(The Greatest Rescue continued)
5: Master Rescue Begins
Rescuer Immersed In
and Supercharged for Mission
When Jesus was about 30 years old, he walked from Galilee to the Jordan River where John the Baptist was baptizing people. When John saw Jesus coming he said,
“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away
the sin of the world!" —John 1:29 NKJV
John felt unworthy when Jesus indicated he wanted to be baptized, too. Perhaps he was saying 'yes' to his mission as he was buried under the water and victoriously rose up. Then an amazing thing happened. Heaven opened and the Spirit of God came down in the form of a dove upon Jesus and a voice from Heaven said,
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
—Matthew 3:17 NKJV
Jesus, who had laid aside his Godly nature when He put on his earth suit, was now supercharged with the power of God to perform His mission.
Rescuer Tempted to Abort Mission
After His glorious baptism, God's Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, where he fasted for 40 days. During that time the devil came and tempted Him, just as he had tempted Adam and Eve. But this time the devil did not win. Jesus overcame the temptations by speaking God's word. When the devil left, angels came and ministered to Jesus. The tempter tempted Jesus in every way, but Jesus never sinned. He remained pure and holy.
Rescuer Enlists Assistants
Returning full of the Holy Spirit and triumphant over the devil's temptation, Jesus chose 12 ordinary men to teach and to help Him in the ministry. He chose Peter, Andrew, James, John, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Aphaeus, Thadeus, Simon, and Judas.
Rescuer Goes Public
For the next 3 years Jesus began to teach, preach, and heal the people. Crowds of people came to hear Him teach about the Kingdom of God and to be healed. He healed every type of sickness and disease.
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
—Matthew9 :3 NKJV
This amazing person not only healed the sick, but He raised the dead, cast demonic spirits out of people, stopped a huge storm on the Sea of Galilee, walked on the water, and fed thousands of people from one boy's lunch! Jesus was rescuing people from the effects of the evil one.
Jesus not only did miracles, but He taught the people how to respond to God and to other people. When He was asked, "What is the greatest commandment," He told them:
‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ —Matthew 22:37-39 NKJV
Jesus came because of love and His message was love.
5: Master Rescuing Begins