Christ The Man
(Today is The Baptism of the Lord Day)
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13
IN THOSE DAYS JESUS CAME FROM NAZARETH IN GALILEE AND WAS BAPTIZED BY JOHN IN THE JORDAN. IMMEDIATELY COMING UP OUT OF THE WATER, HE SAW THE HEAVENS OPENING, AND THE SPIRIT LIKE A DOVE DESCENDING UPON HIM; AND A VOICE CAME OUT OF THE HEAVENS: “YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON, IN YOU I AM WELL-PLEASED.”
Mark 1:9 -11 (NASB)
In todays post in the series “Words 4 Men of God” I want to share some thoughts on Jesus Christ – the ultimate man’s man. The points that I use today come from “The Daily Study Bible – The Gospel of Mark” by Scots man of God, William Barclay. I recommend his study series to you men. Indeed I would encourage you as men of God to always read your Bible and good commentaries; in studying these you will grow in Faith and knowledge of Holiness.
Today’s scripture marks the beginning of Jesus Christ’s public life and ministry. John the Baptist was preparing the way for Jesus, preaching and baptising through a message of repentance for sins of all men. Jesus came as the result of a decision He had made. He had lived for thirty years in Nazareth as a faithful son, brother, and carpenter. He was a hardworking man of His trade learned from His step-father, Joseph. In these thirty years He was waiting for His Father God’s call to the ministry that He came to fulfill. The news of John the Baptist preaching and baptising in the wilderness was God’s call to His Son – it was His moment of decision to act faithfully.
Leaving home and walking to where John was baptising in the Jordan River was an act of identification with God’s work. It was obedience to the call of His Father on His life. Others were baptised for their sins, but Christ was baptised as an act of identification and obedience.
Every man of God needs approval of his work from God, and Jesus was no different in this need. He had decided to obey God, identify Himself with God’s work, now He needed to hear that He had done well for His Father. “You are my beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased” was His private blessing from His Father as He rose from the river.
A further extension of the approval of God is the equipping of His Son for the work and trials ahead of Him. The Holy Spirit cloaking the Lord was God’s rubber stamp on His ministry.
As men of God, let us learn from our Lord and Saviour – Jesus Christ. First, he was a working man faithful to His family and trade that God had given Him to serve in. He didn’t wait idly for God’s call – He worked, and so should we whether at home or in the workplace. Decisions will come in God’s timing. When He recognised God’s call, He was quick to identify Himself publically with God’s call – He was obedient. We are also called to be obedient and be seen to do God’s work as men within the home, community, and in the church. His obedience to His call drew His Father’s approval; and so will we be approved if we obey God’s calling in our life. We find His approval in His Word we read each day, in our prayer life with Him, and through other people who confirm His calling on our life. And if we faithfully obey God’s call on our lives, to serve Him as a man of God, He will surely equip us to complete our duties. The Holy Spirit is our constant companion, guiding us, encouraging us and blessing us when we do well.
Dear Brothers, take encouragement and guidance from the life of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He was a man used to hard work, building and serving in His community. He was a family man, obedient to His earthly parents. Most of all, He was obedient to the call to service by His Father God. What is He calling you to do for Him today brother?
Alan Kearns is a Christian father and grandfather from Scotland. He was raised in the mining villages of Fife and came to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior in 1984. A major influence that leads Alan to Jesus was his Christian mum, grandparents and an aunt. Alan writes regular devotionals in his blog Devotional Treasures
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