Christ-Light Connections: The Baptism of Jesus & The Temptation of Jesus

The first Adam lived in a perfect garden and was given everything that he needed and one simple command: “Do not eat from this one tree.” He could not obey it and became a sinner, unable to obey God. Now we, the children of Adam, share in the same curse of sin.

But, there was a second Adam. What the first Adam could not do in a perfect setting, the second Adam, Jesus, did while starving in the wilderness. Now we, the children of God, connected through baptism share in his righteousness.

The Christ-Light theme of the week is Jesus came to take our place.

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NT1 5A

The Baptism of Jesus — Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-23

Context

It was time for Jesus’ ministry to begin. His cousin, John, had been preparing the way. He preached the message of repentance, and day after day, John dunked sinner after sinner in the waters of the Jordan.

Big Ideas

John Tried to Deter Him (Matthew 3:14)

Imagine how shocked John was when Jesus requested baptism. John’s baptism was for sinners, the unclean, the repentant. Jesus was the only person in the history of the world who had never sinned, was perfectly clean, and had no reason to repent. The only one it appeared who did not need to be baptized. John questioned Jesus’ intention.

Conversation Starters:

• Imagine that sins were actual dirt to be washed away. How dirty would the Jordan River be? (Hang on to that thought.)
• Does a clean person need a bath? What happens when a clean person enters filthy water?

To Fulfill All Righteousness (Matthew 3:15)

Jesus answers John’s question. He was not there because his righteousness was at stake. Ours was! Here is where the great exchange began. When the people went down into that water, they left behind their sins and came up clean. When Jesus went down into the water, he gave away his righteousness and took upon himself the sins of humanity.

Conversation Starter:

• Have you ever heard Jesus called the world’s worst sinner or the world’s only sinner? It seems like a trick question, but how (when) is this true?

The Voice from Heaven (Matthew 3:17, Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22)

The words from God the Father not only confirmed Jesus’ divinity and purpose, but they also have meaning for us! Through our baptism, we are connected to Jesus and are given his status. God the Father also says to us, “You are my children, with you, I am well pleased.” Baptism gives us an intimate relationship with God, and he now delights in us.

Conversation Starters:

• How was the Trinity present at Jesus’ baptism? Why is this important?
• What do you know about doves? Why do you think the Holy Spirit chose that form?

Digging Deeper

The Seeds of Faith resource provides great Law and Gospel points as well as thoughtful discussion questions.

NT1 5B

The Temptation of Jesus — Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13

Context

Jesus’ baptism was a victorious moment. The Savior formally entered into his role as our substitute. He was on a mission to fulfill all righteousness for us. This meant that not only would he never sin, but he would always do what was right. Now it was time for Jesus to go to war with Satan and fight the battles that we could never win.

Big Ideas

The Spirit Led (Matthew 4:1, Mark 1:12, Luke 4:1)

We usually don’t think of the Holy Spirit leading us into temptation, but it is included in the Lord’s Prayer, “and lead us not into temptation.” The temptation of Jesus was no accident. It was all part of God’s plan. He would be tempted in every way. Because he was tempted, we can be confident in the completeness of Christ’s victory over sin. When you pray the Lord’s Prayer, you can also think about Jesus’ battle. The Spirit led him directly into combat so that he could win on our behalf.

40 Days in the Wilderness (Matthew 4:1-2, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:1-2)

The number 40 and the wilderness reminds us of Israel’s history. The young nation spent 40 years wandering in the desert before entering into the promised land. During that time, God gave his children the law; they were tempted; they sinned. They consistently failed to live up to God’s demands.

Now it was Jesus’ turn to spend time in the wilderness. He did what Israel could not do and upheld the law of God.

Conversation Starters:

• Can you find any similarities between the temptations of Jesus and the temptations the Israelites faced in the wilderness?
• Why do you think Jesus quoted the book of Deuteronomy several times? (Think about when it was written.)

The Temptations (Matthew 4:1-17, Luke 4:1-13)

Satan’s temptations can be confusing at first glance. What’s wrong with making bread? How does one make sense of his use of God’s Word? Satan loves to use half-truths, and he loves to twist the meaning of scripture. Here, Satan also attempts to cause Jesus to question his identity as the Son of God.

Conversation Starters:

• Can you think of ways in which scripture is manipulated to teach something false?
• What happens when God’s children forget their identity? What identities can become more important than our status as God’s child?

Digging Deeper

The Seeds of Faith resource provides great Law and Gospel points as well as thoughtful discussion questions.

Want to dig even deeper?

Here are three other Bread for Beggars posts covering Jesus’ Temptation. These posts include some great visuals and media.

Battling Temptation

Three Minutes in the Wilderness with Satan

Jesus Battled the Devil for Us