Contributor: Mike
Scriptures:
Luke 2:52 John 6:35-40 Romans 5:17-21 Philippians 1:11 2 Corinthians 5:21 Matthew 23: 25-26
Proverbs 12:28 In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.
Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John, but John initially refused, Jesus corrected him and said, “no John this is the way it is, it becomes us to fulfil all righteousness”. Then John agreed.
In addition, Jesus’ coming to John showed His approval of John's baptism, bearing witness to it, that it was from heaven and approved by God. This would be important in the future when others would begin to doubt John’s authority, particularly after his arrest by Herod.
We need to note that Jesus says to John, it is appropriate for us to fulfil all righteousness. Jesus doesn’t just say, it is appropriate for me to do this by being baptized.
Jesus was not a Levite, but His baptism represents His entry into public ministry. It says that He was consecrated, set apart, showing that God had called him into service and that he was to serve in His Fathers kingdom. He recognizes that there is something that both He and John must do in order to proceed in both their ministries. This is the point of no return, the preparation work was finished, Jesus has increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. The wineskin of responsibility had been prepared, for, as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Nothing from this day on would be the same and the starting point was in receiving John’s baptism.
It was necessary for Jesus to align himself with the Father and to submit Himself to the will of the Father, He said “for I came from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me”. And His Father responds “this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Lk3:22)
The Book of Romans leaves us with little doubt that Adam’s sin has changed the standing of every man, but the obedience of Jesus Christ has secured for all the free gift of Eternal Life. Our righteousness is a result of the atoning work that Jesus accomplished on the cross we could not produce it, Christ produced it for us. The guilt of one in the garden has been reversed by obedience of ONE to the cross.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the Righteousness of God.
It is only by the atoning work of Jesus that we may become the Righteousness of God, therefore, clearly, we are not made righteous by what we do, or by our actions.
We should never make the mistake of thinking that doing the right thing makes us right with God, this is the same mistake that the Pharisees made.
Their way was by cleaning up your outward actions, your hearts will become clean too. Jesus taught just the opposite (Matt. 23:25-26). It’s through a changed heart that our actions change.
It needs to be righteousness that actually produces the works in us, not the other way around.
Prayer: Father, show how to live in the perfection that Jesus accomplished for us. Only Jesus could have lived a perfect, obedient, and sinless life. Only Jesus could have atoned for the sins of His people. Only the Righteousness of Christ will enter His Kingdom. Thank You Father for Your atoning, precious Gift.