Time for turning
Matthew Chapters 3 – 4
One verse is used twice in today’s reading: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
In 3:2 it’s attributed to John, but in 4:17 it’s Jesus who speaks the same words. Both times it’s the essence of the message they are preaching.
Elsewhere we’ll see a distinction between their messages that says John came with a baptism of repentance, and Jesus with a baptism of the Holy Spirit, but it’s important to also emphasize the continuity of their message: both preached of the need to repent.
Often when we speak of repentance we focus on the feelings involved—sorrow and grief for things we have done wrong. But if we shift the focus a bit we see that repentance involves action, not just feelings. It is a change from one direction to another.
This begins to explain why Jesus himself was baptized by John. He had done nothing wrong and had nothing to regret, but the baptism was a major change in the course of his life. The Jesus who came up out of the water was a very different Jesus than the one who had gone into the water.
We have scant evidence about the early part of Jesus’s adult life, but the little we have suggests he was faithful and studied God’s word to an unusual degree, but there’s nothing to suggest he lived out the supernatural part of his nature before the baptism. It was a radical turning from one path to another.
The brief accounts Matthew has of the call of two pairs of brothers—Simon Peter and Andrew, and James and John—also show a radical shift in the path of their respective lives. Their identities changed from obscure fishermen to Christ-followers who would each take an active role in re-shaping the world.
Tuesday meditation
Proverbs 25:11-14
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given. Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master.
Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given.
Prayer focus
Lord, turn me around!
-Rev. Mark Fleming