Fulfilling all righteousness

On Tuesday bible study, we had a lively discussion on the meaning and significance of the baptism of Jesus by John. I find myself still mulling over this and would like to further this discussion.

Firstly, the baptism of John is clearly a baptism of repentance from sins. John preached the coming of the kingdom of heaven and the coming of the King. Baptism is an acknowledgment of sin and repentance from sin, thereby making oneself ready for the coming kingdom and the coming king.

It is no wonder that John, initially refuse to baptize Jesus. It goes against his own understanding of his ministry and the significance of his baptism. Perhaps John did not understand fully the significance of Jesus' ministry on earth - that the Messiah is destined for the cross. And perhaps that is the reason why he finds it hard to understand why the Lord would leave him in prison and even let him face his eventual fate of being beheaded by Herod.

The Lord's answer to John's reluctance to baptize Him is:
15 “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”

So the significance of this baptism is no small thing. Fulfilling all righteousness means setting right all that was previously wrong, for since the beginning of sin from Adam, the whole creation has been subjected to sin and death. 

Romans 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,

So, the Law was unable to fulfill God's righteousness in the world because men has become inherently sinful. But by the coming and ministry of Jesus Christ, God is restoring the world to righteousness.

So in this baptism, we see the complete identification of the Son of God with sinful man. He that is without sin was baptised like sinful man, that He may be the sin offering.

If Christ's baptism testifies of His complete identification with man, our baptism speaks of our complete identification with Christ, being buried in Him and being raised in Him.

Rom 6:4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death:

We should not discount the spiritual reality of testimony whether in word or deed. We often see our baptism or breaking bread as just symbolism, and take it lightly. But we see from Christ's baptism that it was hugely significant. Christ Himself said that His baptism fulfilled all righteousness. Then the Holy Spirit anointed Him, the heaven open and the Father spoke. And it was the start of His public ministry.

My thoughts turn to our own activities like baptism, breaking bread, prayer etc. They are all our actions or activities that should be our spiritual testimonies. We should do them with the right heart and not go beyond the faith God has given us. But equally important is that if we have the faith we should be doing these activities that testify of our faith, thereby also fulfilling righteousness in our actions.

God's diverse ways

This week as I pondered on the message of Matthew chapter 2, my thoughts turn towards the diversity of God's ways.

From the Magi (led by God) who journeyed far just to come to the presence of the Lord to worship Him. No doubt they were men of great standing in the ancient world to be received by Herod himself but their purpose was worship.

To Joseph and Mary, who in their quiet and humble lives were entrusted with the glorious and enormous task of bringing up Jesus into adulthood.

Then there was John, who prepared the way for the Lord's ministry destined to end up in prison and beheaded, but praised by the Lord.

Then there were Simeon and Anna etc.

The Lord showed that He had fulfilled His promises. He did not need men's co-ordination or planning. He uses faithful men and women, in their particular corners to weave the tapestry of his testimony.

I think one of the mistakes we often make is to impose on God, insisting that He must work according to the way that He has worked in our lives or in our church. God can and do use many diverse ways to accomplish His purpose.

Being Real

After studying Rev 22, we are left with a very clear idea of God's intended Jerusalem. This was also the city with foundation which Abraham was looking forward to.

Heb 11:10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

So it is very pertinent that the genealogy of Jesus starts with Abraham. Of course the earthly Jerusalem was not yet that city. It is the Lord's purpose that Jerusalem will be that which was described in Rev 22, they would not.

Mat 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing."

Of course, they never understood nor could they. For they did not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

But we now have the Holy Spirit. Given to us through the work and death of Jesus Christ. Yet strangely, we see the situation replaying in the church. The church in Laodicea speaks of such a situation. The Lord is outside yet they did not know. They were blind, naked, wretched yet they did not know. Is it only to the Laodicean church that the Lord is speaking to?

But in the person of Joseph and Mary, we see examples for our encouragement. Though they were both of royal blood, yet they were contented to be in the humble place that God has placed them. Joseph a righteous man... Not many of his more illustrious ancestors are considered righteous by God, yet we see such humility and mercy from this carpenter. And Mary, accepting the gossip and slander of people with such faith.

Luke 1:38  And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.

And the trouble which they had to face, fleeing from Herod, leaving their business, relatives, friends and even country to protect the Child.

They were not the Pharisees or Rabbis able to discuss deep theological concepts, nor were they zealots, fighting for the cause of Israel against the Romans, nor were they of the priestly clan, basking in the glory of temple worship. They were nonentities in the world. To such a couple, God entrusted His Son to their care.

It encourages me because God sees through the facade of the deceitful hearts of men. It is useless striving to be great in the eyes of men, whether individually or corporately. Better to have real righteousness, real mercy, real gentleness, real love and of course real faith.

A New Heaven and New Earth

When we come to Revelation chapter 22, we see a new heaven and a new earth. There is not much description of this new heaven and earth. But we know what came out from the old creation, the New Jerusalem. The difference between God's eternal plan and what we have now, is a people.

A people who came out of the old creation and entered into the new. They may have new bodies, but the new life that they have was already given to them when they were saved in the old creation.

2Cor 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

It seems to say that when we are born again, we are part of this new heaven and new earth. Although in time, we are still in the old creation, but in spiritual reality we already are part of this new creation.

Another way of presenting this reality is that we have a deposit. We have a small portion but definitely an actual portion of this newness in us. So for christians we are to guard this thing, this treasure in us. Don't bury it in the world as though it does not exist, but live in this new reality. It will definitely bear fruit. The fruit is also not of the old creation but of the new. An enlargement of this new heaven and new earth in us, and in others that have been touch by us.

If we continue to build that which is of the old creation, no matter how big, how magnificent, how successful it is, it will all be burn by fire. The disciples marvel and glory in the old temple of stone during Jesus time. Surely they thought, the magnificence and glory of this temple is glorifying God. But the Lord said, not one stone will be left standing. The Lord's interest is in the actual temple, not just the symbolic one.

1Cor 3:10 But each one should be careful how he builds.

So we should take this instruction seriously. Build that which is eternal. Whether in our individual lives, or corporately, the focus must be on the real Jesus Christ in our lives through the Holy Spirit. More of Himself in our lives, which is the gold, the precious stones, and the pearl.

The New Jerusalem

We are very short sighted when we see with only the eyes of our flesh. Even in so called spiritual matters such as church, ministry and service, we have a tendency to have only short term goals. Little wonder that our agendas don't always match the Lord's agenda for us.

When we see our lives or any activity, we often only see the immediate effect in our lifetimes. But God sees the end from the beginning. He works to accomplish His end and His goal is to obtain a people to live and govern with Him, not only in the millennial kingdom but also in eternity.

That's what I learnt, when we read Rev 21 in bible study. The New Jerusalem filled with precious stones, gold and pearls. It speaks of maturity and purity. Maturity is through suffering and perseverance. The precious stones of many different types from many sources, hidden in the ground now, but God found them, allowed them to have many different pressures but at the end achieving His goal, that of being precious in His sight.

The gold which had been beaten and purified exhibit a transparency which is able to shine forth God's glory.  So pure that although the person is still there, yet there is a transparency in his life that shines forth the glory of God.

The pearl is the life hidden in the grace of the Lord. We are all little pebbles. When hidden in the Lord, and His grace abounds in our lives, grace upon grace, then we are transformed. We are completely hidden inside the grace. "I no longer live but Christ lives in me." Such a people, becomes the gate to New Jerusalem, because they manifest the grace of God in their lives. Very often they are the chief of sinners, the worst of the bunch but when sin abounds, the grace of God abounds even more.

When we see the end to which God is bringing us into, we are comforted over the problems and even tribulations which we are going through. It is not by chance or by accident. Perhaps the purpose of the Lord showing us these things is so that we can share a little bit of Paul’s thought.

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (KJV)