Matthew 3-4

John the Baptist, in todays age would be like a mountain man, lived off the earth, Kinda rough around the edges Maybe even a little Mangy. Choice food was locust and Wild Honey. in Comparision to The Pharisees/Sadducees (chief priests and teachers of the law, clean, robed in fine garments, living above the common folks)

3:9-10 John is declaring what Jesus is coming for. the lineage of chosen/blessed people (Israel - the Jews) is about to be challenged. Jesus comes to examine the heart.

John had a calling of which he knew nothing about other than the Kingdom of God was near and he was called to share that.

sometimes we get callings we know nothing about, we may get no insight, no vision, no affirmation of what we are doing immediately but as john will come to learn in the end when you are obedient. You will eventually see the reason for why you were called to do what you were called to do.

My favorite part is 3:16-17 "as soon as Jesus was baptized he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened and he saw the spirit of God descend on him and a voice from heaven said "this is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

at this moment Jesus had Not healed anyone, He had performed no miracles, He had done no teachings to anyone, he had merely just been alive. nothing extraordinary (except be perfect.) Yet he is baptized and God says "this is my son in whom I am well Pleased"

God knew his heart. and he knew what he would do and God was already pleased.

We at times spend so much time trying please God or others to get affirmation. But God calls us his sons and daughters and when we align ourself with the 10 commandments. be obedient and get baptized, baptism is a public declaration of that you will follow and obey the Lord. When we publicly announce this to God that we will follow him. He immediately is well pleased. Then we can grow and learn and move on to allow God and the holy spirit to use us in his will. We can never Earn Gods love, Grace, Or his pleasure in us, that is afforded through Jesus.

A brothers personal Testimony "this is comforting for someone like me who did not grow up in a Chirstian household - a stranger prayed for me and shared the gospel ""out of stone"" God raised a child. There is not one person whom the gospel should not be shared with. God has the power to enter into anyone's life and create major impact through them."

The first part of Chapter 4 reminds us of why we need to be in the Word and familiarize ourselves with it.

Jesus, in his most vulnerable moment, After fasting 40 days/nights, is tempted by satan.

Jesus doesn't debate or reason with him. He responds with scripture.

often times we want God to reveal things to us, yet the answer is in His Word, and We (me) have failed to take the time to find it.

It is also scary to think that satan was using scripture to temp Jesus. When we are not familiar with scripture it can be twisted, and used to deceive us.

4:6 "... throw yourself down. for it is written: he will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against the stone."

4:7 " it is also written do not put the Lord your God to the test"

I feel a lot of times we as humans ""test God"" throw out ultimatums or do things/ be careless because God isn't going to let something bad happen to me"

When scripture is really saying do not put yourself in a position to find out. Our choices matter. Don't jump off a sky scraper in Jesus name and expect to be caught.

Biblically God does protect us and look after us but that doesn't allow for ignorance.

Jesus calling his first 4 disciples. 2 Separate sets of brothers. All of them Fisherman. Fisherman in this day and age used nets to throw over the side and pull back in hopes of catching fish. With that said Fisherman at least good ones, knew about patience, perseverance, hard work, frustration and dedication to keep throwing out the net and where to throw out the net.

Jesus calls out to the first set of brothers

4:19

"come, follow me, and I will send you out and make you fishers of men."

they immediately stopped what they were doing and came to Jesus. It takes me to the scene if Forest Gump where forest see's lt Dan and immediately jumps ship to go out to him leaving it completely un-steered into to dock.

Immediate obedience. What kind of Authority did they feel that when Jesus who they've never met. calls to them and they immediately are willing to uproot their whole life and give up everything to follow him?

after Jesus Recruits the 4 disciples it says he went on to teach the good news of the kingdom and heal every disease, and sickness among the people. word spread all over Syria and people started bringing their sick, hurt, and demon possessed people to Jesus to be healed.

To give perspective. Syria today is roughly 71,500 square miles, basically the size of The state of Washington. In roman times Syria encompassed lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and a portion of the southern part of Turkey, I do not have appx square miles but people were walking/ carting their sick, injured, possessed people all across the country because of how powerful the Healing of Christ is.

when we produce good fruit and spread the word of God it can be very contagious and spread quickly, the good news can lead to people getting healed from, sickness, pain, disease, addictions, demon possession ect... When Jesus is involved people will come.