The Teachings of Jesus: 4 weeks in the Life of Christ (Day 1)

Tuesday, March 18th, 2008
by Justin

I have begun a study on the teachings of Jesus throughout the gospels. I have recently been challenged through the reading of the book Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell. Rob Bell brings out the fact
that we have been brought up believing what we shouldn’t do as Christians and I was challenged then with what should we do as Christians. How should we act? How should we be different? What does Jesus say about all of this?

These are meant to be musings and not necessarily theological fact. These are my thoughts and ideas that I am gleaning from my time with God and things that He is showing me. Please feel free to add your thoughts and ideas and keep the conversation going.

1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’ ”
4John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11″I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
- Matthew 3:1-12

John was teaching a message different from what the Pharisees and Sadducees were teaching; “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (v.2) What would I have been thinking as I was near those waters of baptism? “Repent? Repent of what? Why do I need to be baptized? Who is this weird looking dude?”

The Pharisees and Sadducees taught “Conform to the laws and traditions. Do not change the status quo.” John calls them a brood of vipers!” (v.7) Why?

1. They weren’t producing fruit of repentance. (v.8)
2. They claimed they “were children of Abraham”; pride (v.9)
3. They weren’t ready for the Christ who would give them the Holy Spirit. (v.11)

So what’s the point?
- John prepared the way for Jesus by offering repentance and baptism. The sign of being washed clean.
- There is power in repentance. But repentance from what?

1. Sin: missing the mark; living unholy (person focused, not God focused)
2. Wrong living! Like the Pharisees and Saducees. Jesus was bringing a new way of living.

- Confession of sin was key to what John was preparing everyone for. This isn’t an “I feel bad in my brain” type of confession that is generally associated with guilt. John wanted them to verbally confessing out loud to him, their sins.
-This confessing of sins is apart of repentance. What is is involved in repentance?

2 Cor 7:10-11
10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

All that to say…
John provided a new way: One of repentance and change. A new way that would change the status quo that would eventually get him killed