Sermons

During the time of the ministry of John the Baptizer, Jesus came to him for baptism, in obedience to the emerging sacraments constituting the new covenant. The dove appeared, as it did to Noah, a picture of judgment with peace. This representation of the Holy Spirit affirms who He is and what He is going to do, bring redemption and judgment. This event inaugurates His ministry and confirms Him as the Promised One, affirming Him as a person within the Trinity. He met the qualifications for all of His divine roles: prophet, priest and king. He spoke for God, He was a priest after the order of Melchizedek for all mankind of all ages and He was of the kingly line of David. His departure for the wilderness was at the behest of the Holy Spirit; it was a work of God. During His temptation He was with wild animals and ministering angels, but with no people. With His ministry affirmed, he went to Galilee "of the Gentiles," preaching that the Kingdom of God literally "has come here," and calling for repentance and belief in Him. This is what ancient theologians term the autobasilia, or "the kingdom in me." This means that where He is, the Kingdom is. This is a message that demands a response. If we come to Jesus, He will never cast us out. We must hear God's message; without faith in Jesus, we cannot come near to God.