As
the story of Christ’s becoming one of us - His birth - moves on towards
the story of His dying in our place - His crucifixion, the story of His
baptism is a significant step forward. Jesus identifies with us. He
stands in the place of the sinner. John the Baptist said to Jesus, “I
need to be baptized by You. Why are You coming to me?” (Matthew 3:14).
Jesus was doing everything that God required of Him - everything that
needed to be done for sinners to be saved. The chief focus is on His
death for us - “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”
(John 1:29). We do, however, need to look back from His crucifixion to
His birth and His baptism. In His birth, we see the sovereign purpose of
God. In His baptism, we see the definite choice made by Jesus. In
salvation, there is the work of God, and there is our response. God
reveals Himself to us through His Son: “This is My beloved Son, with
whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). We respond to God’s revelation
and redemption when we put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, when we
look away from ourselves - sinners - to Jesus Christ, the Saviour of
sinners, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John
1:29).
“At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem”, the keynote of the service was joyful thanksgiving. They gathered together “to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving” (Nehemiah 12:27). “On that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy” (Nehemiah 12:43). They sang “songs of praise and thanksgiving to God” (Nehemiah 12:46). This joyful thanksgiving is only a foretaste of the greater joy and thanksgiving of heaven: “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). In the city of God, “the glory of God” will be shining with everlasting brightness (Revelation 21:23). The Church of God will be “prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). The beautiful picture of the godly wife in Proverbs 31 gives us an outline of what God is seeking to do in His people. It is summarized in Proverbs 31:30: “A woman who fears the Lord is to be ...
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