Have you ever “tebowed”?
Brief background
•Βαπτιζο (baptizo)- is the Greek word that is translated “Baptize” in English. To baptize means to totally immerse something under water. The word βαπτιζο was used by ancient Greek writers to describe ships that had sunk under the sea as well- this helps convey the idea of one’s sins “dying” by the flood when they become baptized.
Matthew 3:13-17
Here is the turning point in Jesus’ earthly ministry: he is 30 years old and in order to ordain his public ministry he visits John the Baptist to be baptized. When Jesus says he is “fulfilling all righteousness” it means he is submitting to the Father’s plan for his life- most importantly where the Messiah would be the suffering servant of Israel (Isaiah 53).
Identification
•Jesus was identifying with those he would save by taking John’s baptism of repentance because WE all need to repent where as HE did not. Immediately after the water baptism Jesus rises and the Father speaks. This event with the dove was not what made Jesus the Son of God, but was instead the event that ordained Jesus in his Messiah role.
Matthew 4:1-11 & Luke 4:1-13
Purposes
•First off, did anyone notice the difference in the two passages? They run in a different order, but it is okay because each writer had a different purpose for recording the story the way they did. Matthew presented the story in chronological order whereas Luke changed the order to fulfill a purpose. It comes down to Matthew writing “then” and Luke using “and”. Luke wanted to compare Christ’s temptations to those of Adam in the Garden.
Flesh, eyes, possessions
•“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.” (I John 2:16 ESV)
I John 2:16: Desires of the flesh
Adam in Genesis 3:6: Good for food
Jesus in Luke 4: Command stones into food
I John 2:16: Desires of the eyes
Adam in Genesis 3:6: Delight to the eyes
Jesus in Luke 4: Desired to make one wise
I John 2:16: Pride in Possessions
Adam in Genesis 3:6: Desired to make one wise
Jesus in Luke 4: Taking gifts for granted
I John 2:16: Desires of the flesh
Adam in Genesis 3:6: Good for food
Jesus in Luke 4: Command stones into food
I John 2:16: Desires of the eyes
Adam in Genesis 3:6: Delight to the eyes
Jesus in Luke 4: Desired to make one wise
I John 2:16: Pride in Possessions
Adam in Genesis 3:6: Desired to make one wise
Jesus in Luke 4: Taking gifts for granted
Wrapping it up
Jesus is in the wilderness (John the Baptist lived in the wilderness, as did the Israelis after leaving Egypt) and the 40 days of Jesus are symbolic of the 40 years of the Israelis in the wilderness. Mark 1:12-13 add to this story with details not in the other two accounts.
•I Corinthians 10:13-"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (ESV) is a very comforting verse when dealing with temptation but it brings up the point that temptation is universal among all men.
•I Corinthians 10:13-"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (ESV) is a very comforting verse when dealing with temptation but it brings up the point that temptation is universal among all men.