It’s Worth The Trip

Text:

Matthew 3:13:

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

 

Theme:

It’s Worth The Trip

 

Introduction:

• The text comes from the Gospel of Matthew.
  • The Gospel according to St. Matthew, is the first book of the New Testament and of the Gospels of Jesus, the Christ, and the 40^th book of the Holy Bible as a whole.
  • Matthew, the disciple of Christ, wrote in more detail of the life of Christ and His ministry than any other Gospel writer even though the book was written over 5-10 years later than the rest of the Gospels.
• In our text, it says “Then cometh Jesus”….
  • Having come into this world through the womb of the virgin, Mary
  • Having been serenaded by a heavenly host at His birth singing, “Hosanna to the Highest. On earth peace, good will toward men”
  • Having introduced himself to the priests in the temple at age twelve
  • Having obediently worked with His earthly father, Joseph, the carpenter, until His time had come to begin His ministry
• Also in our text, it says “unto John, to be baptized of him”
  • Jesus came with a purpose…to be baptized by John…
    • Jesus had to be baptized (Matthew 3:15, “And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.”) because:
      • He had to live as a man
      • Baptism was sanctified as an ordinance of the church
      • He was to fulfill the law
    • In this study, we will be focusing of the middle portion of the text…. “from Galilee to Jordan”

 

Body:

• To accomplish His appointed task of being baptized, Jesus had to travel from Galilee to Jordan
  • Galilee à where Jesus came from
    • The area originally established from the twenty towns given by Solomon to Hiram king of Tyre as payment for his work in conveying timber from Lebanon to Jerusalem.
      • 1 Kings 9:11, “(Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.”
      • In the time of Jesus, the region of Galilee grew to reflect a northern and southern territory and had the See of Galilee as its southernmost border.
      • The southern territory of the region of Galilee contained such known cities as Capernaum and Nazareth.
        • Jesus was “raised” in Nazareth and lived there with His parents through age 30…this is where Jesus’ departed from in our text.
    • Galileans were seen as “backwards” and uneducated…a downright INSULT
      • Many were rural farmers and poor
      • The language was deviant and guttural to the point that others could tell if one was a Galilean
      • To be from Galilee was just like being from Compton in LA, South Bronx in New York, or Bankhead in the “ATL” à These were seen as the “ghettos” of 1^st century Palestine.
      • This is why it was said in John 1:46, “And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?….”
    • Many well-known Bible personalities came from Galilee
      • Jonah…Isaiah…11 of the twelve Disciples…many of the first century original Christian converts… and JESUS!!
        • Therefore, because they were from the region of Galilee, these folks (as well as Jesus) were assumed to be, as we would call them, “round the way boys”, “trash”, “hood rats”, “bamas”…maybe even “thugs”
        • God took one who was “common” to save those who are “common” – THANK GOD!
          • Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
  • Jordan à where Jesus came to
    • The Jordan Valley follows the path of the Jordan River.
      • The total length of the Jordan River from Banias is about 104 miles in a straight line, during which it falls 2,380 feet and empties into the Dead Sea!
      • The Jordan River Valley region extends from the Sea of Galilee down to the Dead Sea and includes such known cities as Jerusalem and Bethany.
      • Our text refers to Jesus’ Baptism which occurred just outside of Bethany in the Jordan River.
        • This is the location of the first baptismal services.
    • The Jordan River and Valley is Biblically referred other ways…
      • The first historical notice of the Jordan is in the account of the separation of Abraham and Lot (Ge 13:10). “Lot beheld the plain of Jordan as the garden of the Lord.”
      • Jacob crossed and recrossed “this Jordan” (Ge 32:10).
      • The Israelites passed over it as “on dry ground” (Jos 3:17; Ps 114:3).
      • Twice afterwards its waters were miraculously divided at the same spot by Elijah and Elisha (2Ki 2:8,14).
    • Jordan is the most fertile area of the Holy Land
      • The Jordan Valley with the resource of the river was a beautiful and fertile region.
        • The Jordan River Valley region was the “prime real estate” of the Holy Land
        • The more affluent folks lived in this region, particularly the “capital city”, Jerusalem.
      • At the time of our text, the Jordan River Valley Region was reaping “Another Harvest” à Souls won to Christ
      • Since the Jordan River was the threshold of the promised land for Joshua, Jordan is also metaphysically seen as the last stop before going into Heaven.

I stood on the banks of Jordan

To see the ships go sailing over!

• Jesus traveled the distance between Galilee to Jordan
  • It wasn’t like a walk to the store down the street:)
    • We don’t know if it was all on foot or not but it was definitely not by car or train or bus🙂
    • The trip from Galilee to Jordan, which was actually from Nazareth to Bethany, covered a distance of about 43 miles.
    • The trip was not direct because it carried the individual through mountainous areas before it started to descend into the valley next to the Jordan River.
    • Although the region of Galilee was of higher elevation and therefore temperate in climate, the Jordan River Valley was a more tropical climate with its higher temperatures and humidity.
  • WHY did He do it?
    • Jesus had to be baptized as the others were
      • However, (some say) Jesus walked it to let all other converts be baptized before Him to allow for Him to have the “Grand Entrance”
    • Jesus had to be qualified by God
      • Matthew 3:16-17, “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
    • Jesus had to institute the ordinance of Baptism
      • Jesus was a “Good Baptist”:)
  • HOW did He do it?
    • AS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE
      • He was not in NEED Himself of baptism since he knew no sin
      • Jesus was to set the example for the rest of us à If Jesus had to be baptized, then what does that say about us.
    • IN THE RIGHT MANNER
      • Exodus 29:4, “And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.”
    • AT THE RIGHT TIME
      • Having lived “on the low” in Nazareth for 30 years!
      • When He was ripe and fit for service
    • AS THE PURPOSED WILL OF GOD
      • Jesus came to John…John did NOT go to Jesus
      • 2 Timothy 1:9, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”
      • Ain’t it a good thing that Jesus will DO even when we won’t!!
• Jesus walked FROM GALILEE TO JORDAN…would we?
  • Let us consider our own lives.
    • In the womb we enjoyed the comfort of perfect provision from the body of our mother and perfect protection from God, Himself. However, when the time of birth came, we HAD NO CHOICE but to “come on out” into a cold, mean world.
    • In our childhood we often had to face opposition and challenge as we were spurned to adulthood by our parents. We HAD NO CHOICE but to “deal with it” because of our obedience to our parents.
    • In our adulthood we have problems because we HAVE A CHOICE to do God’s Will or not. So, if there is any OPPOSITION, SUFFERING, or LACK OF IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION, we tend to choose not to “deal with it”.
  • If we had to travel from Galilee to Jordan as Jesus did, would we do it? Remember…
    • Jesus left the comfort and provision of His home to travel without money or planned provisions.
    • Jesus had not company with Him on His journey
    • Jesus go not big reception when He arrived…only John knew who He was.
    • Jesus knew His ministry’s end before it even began…He was making this trip for those who would crucify Him.
  • Jesus walked FROM GALILEE TO JORDAN…would we?

 

Conclusion:

• As daunting of a task as it was, for Jesus, IT WAS WORTH THE TRIP!
  • My Granddaddy used to say, “A MAN has to do what a MAN has to do!”
  • Jesus did not focus on what He wanted to do. HE DID WHAT HE HAD TO DO!
    • Luke 22:42, “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”
    • We have to do the same denial of self in our lives
      • Mark 8:34, “…Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
  • IT WAS WORTH THE TRIP for Jesus because it was done out of OBEDIENCE
    • Hebrews 5:8, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;”
    • We must also strive toward OBEDIENCE!!!
      • 1Peter 1:2, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ….”
      • We must also walk “from Galilee to Jordan” as Jesus did…
        • Through the pains
        • Through the struggles
        • Through the misunderstanding
          • As the gospel song says, “I’m Going Through”
        • To His JOY
        • To His FREEDOM
        • To His WILL
          • As the gospel song says:

When I see Jesus, AMEN

When I see Jesus, AMEN

All of my troubles

All of my doubts

Will be over

When I see Jesus, AMEN!!

 

#316