The Journey of Discipleship
Commitment #2 – Beware of Distractions
At the outset of Jesus’ going public, he came to the Jordan to submit to baptism by his cousin John, known as the Baptizer. Coming up out of the water, God’s shout reverberated from the clouds His blessing, pride in, and love for, His Son, Jesus. Mark, in his Gospel account, writes that immediately following that event the Holy Spirit whisked Jesus away to an uninhabited desert region (1:12, TPT). In Matthew’s account he records it was to reveal [Jesus’] strength against the accuser (3:1, TPT). It is extraordinary that, as a final step in preparedness for the journey ahead, the Father would choose, for His Beloved Son in whom He is well pleased, forty days of such extreme physical and spiritual testing.
1. Luke 8:19-21, John 2:1-11 – The distraction of ____________________________
2. Matthew 16: 21-23 – The distraction of _________________________________
3. John 2:23-25 – The distraction of _______________________________________
4. John 6:1-15 – The distraction of ________________________________________
We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all – all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get
what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
Hebrew 4:15 The MESSAGE