Friday July 5 2019 - JESUS’ BAPTISM

Day 186 - (Today’s Bible readings: 1 Kings 21:25-22:12; Psalm 5; Matthew 3 )

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”  (Matthew 3:13-17 ESV)

WHY WAS JESUS BAPTIZED?

• Clearly not for the same reason other people were being baptized by John. 

• Christ had no sins to confess - Jesus never sinned.

• Jesus said it was "to fulfill all righteousness." 

• Jesus was willing to set the right example by doing the Father's will.

• This impresses on us the importance of Baptism.

• This helps us to take Peter’s encouragement to heart: 
        “Baptism... now saves you.” (1 Peter 3:21)

• Finally, we remember what Jesus Himself had to say about out Baptism:
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,
         but, whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

Lord Jesus, thank You for teaching me about the importance of Baptism by means of Your Baptism. Thank You for my Baptism. Please keep my baptismal faith strong as I trust in You and follow You for the rest of my life. Amen.

Pastor David Paape 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings  
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!