Matthew 3:1-17 1 While Jesus was living in the Galilean hills, John, called the Baptizer, was preaching in the desert country of Judea. 2 His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: Change your life. Gods kingdom is here. 3 John and his message were authorized by Isaiahs prophecy: Thunder in the desert! Prepare for Gods arrival! Make the road smooth and straight! 4 John dressed in a camel-hair habit tied at the waist by a leather strap. He lived on a diet of locusts and wild field honey. 5 People poured out of Jerusalem, Judea, and the Jordanian countryside to hear and see him in action. 6 There at the Jordan River those who came to confess their sins were baptized into a changed life. 7 When John realized that a lot of Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: Brood of snakes! What do you think youre doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? 8 Its your life that must change, not your skin! 9 And dont think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. 10 What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if its deadwood, it goes on the fire. 11 Im baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama - compared to him Im a mere stagehand - will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. 12 Hes going to clean house - make a clean sweep of your lives. Hell place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false hell put out with the trash to be burned. 13 Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him. 14 John objected, Im the one who needs to be baptized, not you! 15 But Jesus insisted. Do it. Gods work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism. So John did it. 16 The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw Gods Spirit - it looked like a dove - descending and landing on him. 17 And along with the Spirit, a voice: This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Feb 2014 12:00:44 +0000
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