Wednesday 10th August - Matthew 3

Today’s chapter is Matthew 3, you can read it here

Tom writes:

You can just imagine Jesus coming out of the Jordan river, hair dripping wet, white robe clinging to his skin in a few embarrassing places, maybe there was even some algae hanging off his right ear.  This was the One who was showing everyone what God had called his people to be.  This was the one who had come to fulfil all the promises of the prophets. Many in Israel had turned the ‘call of God’ into a status symbol.  They had become like celebrities flaunting their credentials around.  They would never have been seen dead with wet clothes clinging to their buttocks.  So many in Israel thought living for God meant impressing others; putting on good show after good show... but never bothering to sort out their hearts.  John the Baptiser had slated them for it and, by his baptism at John’s hands, Jesus throws all his weight behind John’s judgement. 

As Jesus comes up out of the water he shows that God’s real people, God’s real hope is not about trying to look good but about raw, honest humanity humbling themselves in a flood of repentance and then calling for the Dove - the Spirt from God - to transform them from the inside out.  This is the oxymoron of our faith. If you want to be God-like you need to look like a moron every now and then. The thing we need - the one we need is the Dove who will transform us and empower us, and the Dove only comes after the Flood. 

Question for reflection

Are you a fool for Christ? Are you willing to humble yourself in repentance; seeking all that God wants you to be?