For the next few weeks – even though I’m going to go to church – I won’t be hearing the Gospel or the sermon as I’m going to be particating in Godly Play with the kids.I’m looking forward to that, and really hope that it will re-vive my relationship with God and to be frank with the church.
I thought that as a spiritual discipline I’ll post the Gospel reading for the Sunday here and reflect on it. That means that you can – if you want – read along, and as ever feel do free to comment if you want to. Together we learn, together we move closer to the heart of God.
You can find the weekly (lectionary) readings here.
Today – Sunday Jan 9th – the Gospel reading is Matthew 3.13-17.
I honestly don’t think it matters which version or translation we use, it’s the reading it and allowing it to read us that really matters! But as today’s Gospel reading is very short I’m going to post the text (from NLT) – but you can also find other translations here.
The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”
15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.[a]” So John agreed to baptize him.
16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened[b] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
Read it, meditate on it, let it read you. My thoughts are a lot less important than what God says to you through the passage!
This is my dearly loved son who brings me great joy
The Father’s words to Jesus
The Father’s words to us
Abba said this to Jesus BEFORE he set out on his ministry, BEFORE He had achieved anything much
The Message puts it like this
This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.”
delight of my life, :)
I want to believe that about myself – that I am (in spite of all my failings, in spite of all the setbacks I have had esp in my call to ministry) that I am the delight of Abba Father’s life.
I know it to be true, so abba Father, help me in my unbelief.