Tuesday, Dec 30- Matthew 3:13-17

13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
-Interesting that Jesus comes to be baptized. He doesn't really need to be cause he has no need to repent.

14But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
-John realizes this fact and knows that Jesus doesn't need a baptism.

15Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
-John was totally unwilling to do this until Jesus said this.
-I guess one reason this would be good to do would be to authenticate John's ministry.
-On the flip side, John authenticates Jesus' ministry as well.
-Jesus also does this as an example to us as something that is important for righteousness.

16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
-An amazing thing happens as Jesus is baptized. This whole scene of approval goes on.
-Kind of makes you wonder if a similar thing happens as we are baptized. It would be kind of cool to be able to see with spiritual eyes when true believers are baptized.

17And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
-God states three things. Who Jesus is. His relation to God. And his status before him.
-The first two seem to be pretty unconditional if you accept God as savior. The third is sort of up to us.
-Guess that means we need to realize that the first two conditions are true and strive desperately for the third.

-Throughout this whole scene as John serves Jesus, God blesses John for it as he gets to see this amazing thing happen. We need to trust that God's ways are higher than ours even tho John was probably right in saying that he was unworthy to do this deed.