Bible Resources
Bible Resources
Notes on Matthew 3.13-17 The Baptism of Jesus 12 January 2014
- Details
- Parent Category: Bible Resources
- Category: Notes on the Gospel readings from Matthew
Notes on Matthew 3.13-17 The Baptism of Jesus 12 January 2014
Jesus and his family returned from Egypt and settled in Nazareth, in Galilee (2.23). John the Baptist ministered in the wilderness of Judea and baptised people in the Jordan river (3.1,6). Jesus then came from Galilee to the Jordan (about 120 km) to be baptised by John (3.13). After the baptism Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tested (4.1). After the testing in the wilderness, when he heard that John had been arrested, he returned to Galilee (4.12). This seems to be a special trip south and focusses our attention on the two big events that happened there.
The baptism and testing of Jesus come at the beginning of Jesus ministry. This helps us understand what happened at his baptism. We have been told already that John was calling on people to repent, to confess their sins and to be baptised (3.2,5). Jesus wants to be baptised as well. But John has told the crowds that Jesus will baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire (3.11). John doesn’t think Jesus should be baptised in water by John. Especially since John’s baptism is about repentance.
This is one of our problems with it too. Why would Jesus, who did not sin, want to be baptised? What sins would he have to repent of?
There are two important things in this passage.
First, Jesus says his baptism is to “fulfill all righteousness” (3.15). John has already begun the task of bring the people back into the righteous ways of the kingdom (3.2-3). But true righteousness will need more than repentance and baptism. It will need what baptism points to: a death to the sinful life and a resurrection to a new life. And it will need a sinless person to take the whole race to that death and resurrection. Jesus is showing, in advance, by way of an acted picture, what he will do to fully bring God’s people to the righteousness of the kingdom of God.
Second, the baptism is the occasion when the Holy Spirit comes on Jesus. This is also a puzzle. The voice from heaven says, “This is my Son…” But if he is the Son of God, why does he need the Holy Spirit to come on him? From one point of view he doesn’t. However from the point of view of being the Messiah, he does. This could be understood as the anointing of the Messiah (Messiah, and Christ mean “anointed”). The Spirit will be the one who leads and gives power to his ministry. Straight after this we are told that the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tested (4.1). In this case Father Son and Holy Spirit are all involved at the start of Jesus’ ministry. What he will do is being done together with Father and Holy Spirit.
Dale
1 Corinthians 14.20-40 When we meet together
- Details
- Parent Category: Bible Resources
- Category: 1 Corinthians
{podcast id=347}
1 Corinthians 14.20-40 When we meet together
Sermon preached at St Mark's Bassendean on Sunday 27 November 2016
Bible Readings: Isaiah 28.9-19; Psalm 117; 1 Cor 14.20-40; John 16.7-11
Psalm 37
- Details
- Parent Category: Bible Resources
- Category: Help from the Psalms
Psalm 37
do not be envious of wrongdoers, 2 for they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb. 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. 4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday. 7 Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices. 8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret-it leads only to evil. 9 For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land. 10 Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there. 11 But the meek shall inherit the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity. 12 The wicked plot against the righteous, and gnash their teeth at them; 13 but the LORD laughs at the wicked, for he sees that their day is coming. 14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to kill those who walk uprightly; 15 their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. 16 Better is a little that the righteous person has than the abundance of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. 18 The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will abide forever; 19 they are not put to shame in evil times, in the days of famine they have abundance. 20 But the wicked perish, and the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish-like smoke they vanish away. 21 The wicked borrow, and do not pay back, but the righteous are generous and keep giving; 22 for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off. 23 Our steps are made firm by the LORD, when he delights in our way; 24 though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the LORD holds us by the hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. 26 They are ever giving liberally and lending, and their children become a blessing. 27 Depart from evil, and do good; so you shall abide forever. 28 For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his faithful ones. The righteous shall be kept safe forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever. 30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak justice. 31 The law of their God is in their hearts; their steps do not slip. 32 The wicked watch for the righteous, and seek to kill them. 33 The LORD will not abandon them to their power, or let them be condemned when they are brought to trial. 34 Wait for the LORD, and keep to his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on the destruction of the wicked. 35 I have seen the wicked oppressing, and towering like a cedar of Lebanon. 36 Again I passed by, and they were no more; though I sought them, they could not be found. 37 Mark the blameless, and behold the upright, for there is posterity for the peaceable. 38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off. 39 The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their refuge in the time of trouble. 40 The LORD helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in him. The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized Edition), copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. |
Singing the Blues?
Thoughts on Psalm 37
Pressure, stress, trouble, difficulty. People against us, circumstances that seem too difficult, hard times that seem to go on forever. It’s enough to make someone give up, or join the opposition.
Friends who encourage us are a great help in such circumstances. But sometimes people try to encourage us with words that don’t mean anything, or ideas that are nonsense. It is nice that they care, but the help is a bit thin and doesn’t actually sustain us in the troubles.
Sometimes a song cheers us up. Maybe because of the tune – like the blues. But good words might also help.
David wrote a really good song about this. You could call it a song of encouragement. Psalm 37 is a strange psalm in many ways. For one thing it is an acrostic – an alphabet psalm – in which each stanza begins with the next letter of the alphabet (the most famous is Ps 119).
And it does not have any praise to God in it. In fact it is not even addressed to God. It sounds like something from the book of Proverbs. The Psalm has David’s name on it, who presumably composed it in one of those periods when he was thinking about how pressured he was by his enemies.
Some of it reads like a review of the life of bad people. David’s view is that they don’t last and they don’t prosper in the end. He says this so that he and his friends won’t be tricked into taking the short term advantage of joining them or acting like them.
David’s song (I wonder what kind of a tune it had?) is full of encouragement to believers. Don’t fret. Trust in the Lord and do good. Delight yourself in the Lord. Commit your way to the Lord and trust in him. Wait patiently for him. Don’t get angry.
David says that he has never seen the righteous forsaken by the Lord. Because the Lord is the one who will make sure they inherit the earth. He is our stronghold. He rescues us because we take refuge in him.
It is a simple choice, but for some the pressure is there every day to make the wrong choice. The Lord watches over those who trust in him. So keep trusting him.
Jan 23, 2005
Ruth Reading Guide
- Details
- Parent Category: Bible Resources
- Category: Reading Guides to Bible Books
Reading Guide to Ruth
You may like to use this guide to help you read the book of Ruth.
1. Read through the book in one sitting first.
2. Then read it again and look for:
-
The repeated pattern of leaving and coming back.
-
The names at the beginning and the end that frame the story
-
The main turning points in the story
3. The story
-
Who is this story mainly about?
-
Do you think the genealogy at the end spoils it or makes it a better story?
-
Is this a love story?
-
What is significant about the only occurrence of the word “love”?
-
Notice the occurrences of the word “kindness”.
-
Do you think this story could have been included in the stories of the Judges?
-
Does the story have a main idea or theme?
4. Naomi:
-
What are Naomi’s expectations about returning to Bethlehem?
-
Is Naomi too self-focused?
-
Is she grateful to Ruth?
5. Ruth
-
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Ruth as a foreigner?
-
Ruth is a Moabitess – what about Deut 23.3-6 and Neh 13.1,23?
-
Did Ruth lose the baby in the end?
6. Boaz
-
What is a kinsman-redeemer? See Lev 25.25-28; Num 35.6-28; Is 54.5-8; 62.11-12
-
Why does Boaz think Ruth is doing him a kindness?
7. The Law
-
Ruth was traditionally read at the Feast of Weeks (The Barley Harvest: Deut 16.9) to celebrate the giving of the Law. But it seems to undermine the law. How do Neh 13.1,23 and Mic 6.8 help resolve this?
8. Us
-
Why does Ruth get a mention in Matthew’s genealogy (Matt 1)? What other mothers are mentioned in Matthew’s list?
-
What passages in the New Testament are connected with the main themes of Ruth?
Jesus at work Advent Epiphany Studies 2011-12
- Details
- Parent Category: Bible Resources
- Category: Studies for Groups and Individuals
Jesus at work
Advent and Epiphany Studies in Luke’s Gospel
November to January 2011-12
Our aim is to see how Jesus interacts with people in their work environment (and some in the ordinary course of their life), to
| "Jesus at Work" is available as a downloadable pdf file, ready to be printed as a small booklet. Click here to view, right click to save to your computer |
see how Luke tells the stories and what God might have to say to us in our situations
Week ending
20 November The expert who didn't know everything
Christ King Luke 5.1-11
27 November The soldier who knew enough
Advent Luke 7.1-10
4 December The woman who said nothing
Advent 2 Luke 7.36-50
11 December The sister who didn't do housework
Advent 3 Luke 10.38-42