He finished it at the cross, by submitting His will to His Father’s.
His Father, who loved Him, affirmed Jesus by sending the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove and openly declaring His pleasure in His Son. This is the love that was to sustain Jesus in the next 40 days as He fasted in the wilderness. This is the love that enabled Jesus to suffer and die for our sin…so that we might know the same love.
The Father loves all of His adopted children with the same love that He does His only begotten Son! It the power of His wonderful love that changes us, that draws us into Him and satisfies our souls. He created us to be loved by Him. In return, we are compelled to love Him back and live our lives in holiness. All we have to do is follow Jesus’ example of submitting our will to the Father’s. The first time we do this we receive the forgiveness of our sin and life eternal. After that, daily submission as we journey in this amazing relationship experiencing the love of God.
“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” 1 John 4:15-16 (ESV)
1 comment:
Shane,
In your post I read words that remind me of the obedience that grace inspires. How the unconditional acceptance and love of Christ bonds our hearts to His, which sprouts in a love that seeks to love Him and honor the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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