Two Baptisms “I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is My distress until it is accomplished.” Luke 12:50 -- What a glorious beginning that first Baptism was. He didn’t have to do it, of course. Jesus had no sins of which to repent, but he set the example for all of us, who do sin, from the beginning of our life to the end. Beginnings come with endings, and so it was for Jesus, the carpenter. After His Baptism Day, He would no longer be fixing broken tables and chairs, but broken people with broken hearts. Three years later, there came an ending that was also a beginning. Another baptism, but this time a baptism of “fire” unlike the Baptism of water. Not so glorious for the Son of God, who was also Son of Man, of flesh and blood. How He wanted it to be over, this ending filled with hate and blood and shame and blame for sins not His own. For the Giver of life to die that death! And He didn’t have to do it. To know it all ahead of time and still go through with it! It boggles the mind how stubbornly He chose to do His Father’s will and how faithfully He loved us, His own, to the end, which wasn’t the end but a new beginning for you and me and for the whole lost world. (Lord, fill us anew with the wonder of Your choices. Amen.) -- Matthew 3:13-17 English Standard Version (ESV) The Baptism of Jesus 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him,[a] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son,[b] with whom I am well pleased.” Footnotes: Matthew 3:16 Some manuscripts omit to him Matthew 3:17 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved .. Psalm 22:1-22 English Standard Version (ESV) Why Have You Forsaken Me? To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David. 22 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises[a] of Israel. 4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” 9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mothers breasts. 10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mothers womb you have been my God. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. 12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet[b]— 17 I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. 19 But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! 20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! 21 Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued[c] me from the horns of the wild oxen! 22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: Footnotes: Psalm 22:3 Or dwelling in the praises Psalm 22:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts like a lion [they are at] my hands and feet Psalm 22:21 Hebrew answered
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 12:20:41 +0000
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