Transforming Fate into Destiny

Luke 3:1-22

Jesus Was Baptized by John the Baptist

The narrative of Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River is a classic one. That’s why all four Gospels have it recorded.

The experience of Jesus’ baptism is very important and to a certain extent, it represents the turning point for him, from common countryman to a public figure. Since then people got to know his identity and his mission.

Jesus was born in a monumental era. The Jews were weak and small. They were ruled by a super power — the Roman Empire. The Jews were anticipating God to send them the Messiah to deliver them from the hand of Romans and to restore the kingdom of Israel.

Therefore, the birth of Jesus as the Messiah had drawn a large amount of attention from the people.

Jesus was born in a poor family and he grew to become a typical young Jew. He stayed in the temple of Jerusalem and debated with some religious leaders of his day. This amazed his parents and his countrymen.

It was another 10 years or more before we found him appearing in the wilderness near the Jordan River.

Here came the voice of John the Baptist, a man with a strong personality and stand. He proclaimed the message of baptism of repentance, and he rebuked people harshly without favouritism.

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptised by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?  Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.  The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Interestingly, the more John rebuked others, the more people were drawn to him and he spurred them into repenting of their own sins and receiving salvation.

People were wondering if John was the leader who was supposed to come for their deliverance. John denied it indefinitely, and he introduced them someone who was much more powerful than him, someone who would baptise them with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Then we saw Jesus came forward as an adult. He came to the wilderness to be baptized by John the Baptist. And as he was praying, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven.

In the book of Matthew, it said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” It was as though God was speaking to the audience.

But in the books of Luke and Mark, the voice was speaking to Jesus. It said, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

The relationship between the beloved Son and the Father highlighted an accordance between the two of them and the uniqueness of the Son. The statement “You are my Son, whom I love” can be understood as “You are unique, and I am proud of you.”

You are unique! How is it that you are unique?

We can interview Mary, the mother of Jesus. She would never forget the time when she carried Jesus in her arms and entered the temple of Jerusalem. There was an old man who prophesized about the controversies that this child would bring, and how his mother’s soul would be pierced.

Luke 2:34-35 told us that Simeon blessed them and said to the mother of the child, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

So, Jesus was unique because he had a special task to perform, and his life journey would be uniquely tough!

 “God is proud of you and you have a unique and intimate relationship with God” turns out to be a big deal for us!

It is exactly like what Mencius once said, “If God were to entrust someone with an important task, He would temper his will power by causing things to go adversely with him that he has to suffer both physically and mentally. Indeed, his life journey will be very tough.”

What will you do if the voice of heaven were to tell you today that “you are unique”?

You might question God, “Why am I chosen?”

You might point to the person next to you. “Why not choose him instead? He is more unique!”

Frankly speaking, every one of us does want to lead a comfortable life. It is reasonable to desire so.

If we do not perceive the life of Jesus merely a play superficially, but rather a life that was lived fully human with sweat and blood, then Jesus, with all his physical existence, would possibly also question himself. “Have I got it wrong? Can I not be the Son of God but just a common man? Why should I go through such a hardship?”

We also observe there were doubting voices surrounding Jesus, saying: “If you were the Son of God/Christ/the King of Jews, you should be able to do this and that.”

But Jesus refused to yield to those voices. He set his heart to assume his mission as the Son of God. Why did he choose such a hard way for himself?

Many pragmatic elderly men say these when they address anti-establishment youth, “Are these young people too impulsive? Can’t they see the consequences? Are they heading towards their blind alleys? Do they think that they are very great indeed?”

It is true. There are people who seemed to live in their own world and consider themselves suffering for a righteous cause—rebel with a cause or being unique with a cause!

However, a careful study of Jesus’ life helps us realize that he was not ignorant of the possible tragic consequences. Luke has spent a long passage writing about Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51–19:44).

Jesus restated his destiny twice before embarking his journey. He said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” (Luke 9:22; also refer to 9:44-45).

When he was about to end his journey, Jesus further indicated that his death by persecution would be a fulfilment of the prophecies (Luke 18:31–34).

What does it mean when he said he “must” suffer, and that prophecies “must” come to pass, and that God’s will “must” be fulfilled?

Jewish history shows us that those who want to be messiah embark on a path of no return, and they shall be crushed by the authorities. Jesus was aware of the consequences, yet he went on fearlessly embracing the oppressed people and confronting those in power.

The authority had to take action against him in order to keep peace in a vulnerable situation.

Hence, it was not an impulsive or stubborn act when Jesus highlighted the need of his suffering. He was in fact recognising the loving relationship in his life - between him and his heavenly Father, and between him and the others.

It was love that drove Jesus in his struggle. Jesus was determined to move on against all odds and adversities because of his love for God and for others.

To Jesus, “you are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” is not an order to force him to take up the task of saving the world, but it is a call of love!

When Jesus said that God’s will must be done, and that his prophecies must be fulfilled and that he must head towards his destiny on the Cross, it didn’t mean that he had to accept his fate passively. It is not something fated, so to speak.

But it did reveal to us that Jesus was aware of his life’s purposes. It was his love for God and for his people that drove him to a path of no return. It was truly a choice made by his own will.

Like many characters of classical stories, they glow because of the choices they made. The Son of God opted resolutely for the Cross which appeared to be the most beaten, the weakest and the most humiliated place. He changed everything including the destiny of the world by taking that journey.

Human is endowed with the ability to make choices, and his real choices shouldn’t be just about good food and fun, but on deciding what kind of person he would like himself to be. And the prerequisite of making your choice is: find out what are the “musts” in your life and question yourself truthfully. “What am I living for?”

Many might think that we are just ordinary people. We are helpless and vulnerable before the adverse environment, let alone making good choices. Don’t be too idealistic but look at the realities!

Yes, we acknowledge that different people have different problems and we all have our very own thorns! This is something real. We know how we have been hurt by it because we are trapped in it. It is something undeniable.

Some people like to champion the idea of “positive thinking”; others insist something perverted to be something good. Some will say we need to pray by faith, need to do this, need to that. Some even misunderstand us or slander us. Suggestions given by others can cause more pressure and increase a sense of helplessness on us.

In our everyday struggles today, whenever we face pain caused by those thorns in our flesh, it is as though there is a heavenly voice telling us that, “You are unique.”

This voice invites us to look at our lives seriously and with an open heart, as well as the lives of others who have suffered around us. What does the Gospel mean to them? Is it just a sharing of “Jesus saves “message then walk away?

For those who struggle daily over life predicaments, the most important thing for them is not an explanation or a guidance about life, but a way to keep their hope afloat amidst their problems; a way to face their limitation without yielding to fate; and striving to transform fate into destiny, making “no way out” to “walk a way out”! This is the power of faith!

Conclusion

The story of Jesus’ baptism reminds us that the call to ministry is not something we should receive passively. But we have to recognize all kinds of loving relationship in our lives and to respond courageously to God and to people around us.

Sometimes we are back to the reality of life and we feel as though we are walking towards a dead end. All relationship in life calls forth our attention, yet we might not be able to play our roles well. Some will force themselves into it while other will flee from it.

Nevertheless, the truth in life is, God will help us if we are willing to face it honestly and humbly and if we are willing to share our burden together. We do not rely on our own strength to live and to strive. But we rely on the grace of God! The grace of God is sufficient for us.

There was an important Person in the scene where Jesus was baptised. Till now we have not mentioned yet. He was the Holy Spirit.

After Jesus was baptised and while he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him with a bodily form like a dove (v21-22). Not only was Jesus baptized by the Holy Spirit, He promised to baptise his followers with the Holy Spirit and fire (v16).

We can see from The Gospel of Luke and The Acts of the Apostles, its sequel, that there will be breakthroughs in people’s blind alleys when people live by the power of the Holy Spirit. It happened when Jesus was on the Cross and when the disciples encountered persecution.

It is the power of the Holy Spirit! Hence, Jesus never walk alone and those who follow Him shall not be lonely too. Indeed, Jesus has baptised us with the Spirit.

Who do we live for today? Whom shall we respond to? What are the things we must do in our lives? How shall we live our lives? Have we heard the voice of the Father? Or, are we willing to hear Him?

God continues to issue His invitation this day and he said to us, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

How will you respond to Him? May the Lord lead and guide you.