This week’s Wednesday Word is a summary of Dr. Wellum’s exposition of Matthew 3-4 given on Sunday, February 22, 2009.
In Matt. 3-4 the reader is introduced to the ministry of Jesus. While both John the Baptist and Jesus proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near,” the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and his ministry is unmistakable in this passage.
After 400 years of prophetic silence, John, who is reminiscent of the prophets of old, comes preaching and baptizing in the wilderness. The quotation of Isa. 40 makes it clear that John is the forerunner of the Lord. John’s fiery message with apocalyptic overtones, while awesome, is a preparation for something greater. A key difference between John’s baptism and Christian baptism is that John’s baptism looked forward to something better. In this context, Jesus comes to be baptized by John. Recognizing that that which is greater has come, John refuses, but Jesus insists so that all things will be complete.
Many things in this text point to the uniqueness of Jesus. One instance is His baptism. While John breaks prophetic silence, when Jesus is baptized the heavens roll back, the Spirit descends, and God declares, “This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Another instance is His temptation. We can learn from Jesus response in temptation to trust God in obedience, but it must be admitted that He is tempted with things that only the Son of God could be tempted with. One more instance is the quotation of Isa. 9 associated with the beginning of Jesus preaching ministry. A comparison of Isa. 9 with Isa. 40, both of which we have already seen earlier in Handel’s Messiah, reveals the uniqueness of Jesus. This is not merely a forerunner of the Lord; now the message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near,” is being declared by the Lord.
After relating the calling of Jesus disciples, Matt. 4:23-25 describes the ministry of Jesus Christ in a summary fashion mentioning teaching and healing. Next week, we will look at Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom in Matt. 5-7. This week, let’s read through this passage, expectantly awaiting our study of it together next week. As those who have received a better baptism in Christ, let us seek to live in accordance with the teaching of this One who is utterly unique.