How can you grow in something if you’re perfect? Sounds like a paradox.  Our Lord Jesus Christ was true man and yet true God. As a human being, He had to grow up just like you and me. That’s part of His mission. We have already read how Jesus has traveled, suffered, been praised, and most likely ridiculed during His early years. The Bible tells us nothing from His return trip from Egypt until He was 12 years old and went to the Temple in Jerusalem with His parents.

Our spiritual walk will take us from Nazareth to Jerusalem when Jesus was 12, and then skip very quickly to the beginning of His public ministry when John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Why do you suppose the writers skipped so many years?

1. The Boy at the Temple. Go to Luke 2:41ff. Read to the end of the chapter.
   1. Were His parents obedient to the Jewish laws and regulations? Was this important in God’s plan? Explain.
   2. Travel is bad enough, but when you have to retrace your footsteps it can get mighty hectic. A one-day’s walk out and now back. How long did it take to find Him? And where?
   3. Go to verses 46-47. What does this tell you about Jesus’ wisdom?
   4. Jesus’ response to His parents’ question may seem rude to a normal parent. Do you suppose His parents didn’t see the light up to now?
   5. What do the last verses in this section tell us? And why is it important?
2. Jesus and His baptism. Jesus’ baptism is recorded in all four gospels. And we can learn something from each. (Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3; and John 1)
   1. The Matthew account: Matthew 3:1, 13-17.
      1. Where was Jesus baptized?
      2. Where did He come from?
      3. Notice the dialog between Jesus and John. What does “fulfill all righteousness” mean to you?
   2. The Mark account: Mark 1:4, 9-11.
      1. Where was Jesus baptized?
      2. Where did He come from?
      3. What difference do you see in this account compared to Matthew’s?
   3. The Luke account: Luke 3:3, 21-23.
      1. Where was Jesus baptized?
      2. Where did He come from?
      3. What differences do you see in this account compared to the previous two accounts?
   4. The John account: John 1: 28-34.
      1. Where was Jesus baptized?
      2. Where did He come from?
      3. What differences do you see in this account compared to the previous three accounts?
   5. The four gospels rarely tell each event. Why was Jesus’ baptism so important that all four mention this even? What was God’s seal of approval? Why is our baptism equally important?

Here is a table to record your summary:

Our Lord is Tempted

Here’s One!  None other than Satan himself may best frame the significance of Jesus’ baptism in light of His following temptation.  Adam was tempted too and quickly fell into sin that condemned us all.  Jesus, however, resisted an intense attack by the same person.  Before we go to our Lord’s temptation in the desert, let’s take a look at St. Paul’s epistle to the Roman Christians: Romans 5:12-18.

How many times have you heard said, “troubles will follow when you come to Christ?” Many times a person in their adult life will be led to the Cross of Jesus only to be drawn away by Satan in his devious ways. (See Parable of the Sower – Matthew 13). Yet our Lord was constant in His mission and vigilant in His love for you and me to save us from the same temptation to which Adam succumbed. This portion of our Lord’s walk is perhaps as important as His death on Calvary? Why?

Our Lord was no different in His walk. He was led immediately from His baptism to be tempted by the Evil One.

We are going to read and compare the Matthew and Luke versions of Jesus’ temptation. Matthew 4:1ff and Luke 4:1ff

• Who led Jesus into the desert after His baptism?
• “Man cannot live by bread alone,” is very true for you and me. What is so important about this statement in this story and Jesus’ temptation?
• Satan often uses the big word if in our world today, just like he did with Jesus. In our walk, how is the word if still being used to corrupt our lives?

Our Lord maintained His perfection through this great temptation. But Satan was not totally defeated. Read Luke 4:13. Looking forward in Jesus’ ministry, under what circumstances did Satan attempt to gain victory?

Tracing our Steps.  Let’s use this time to trace our walk with Jesus.  Think about this time in His life and remembering what He did for you and me.  Use this space to jot down your feelings about your walk today.