Jack's Bike

Mark 1:11 "And a voice came from heaven: 'You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.'"

Jesus has been obedient and gets baptized by John.  A voice from heaven, God the Father, says he is well pleased with him.

Every son wants to please his dad.  Jack gets such a huge smile on his face when he knows he did something right and made me proud.  He's learning to ride his bike now and he is doing a great job!  When he's riding, he knows I am excited for him, proud of him, and glad he is my son. I would be even if he wasn't riding, but in that moment, on his bike, I have a hunch that's all he cares about.  He's scared to death of falling off his bike, but he knows it makes his dad proud.  I want the same for my heavenly father. I hope that God the Father is pleased with me. 

Dear Jesus, help me be more like Jack.  Amen.

Obedient Cannonball

Matthew 3:15 "Jesus replied, 'Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.' Then John consented."

John the Baptist has been baptizing people in the Judean desert and Jesus shows up.  John intends to be baptized by Jesus, but Jesus insists on being baptized himself.  Jesus is the Messiah and yet he chooses to be baptized.  If anyone doesn't need to be baptized it would be Jesus. What does this teach about baptism?

If Jesus was willing to be baptized, it must mean baptism is something pretty important.  So often we define baptism as a "public declaration of an inward faith or transformation."  Did Jesus have a faith transformation?  Was he just saved prior to meeting John and then needed to publicly declare that he believed in himself!?  Of course not, but I think the bigger point is that Jesus chose to be fully obedient to the Father.  He says he must "fulfill all righteousness."  Pastor Phil said yesterday that baptism is really all about obedience.  If Jesus needed to be obedient, how much more so do I need to be obedient!

Dear Jesus, help me be obedient to you and your will today.  Amen.