Ordination

Matthew 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Jesus arrives.

This is always fully satisfying to those who are seeking Him, and most puzzling to those who are not.

It is interesting to compare God’s ratification of John the Baptist’s ministry of water-baptism for repentance with the way it was viewed by the Sadducees and Pharisees.

Here we have two parties that would consider themselves in no need of repentance.

The Sadducees and Pharisees consider themselves in no need of repentance because they study the law, are aware of its importance, and consider themselves the keepers of it. (Even if they have not performed the law individually, collectively they would consider themselves as “worthy” simply because of their association with it.) They are, simply put, “the Lawmen” of their time. In other words, they ARE the Law. Based upon this self-assessment of their righteous standing, submitting to a baptism of repentance would be humiliating and unnecessary. In fact, it could undermine their standing with the common people.

Jesus, on the other hand, is literally without sin. He has been born of Divine conception apart from sin and has never committed sin. He alone, literally, is in no need of a baptism of repentance. He is the ONLY man Who ever lived Who has no need for repentance. And – just as in the case of the Sadducees and Pharisees – being baptized for repentance could stand to undermine Jesus’ position with the people.

Why then, would Jesus submit to baptism, (since He has no need of repentance,) while the Sadducees and Pharisees would refuse baptism while in great need of repentance?

The answer is the difference between the Divine Nature and the human nature. The Divine Nature does not care about appearance – while appearance is the chief concern of human nature.

Now, careful observers will note what actually takes place in the baptism of Jesus by John: It is a baptism of ordination - which takes place in the same setting where baptisms of repentance are taking place. God is never concerned; it seems, with ‘appearances.’

Jesus, at 30 years of age, is presently presenting Himself for ordination into the Priesthood. (He IS our High Priest.) A descending dove and God’s Voice of affirmation from a suddenly-opened heaven prove as much. Let Jesus’ ministry life begin…by the authority of God. Would God’s literal appearing overcome ‘appearances?’

-Pastor Bill

Sprinkled, or Dunked?

Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.' " 4 And John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

There’s been a long-running ‘controversy’ in the church, (although controversy may be too strong a word,) about whether one who is baptized is to be ‘sprinkled,’ or ‘dunked.’

I would challenge you to find any evidence anywhere in the Bible for sprinkling as any kind of method employed for baptism.

You won’t find it.

The reason is because of what baptism symbolizes: All in.

When I present myself for baptism it means I am ‘all in’ for Christ. The last thing I want to demonstrate is that I am only going to stick my pinky-toe in the water.

Unfortunately, this is exactly how many - and maybe even most - approach their relationship with Jesus Christ. They desire to ease into a relationship the way they might put on a pair socks.

This story, first with John the Baptist, and then with Jesus, demonstrates what God has in mind for baptism and for relationship with Christ. Jump all the way in. Just a little bit off the top will not do the job.

Baptism is the demonstration of a transformed life, not a slightly altered look. Repentance is a not a part-way deal, it is total surrender. To make the point abundantly clear Jesus Himself was baptized, dunked, submerged, to demonstrate He was all-in for us, if only we would be all-in for Him.

-Pastor Bill

The Call of Fatherhood

Matthew 2:13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."

…19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead." 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.

…22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

Joseph, (who was not Jesus’ biological father,) demonstrates the role of fatherhood as clearly as any man in the Bible.

Right away we see there is no distinction to be made between an adoptive father and a biological father – and that all fathers are, in a sense, ‘adoptive fathers.’ (We are all fathering on behalf of God - and that should really speak to us about the importance of our roles with our sons and daughters.) God is the True Father, and we are ‘adopting’ His children on His behalf. The gift of a child is a gift from God. Joseph is the clearest example of a man measuring up to God’s Word, even under the most trying circumstances.

Joseph was a man of great faith. When the angel spoke the Word of God, he not only willingly listened, he willingly did – immediately. Of all the examples Joseph set for us, this is probably the greatest one: He was immediately obedient to God’s Word. In this family, it was Joseph’s immediate obedience to God’s instruction on several occasions which saved the life of his child, Jesus.

I am absolutely convinced this is why Joseph was selected by God to be the adoptive father of His Only Begotten Son. God knew Joseph could be trusted with IMMEDIATE obedience, and immediate obedience would be absolutely required for Jesus to survive His earliest, most vulnerable years, when his earthly father and mother would be most-needed for His protection.

Many, and perhaps all of us on some points, get around to obeying God, but only after careful deliberation, and only after some twists and turns of life which more or less force the issue. Many of us are either clearly disobedient to the Word of God, or only partially obedient, (which IS disobedience.)

Dad, have you ever measured your response-time to God’s Word? It could be costing the life of your child, and you may be completely unaware.

The call to fatherhood is the call to immediate obedience to God’s Word.

-Pastor Bill

Arranged Marriage

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

One of the customs of the ancient world that has not been carried forth into the modern age, (with some exceptions,) is the custom of ‘arranged marriage.’

An ‘arranged marriage’ is a marriage which has been arranged by the parents of the bride and the parents of the groom. In the ancient world, it was thought parents knew best whom their son or daughter should marry. Go figure.

In most places, and certainly in Israel, (which is the culture being discussed here,) an arranged marriage would take place only after a contract designed to assure neither party would back out of the marriage had been agreed to by the parents of the bride and the groom.

A price would be negotiated by the groom’s family in payment for the bride, and the bride would agree to bring a dowry into the marriage for part of her support. Thus the marriage being entered into would cost both sets of parents something. (That tradition has been passed down to us today in that it is customary for both sets of parents to participate in providing for the cost of the marriage ceremony. Typically the groom’s family provides the cost of the rehearsal dinner, and the bride’s family provides the cost of the wedding. This has been passed down to us from the ancient custom of arranged marriage. Ever notice how everyone goes along with this design without challenging the custom?)

For Joseph and Mary, the arranged marriage process had already been entered into. We do not have any of the particulars of what their arrangement may have been, but we do read in our Bibles that they were “betrothed.” To be ‘betrothed’ essentially means the same thing as our modern ‘engagement’ - but it also carries the weight of a marriage contract, (the price having been paid for the bride by the groom’s parents, and an agreement by the bride’s parents to provide some sort of dowry.)

Oh, and one more thing…on her wedding night, the bride would have to provide proof her virginity. Failure to provide proof of virginity could result in the death of the bride should she be charged with adultery, but certainly she would be ostracized by everyone who knew her. A divorce could take place immediately, and the bride price would have to be refunded – to the great shame of the bride’s parents. Failure to prove virginity was a big deal.

Now imagine Joseph’s embarrassment, shame, and dilemma upon learning Mary was pregnant…

-Pastor Bill