For now we are skipping Chapter 2 of Matthew’s account. (Don’t worry we’ll come back to it in December). About 30 years pass between Chapter 2 and Chapter 3. During that time Jesus lived with his family in the town of Nazareth and worked as a carpenter.
Remember as you read this chapter that Matthew’s purpose is to prove to his Jewish readers that Jesus is the promised King. He did that in chapter one by showing Jesus’ genealogy – linking him to Abraham, the Patriarch, and David, the King. In chapter two he shows that Jesus is divine through the virgin birth. Now Matthew is showing us that Old Testament prophecies about a “forerunner” to Jesus are being fulfilled through John the Baptist.
Chapter 3 begins
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
"A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' "
John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
John the Baptist certainly is an interesting dude. I wonder how people today would react to a wild looking man, living (sans van) down by the river, eating bugs and honey? Imagine if on top of that he try to tell the people of Cincinnati “turn your life around, it’s time for God to rule.” We’d likely have him committed.
But we know that people came from the entire region to see John the Baptist. Some were surely drawn out of curiosity – sort of the sideshow effect. Some were drawn because as a nation, Israel hadn’t heard the voice of a prophet in over 400 years. Some were drawn for other reasons, I’m sure, but whatever the reason the result is fascinating – a great movement where 100’s of people turn their lives over to God.
I’ve thought a lot in recent weeks about how unique John the Baptist was. He lived a harsh existence even by the standards of his day – simple clothes, simple food – the food available to the poor. We see no sign of worry to provide for himself. He planted no crops. He kept no animals. He’s described as “wild looking.” He had a hard message to deliver, but he did it without concern for how delivering it would impact his life (it eventually cost him his head).
But John wasn’t unique for the sake of being unique. John was unique because he was obedient.
Before he was born an angel told his father that he would live a unique life – as one “set apart.” And he certainly did. We also learn from Luke’s account that he was living in the desert before he got his call to begin preaching this message. It shows us that in obedience he was putting himself in a position of readiness and waiting on God.
Most of us aren’t going to be called to be wild-looking bug eaters living down by the river. But what we can learn from John is that obedience sometimes makes our lives look different. It makes me wonder what God could do in your life (and mine) if we placed ourselves in positions of readiness and waiting for God. And if when we got promptings from God we acted on them with obedience, what kind of movement would result? It’s worth considering.
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
"A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' "
John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
John the Baptist certainly is an interesting dude. I wonder how people today would react to a wild looking man, living (sans van) down by the river, eating bugs and honey? Imagine if on top of that he try to tell the people of Cincinnati “turn your life around, it’s time for God to rule.” We’d likely have him committed.
But we know that people came from the entire region to see John the Baptist. Some were surely drawn out of curiosity – sort of the sideshow effect. Some were drawn because as a nation, Israel hadn’t heard the voice of a prophet in over 400 years. Some were drawn for other reasons, I’m sure, but whatever the reason the result is fascinating – a great movement where 100’s of people turn their lives over to God.
I’ve thought a lot in recent weeks about how unique John the Baptist was. He lived a harsh existence even by the standards of his day – simple clothes, simple food – the food available to the poor. We see no sign of worry to provide for himself. He planted no crops. He kept no animals. He’s described as “wild looking.” He had a hard message to deliver, but he did it without concern for how delivering it would impact his life (it eventually cost him his head).
But John wasn’t unique for the sake of being unique. John was unique because he was obedient.
Before he was born an angel told his father that he would live a unique life – as one “set apart.” And he certainly did. We also learn from Luke’s account that he was living in the desert before he got his call to begin preaching this message. It shows us that in obedience he was putting himself in a position of readiness and waiting on God.
Most of us aren’t going to be called to be wild-looking bug eaters living down by the river. But what we can learn from John is that obedience sometimes makes our lives look different. It makes me wonder what God could do in your life (and mine) if we placed ourselves in positions of readiness and waiting for God. And if when we got promptings from God we acted on them with obedience, what kind of movement would result? It’s worth considering.
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