Jesus Grew Up

 

    Jesus grew up like all children.  He was God in the flesh, but he still had to go from a baby to a young man in a human body.  Not a lot is known of his years until His ministry had began.  I think that the family kept who he was to themselves the best they could for the safety of everyone.  It is known that his own brothers did not believe until after the resurrection, then only some.  It would have brought too much attention to the boy before he was ready.  

    When Jesus was about 30, he was a grown man and it was time to be know.  He did everything in a particular time and place for a reason.  Even the people Jesus included had purpose and reason.  The first person mentioned in Jesus' adult life is John the Baptist, his cousin.  John had to fulfill some prophecies before Jesus could begin His ministry.

    John preached in the Desert of Judea about repentance.  He was preparing the way for Jesus.  He wore camel hair cloths with a leather belt.  He ate locust and honey.  His life was extreme and very uncomfortable, but it fulfilled prophecies. I don't know if he knew what would eventually happen to him, but he was always faithful.  It was his faith that attracted others to him.  

    People would confess their sins and he would baptize them in water in the Jordan River.  John's baptism was a metaphor to wash away impurities.  He was a bold and brave man.  He called out the Pharisees and Sadducees as vipers because they were more concerned with appearances than souls.  He used their failing to reach people about how to produce spiritual fruit through repentance.  If a tree does not produce, then it will be cut down and burned away to make room for healthy growth elsewhere.  

    John baptized in repentance.  When Jesus came to him to be baptized, it changed everything.  He Baptized Jesus and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus and God spoke.  Everything that happened between Jesus and John that day had a point, including John the mention of Jesus's sandals.  It displayed humility.  Jesus' baptism was an inner transformation.  The time of growth and holding back was over.

    When Jesus baptized, the metaphor disappeared.  It was a true spiritual cleansing that only needs to happen once (after Salvation).  Jesus's baptism had power of the Holy Spirit and fire.  God's words came from Psalms 2:7 & Isaiah 42:1.  We can still be empowered at baptism.  We just need to have faith and embrace it.

        

Matthew 3