The Trinity & Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 4:13-17)
Last week we looked at the Nature of God – how God is loving, merciful and holy; how He is righteous, He is Shepherd and Bread of Life, the Resurrection and the Life, the Way, The Truth and The Life! We also saw how God was Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and this is what we will think about for a few weeks.
What is the Trinity?
In one sense it is difficult, but in another simple. It is grasping the difference between WHAT and WHO.
- There is one WHAT of God. His single being of infinite spirit.
- There are three WHOs of God. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- The Trinity is one WHAT, with three WHOs.
As humans we are one WHAT, with one WHO. My WHAT is a human nature. My WHO is Jonathan. Krupa’s WHAT is a human. Her WHO is Krupa. WHAT and WHO. Not the same thing. They are linked, but not the same.
“The Trinity is one WHAT, with three WHOs.”
God is an Infinite Spirit
We are limited physical creations –one WHO in us is more than enough. An infinite spirit does not have the limitation of a human nature. To limit God to one WHAT and one WHO is to cut God down to the size of a human – cutting the Creator to the size of creature.
One WHAT and three WHOs – this is our God. Think about it. It is beautiful and amazing.
Our reading today shows the Trinity in action, but we will specifically look at The Father and will consider more closely how God being Father is a blessing to us. And we will do it by thinking about how the Father blesses the Son – This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.
We all have a Father
We all have a father and how we view our earthly father can shape how we see our heavenly father – so, a high calling for not only dads, but parents as a whole. We need to see who God the Father truly is, in order to not project on to Him our bad experiences.
What is a Father?
It is someone who has a child. God the Father points to God as Creator – who created in love and wisdom. God knew what He was doing when He made us.
But it also says more than this. Father is a role:
- Father implies a loving and protecting relationship with the child. So, at this important time of Jesus’ life, the Father was there, involved and speaking. A Father is one that is loving and committed, however many children you have. If you have one child or six – you equally love them all. (Ayo and Joy have 5 children and don’t run out of love. Love grows to fill the space.) And this is why a Father can also share love to those who maybe fatherless. God the Father is one who adopts orphans – a common description of us in Scripture.
- Fathers (and mums too) – give their children names. Eph 3:15 says all humans have their name from God the Father. He writes names in the Book of Life! Parents speak truth over and into their children’s lives. Words have power. The words of a parent are very powerful. The blessing words of the Father spoken over Jesus at His baptism are equally very powerful.
- A Father has delight in the child. And value. My Son has role, importance, position, value. … and The Father parted the heavens to say it publicly. But further, The Father’s words came before Jesus had done anything.
Remember that on the mountain of Transfiguration, after Jesus had done amazing miracles – when the Father spoke, the affirmation is identical. The Father’s love is consistent, based on who we are, not what we have done.
- Finally, this speaks of the Father’s presence and watchfulness. At this important time, the Father was there, and He then accompanies Jesus the whole way through His life. Birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension. Even on the Cross.
Just one point. Despite what one song says – The Father did not turn His face away. Why would the Father do that when Jesus was perfectly fulfilling His will? Why turn away at the VERY point of total obedience, suffering and victory? And if the Father had turned away, how is it the very next thing Jesus says is: Father into your hands I commit my spirit. How could He if the Father had turned away?
“The Father did not turn His face away”
My God My God Why Have You Forsaken Me?
The cry – My God My God why have you forsaken me? – is an appeal to Psalm 22 – a psalm of vindication and victory and seeking the presence of God during hard times, not the abandoning of the believer. When I say: Amazing grace, how sweet the sound … what do you think? And you know all the words to the end. Same here. Jesus speaks out the first line of a Psalm where it looks as if the oppressors will win. The Psalm says in verse 24:
He did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him.
It then ends with the victory and public affirmation of the one being oppressed BECAUSE He actually had not been abandoned. When the Jews listen heard the opening words, they knew the end. It might look as though I have been abandoned, but the exact opposite is the case.
The Father did not abandon the Son. And He will not abandon any of those whom He loves.
Always remember we have a God The Father who will never leave His children. If you are one of His you are safe. Use this time to pray and respond – to give thanks – and allow the Spirit to touch your hearts.
“Always remember we have a God The Father who will never leave His children.”
Matthew 4:13-17 – The Baptism of Jesus.
Jesus Christs ministry started after he was baptist.
Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, 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 it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.”
Then he consented.
When Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
God the Father loved his Son and was pleased with him even BEFORE Christ even started his ministry.