Jesus Was Like Us, But Not Really

Text: Luke 3:23-38 Theme: Clear signs from above set Jesus apart from us at his baptism. Key verses: “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’ Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph….the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi…” (v. 21-24) “the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Abraham…the son of Noah…” (v. 33-34) “…the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.” (v. 38) What God said to me: Son, think of the passage you are memorizing right now in Philippians about Jesus: “who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant…” My Son, Jesus, came to John to be baptized. He simply walked into that crowd and up to John as though he were just another sinner needing sainthood. But my Son was no sinner, and he was no saint. He was the Savior of sinners and the King of saints. I made sure everyone that day who was watching by that river knew that very thing. The Holy Spirit made a bodily – and highly unusual -appearance that signified His approval and anointing. I as Jesus’ Father spoke thunderously from heaven. And that was in the day when there was no artificial amplification or electronic sound systems. I made sure no one could mistake the supernatural and divine difference in this man, Jesus. He was the Christ. John recognized Him and His diety immediately. Dwayne, that is how I expect you to see and treat Jesus, my only begotten. He is your King and should be your Lord. View Him, honor Him, follow Him, and trust Him in that manner, and I will be well-pleased with you as well. What I said to God: El-Shaddai, El-Elyon, Jehovah-rophe, I am desperate for You today. At the start of this new year, I need You more than ever. You are not just another god or some figment of needy imaginations. You are the Lord of lords. You are all God, yet You came down to us to be all man. Thank You for taking the form of a servant, for making Yourself nothing, for choosing humanity so we could be saved. I never want to get used to that powerful reality. I never want to forget about Your awesome sacrifice and substitution for us – for me.