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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise John the Baptist said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” I praise you today for the sacrifice of your Son. He was pierced for my transgressions, he was crushed for my iniquities, and by his wounds I am healed. All glory and honor to the Lamb of God, who has taken away my sin! Praise the Lord! Today in Your Word Today you told me about the baptism of Jesus, his temptation in the wilderness, and the first sign that he performed in Cana. I was struck by the fact that Jesus “came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him” (Matt 3:13). This means that the Spirit led Jesus to be baptized, and there are several reasons why you wanted him to do this: (a) it allowed John to fulfill his role as the Messiah’s herald (Isa 40:3–5), (b) it allowed Jesus to publicly identify with the outward sign of the inward work that he would soon accomplish, (c) it allowed Jesus to endorse John’s baptism, bearing witness to it, that it was from you, (d) it provided the setting for you to announce the beginning of your Son’s ministry as the Suffering Servant (Luke 3:22–23) and for the Spirit to empower Jesus to fulfill his Messianic mission (Luke 4:1). Before Jesus began to preach, you tested him and Satan tempted him. If you tested your own Son and allowed him to be tempted, I can expect no less. Even Jesus “learned obedience through what he suffered” (Heb 5:8), for as the God-man, he had a human nature which could resist the leadership of the Spirit (his body wanted to eat when the Spirit was leading him to fast). Jesus’ ordeal in the wilderness teaches me several lessons about temptation: (a) it often comes after a time of spiritual victory or renewal (Mark 1:11–12), (b) it strikes when I am weak and is aimed at my weaknesses (Matt 4:2–3), (c) it offers a sinful way to accomplish righteous ends (Matt 4:6), (d) it often contains a grain of truth that has been twisted in order to deceive me (Matt 4:6), and (e) it should always be resisted with the truth of your Word (Matt 4:7). Jesus returned to the Jordan after his temptation, and he invited the first of the disciples to follow him. This reminds me that discipleship is all about following Jesus. He is my master, and his invitation, “Come, and you will see,” is an invitation to witness his power, learn his doctrine, model his way of living, and become like him in my thoughts, attitudes, and actions. At Cana, Jesus performed the “first of his signs” and he “manifested his glory” (John 2:11). He did this through the power of the Holy Spirit, and his intention was for his disciples to believe in him. John wrote this sign down so that I too can believe, and that by believing, I might have life in his name (John 20:31). Reflection When Jesus was tempted, he was able to counter each temptation with Scripture. He could do this because he had memorized your Word and meditated on its truth. Am I engrafting Scripture into my heart and mind? Am I resisting each temptation through the power of your Word? Request Father, give me grace to stand firm against the fiery darts of the enemy. Encourage me to memorize your Word, and help me use the truth to counter the temptations of the Devil (cf. Eph 6:10–18). Thanksgiving Thank you for the example of Christ, who shows me how to be an overcomer through the power of your Holy Spirit! I can be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “Now Satan Comes with Dreadful Roar” — Isaac Watts. Meditation Verse: John 1:34. |