Matthew 3

Today we begin to look at Chapter 3 of Matthew.  The very first part of the chapter starts with John the Baptist preaching in the desert to “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”  Later Jesus will say the same thing.  The use of Kingdom of Heaven only occurs in the gospel of Matthew and appears 33 times.  Mark and Luke talk about the Kingdom of God.  The author equates John the Baptist as fulfilling what the prophet Isaiah spoke.

Nowhere in this gospel are we told of the relationship between Jesus and John.  People would go out to him confessing their sins and being baptized.  Notice how John reacts to the Pharisees and Sadducees.  The author begins to foreshadow the conflicts that later would lead to John’s arrest and the conflicts that would occur with Jesus.

John is the prophet who foretells of Jesus.  Jesus is greater than John.  At the time, there were disciples of John who questioned whether or not Jesus was the one that John pointed.  The author states the differences between John who baptism for repentance and Jesus’ baptism of the Holy Spirit and judgment. 

Jesus is baptized by John.  When God announces that “This is my son whom I love, with him I am well pleased” only Jesus hears this and sees that spirit descend from heaven.  Note how this is different when we get to the transfiguration.  The act of baptism confirmed that Jesus was God’s Son and in the public act affirmed Jesus’ ministry.

Take some time to reflect on the differences of John and Jesus.  What do you think about Jesus demanding to be baptized when he was righteous and had no need to repent?