San Diego First United Methodist Church – Daily Devotion for
Sunday, 12 January 2014 - Sermon theme for coming Sunday: Power for Living
Text to read: Matthew 3: The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be
baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be
baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be
so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then
he consented. 16 And 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. 17 And a voice from heaven said,
“This is my Son, the Beloved,[a] with whom I am well pleased.”
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 3:17 Or my beloved Son
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John Wesley’s Notes/Commentary for Matthew 3:13-17
Verse 13. Mark i, 9; Luke iii, 21
Verse 15. It becometh us to fulfil all righteousness - It
becometh every messenger of God to observe all his righteous ordinances. But
the particular meaning of our Lord seems to be, that it becometh us to do (me
to receive baptism, and you to administer it) in order to fulfil, that is, that
I may fully perform every part of the righteous law of God, and the commission
he hath given me.
Verse 16. And Jesus being baptized - Let our Lord's submitting
to baptism teach us a holy exactness in the observance of those institutions
which owe their obligation merely to a Divine command. Surely thus it becometh
all his followers to fulfil all righteousness. Jesus had no sin to wash away.
And yet he was baptized. And God owned his ordinance, so as to make it the
season of pouring forth the Holy Spirit upon him. And where can we expect this
sacred effusion, but in an humble attendance on Divine appointments? Lo, the
heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God - St. Luke adds, in a bodily
form - Probably in a glorious appearance of fire, perhaps in the shape of a
dove, descending with a hovering motion, till it rested upon him. This was a
visible token of those secret operations of the blessed Spirit, by which he was
anointed in a peculiar manner; and abundantly fitted for his public work.
Verse 17. And lo, a voice - We have here a glorious
manifestation of the ever - blessed Trinity: the Father speaking from heaven,
the Son spoken to, the Holy Ghost descending upon him. In whom I delight - What
an encomium is this! How poor to this are all other kinds of praise! To be the
pleasure, the delight of God, this is praise indeed: this is true glory: this
is the highest, the brightest light, that virtue can appear in.
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Daily Devotions from Monday, 6 January 2014 through Sunday, 12 January
2014:
Monday - This week begins with an age-old question.
Why does Jesus need to be baptized?
Tuesday - Consider the many meanings of baptism.
Which is most significant to you and why?
Wednesday – What role does the Holy Spirit play in this story?
Do you experience the Spirit as well?
How?
Thursday – Before Jesus' ministry begins, he experiences this
baptism of water and Spirit.
What does that mean for us?
Friday – Consider a time in your life you endured only due to
the Spirit of God.
When was it?
What did you learn?
Saturday – Look forward in your own life.
Where will the Spirit of God be needed for your journey?
Sunday – Pray for those face with daunting lives to be filled
with the Holy Spirit.
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First United Methodist Church
2111 Comino del Rio South
San Diego, CA 92108 United States
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