Matthew 3:13-17
GET THIS: Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises, the fullness of God’s righteousness, and the object of God’s great pleasure.
Jesus Is The Fulfillment of God’s Promises
See Matthew 3:13
–Review what we’ve seen
The lineage of Jesus displayed the faithfulness of God! His sovereign intentionality and grace over thousands of years.
The birth of Jesus came with the fulfilment of a promise that God would Tabernacle with Us. Immanuel.
The narrative about the wisemen showed us the fulfilment of a geographic promise of birth in Bethlehem. And the wise men a part of God’s promise that through Jesus the nations of the world would be blessed.
And even in the depth of darkness in the wake of Jesus being born, as Herod kills all the firstborn children… Jesus is better! As each step of the way, God is keeping promise after promise as He preserves His Son who is our only hope in the darkest times.
We’ve seem Jesus as the better Adam, the promised child of Abraham, The promised Son of David, The Better Moses, The Hope of Nations, The Promised Messiah, The God who is with us!
And Last week when we met John the Baptist, the Last Great Messianic Prophet before Jesus… He points us to Jesus! And makes sure that we understand… There is no neutrality with Jesus!
Jesus Is The Fullness of God’s Righteousness
See Matthew 3:14-15
Note John’s Humility
Note Jesus Holiness
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
1 Peter 2:21–22 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
Note The Example of Jesus:
Note The Association of Jesus with The People of God:
Note The Condescending Requirements of Fulfilling all righteousness:
Philippians 2:5–8 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Jesus is the Object of God’s Great Pleasure
See Matthew 3:14-15
Note The Trinity
Note the Affirmation of The Father:
Psalm 2:7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
Isaiah 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
Note The Pleasure of God with His Son
If you’re not a Christian: God’s pleasure in you is contingent on His pleasure in His Son…
John 17:24–26 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
–In Colossians we saw Jesus as the Hope of Glory (Eternal Goodness and Beauty… Eternal Life with God is found in Christ alone! Now we see too that Christ in us… is the Hope of Love.
–Is Christ in you? Are you a Christian? The Kingdom is Here! And what you do with Jesus makes all the difference! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved!
If you are a Christian…
Do you believe that Jesus really is who He said He is?! Like really. I’m going to be honest with you, as we continue through Matthew in the future… we’re going to see all the more… There is no neutrality with Jesus!
Do you believe that—in Jesus—the pleasure of the God of the universe rest upon you?! You are beloved by God! Warts and all… Because He is pleased with Jesus… He is pleased with you! And because He will never not be pleased with Jesus, He will never not be pleased with you!
Take Time To Reflect
(1) How is your life shaped by the reality that God is pleased with you because of Jesus?
(2) How is your life shaped by the reality that the Kingdom of God is Yours?
GET THIS: Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises, the fullness of God’s righteousness, and the object of God’s great pleasure.