God Fulfilled (1 of 6)

Have you receieved an understanding of the mighty God in Christ? If not, begin here before entering this study.
__________

See Matthew 3; Luke 3; John 1:26-32

A slight breeze from the Jordan valley hit the man’s face as he came to the bank of that muddy river. After spending the night at a friend’s house in Bethany, he had started this walk at dawn. Now, the sun glared overhead and the sweat spots on his shirt showed it was having an effect.

Walking all alone, deep in thought, the traveler paused for a moment when he heard the voice of a preacher. Down by the river, that hairy, wild looking preacher was talking to a large group of people. Everyone in his audience was drenched from head to foot. One would have thought they just been caught in a cloudburst, except the preacher kept mentioning their baptism.

As the traveler neared the riverbank church service, he heard the preacher call out to the crowd, “You know I baptize with water, but from among your own people comes somebody you do not know. You need to be ready to follow him. He may follow me, but let me tell you, he is way ahead of me! I am not even worthy enough to tie his shoes.”

Just then, the traveler came down the embankment toward the preacher who was still waist-deep in the Jordan. He called out, “John! Can you baptize one more?”

The preacher turned to look at him. As if in a trance, he watched the man coming down to the water. His voice trembled as he said, “Look! Here comes the Lamb of God, the one who takes away the world’s sins!”

Jesus reached the water’s edge and waded in toward his cousin. Green water swirled and gurgled around him.

John had hardly moved except for wringing his hands together. He said, “This is the one I have been telling everyone about when I said He would be greater than me because He has been around long before I was born. Until this moment, I did not know who would be the one. I just came to announce him to Israel.

Only a few feet from John, Jesus asked, “Would you please baptize me?”

“Oh, please,” John stammered, “would you baptize me? I do not feel worthy to baptize you.”

Jesus smiled at him. “John, we have to do it this way and you know it. You know the scripture, ‘I delight to do Your will, O God.’ We have to fulfill all righteousness.”

John took a deep breath and nodded. He put one hand on the back of Jesus’ neck and grabbed Jesus’ hand with the other. “To fulfill all righteousness,” John said, as he dunked the man into the brownish-green water. After a moment, John pulled him back up.

Jesus stood and wiped the water out of his face. He nodded at John as if to say thank you, but he seemed too choked up for words. Maybe he was wiping away more than river water from his eyes. He climbed out of the water and stood on the shoreline. Tipping his head back, he prayed, moving his lips, but making no sound.

Jesus opened his eyes to the beautiful blue sky. A streak like lightening silently cut across the heavens and split the sky down the middle. The atmosphere seemed to roll back as he stood there looking into the past and the future while his feet still stood in the muddy riverbank. The eons of time and the star-speckled universe gave way to a brilliant light. More than just sunshine warmth surrounded this man. He stood in the glow of God’s favor.

Although the vision almost blinded his eyes, he saw something white floating—actually flapping—down toward him. This stunning, white dove flew down and landed on him. Then it seemed to disappear into him. Jesus felt a new sensation. Satisfaction. Fulfillment. Glory.

While still looking up into the brilliance, drinking in the scene, Jesus heard a voice from thin air. “You are My own precious Son. I am pleased with you.” He recognized these words from the Scriptures. Instantly, Jesus saw how all the prophecies about the suffering servant and the coming son applied to himself.

The sky returned to natural color. Birds in the trees began to sing again. The world seemed as if to awaken from a dream. Life had begun anew. John stood silently watching Jesus as he walked up the riverbank and headed into the wilderness.

_______