Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “But my brother Esau is a hairy man while I have smooth skin. What if my father touches me? I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse on myself rather than a blessing.” (Genesis 27:11-12)
This Sunday, we begin a Lent series looking at some of the women from this year’s Lent book. Rebekah wants her second son, Jacob, to inherit God’s blessing to Abraham and Isaac, not the firstborn, Esau, So she wants to force God’s plan by deception and trickery. How can this be? Will God be tricked into picking the wrong son, just like Isaac was?
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. (Luke 4:1-2)
Immediately after his baptism, Jesus goes into the wilderness and fasts for 40 days. During that time, he was tempted by the devil. Why does this happen? Why is it recorded for us? What do we learn about Jesus? What do we learn about us?
When all the people were being baptised, Jesus was baptised too. (Luke 3:21)
Jesus begins his earthly ministry by being baptised by John in the Jordan. Why was Jesus baptised with John’s baptism of repentance? Does the Son of God need to repent, or is there something more to it?
John went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Luke 3:2)
Luke takes a slight pause to re-introduce us to John the Baptist. The last we read of him, he was living in the wilderness (Luke 1:80), but now he explodes into view as he prepares the way for the Lord. His focus is one of repentance. What does this baptism of repentance mean? Why is John talking about the forgiveness of sins.
‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’ (Luke 2:49)
Who is Jesus? Luke is continuing to tell us more about who Jesus is. After Jesus is separated from Mary and Joseph, they find him in the temple, listening to the teachers of the law, and asking them questions. Jesus knew exactly who he was, but did everyone else around him? Do we? Do you?