Lesson 6 Public Ministry of Jesus

Introduction
Have you experienced preparing for something very important? Did everything fall into its proper place
as you have expected?
We have turning points in our lives which influence us greatly. Preparation is very important so when
we encounter these instances or turning points, we are ready. The kind of preparation we have at present will
determine one’s identity and mission.
Why must Jesus be baptized with water if it was intended for the forgiveness of sins? Did Jesus
commit sins? These are some questions which will be dealt with in this lesson. Jesus’ turning points and
preparation for his public ministry will be discussed; his baptism and temptations.
BAPTISM OF JESUS BY JOHN
Matthew 3:1ff – John’s preaching in the Judean dessert.
At the heart of the message of John was the imminent judgment of God, so to prepare for this great event, he
summoned the people to:
1. Repent - The call to repentance is a call for man to admit that his life is going on in the wrong
direction.
Metanoia – a total change of heart (not just regret or sorrow for sins, doing something to pay for
them or a resolution not to commit the same sin again)
2. Express their repentance in ethical renewal
Man’s sincerity in his relationship to God is demonstrated by his generosity and kindness towards the
poor, honesty and justice in the performance of his job.
3. Submit themselves for baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

The baptism of John therefore is for the forgiveness of sin and preparing the people for the salvation that the
Messiah would bring
Why then did Jesus submit to such baptism?
The Baptism of Jesus
(Matthew 3:13-17)
Later, Jesus coming from Galilee, appeared before John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
John tried to refuse him with the protest, “I should be baptized by you; yet you come to me!” Jesus
answered: “Give in for now. We must do this if we would fulfill all of God’s demands.” So John gave in.
After Jesus was baptized, he came directly out of the water. Suddenly, the sky opened and he saw
the Spirit of God descend like a dove and hover over Him. With that, a voice from the heavens said,
“This is my beloved Son. My favor rests on him.”

For reflection:
John baptized Jesus. It was Jesus who approached John and asked to be baptized. What could this act of
Jesus mean?
1. If John the Baptist’s baptism is the baptism for repentance of sins, Is there anything strange about
Jesus being baptized by him?
 2. If John the Baptist baptized Jesus does this seem to show that he is superior to Jesus? Write your
reactions and insights.

The Three Phenomena in Jesus’ Baptism

 The heavens were opened: The opening of the heavens signifies that God has come to visit his
people. It symbolizes God’s intervention in human affairs to liberate his people through his Son-made-
man, Jesus the Christ.
 The Spirit of God descending like a dove: It signifies God’s Spirit resting on Jesus to anoint him with
extraordinary power and the gifts he needed for his public ministry. The dove also symbolizes the
Spirit’s gentleness and peace whose presence characterizes the divine joint mission for which God
sent Jesus and the Spirit to accomplish for the people of Israel and the whole world. Jesus came to
draw all to himself not by his power and force of arms, but through his love and sacrifice.
 A voice from heaven proclaiming: “This is my beloved Son with Whom I am well pleased”: The voice
from heaven was God the Father’s affirmation of Jesus as the Father’s own beloved Son, the Messiah
who will save his people from their sins.
Twofold meaning of Jesus’ baptism
1. It was a deliberate act of self identification with sinful men.

4 ways of self identification

a. Jesus identified himself with men in their search for righteousness.
b. Jesus joined those who are being prepared for the coming of the Kingdom of God.
c. Jesus identified Himself with men in their search for God.
d. Jesus identified with men in their sin and sorrow.

2. It was a willing act to dedicate Himself to the purpose of God.

“You are my dear Son, I am well pleased with you.” (Mk.1:11)

“You are my dear Son” comes from Psalms 2:7 which describes God’s sending of His Messiah and
His triumph.
“I am well pleased with you” is from Isaiah 42:1 which is about the “suffering servant” of God.

This baptism of Jesus by John was presented as the consecration of Jesus as the Messiah – King , the
Anointed One. Jesus confirmed His conviction concerning the Father’s purpose in sending Him into the world.
He was the Messiah, God’s chosen Son. In and through Him God would accomplish the salvation of mankind.
But his Messiahship would take the form of a suffering servant. He would save men by suffering with and for
them and Jesus could truly be the servant of men – the man for others – by truly identifying himself with men
whom he came to serve.

Church Teaching:
Catechism of the Catholic Church #536
The baptism of Jesus is the acceptance and inauguration of His mission as God’s suffering
servant. He allows Himself to be numbered among sinners; he is already the “Lamb of God, who
takes away the sins of the world.” Already, He is anticipating the “baptism” of His bloody death. He is
 coming to “fulfill all righteousness,” that is, He is submitting Himself entirely to His Father’s will: Out of
love he consents to this baptism of death for the remission of sins. The Father’s voice responds to the
Son’s acceptance, proclaiming His entire delight in His Son. The Spirit comes to “rest on Him.” Jesus
will be the source of the Spirit for all humankind. At His baptism, “the heavens were opened” – the
heavens that Adam’s sin had closed – and the waters were sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the
Spirit, a prelude to a new creation.
Point for reflection:
 What is the meaning/ significance of Jesus’ baptism in our lives as baptized Christians?
 What does it mean to become a suffering Messiah like Jesus?

The Great Temptation of Jesus

Exposition:
 Temptations are enticements to evil, seductions to sin, whether by persuasion or by an offer of some
pleasure that leads to death.
 In every temptation experience man is presented with two basic alternatives:
1. To remain loyal to God and do what he knows is right
2. To subordinate this loyalty to some other value which at the moment seems to be important.
 Normally the problem in temptation does not lie in our aims and objectives but in the means we freely
choose to achieve them.

The Temptation
Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty
days
and forty nights, and afterwards was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the
Son of God, command these stones to turn into bread.” Jesus replied Scripture has it: ‘Not on bread
alone is man to live but on every utterance that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Next the devil took him to the holy city, set him on the parapet of the temple, and said, “If you
are the Son of God, throw yourself down. Scripture has it: ‘He will bid his angels to take care of you;
with their hands he will support you that you may never stumble on a stone.’” Jesus answered him,
Scripture also has it: “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

The devil then took him up a very high mountain and displayed before him all the kingdoms of
the world in their magnificence, promising, “all these will I bestow on you if you prostrate yourself in
homage before me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Away with you Satan! Scripture has it: “You shall do
homage to the Lord your God; him alone shall you adore.’”

At that, the devil left him and angels came and waited on him.

Meaning of Jesus’ Temptations:

 In his baptism, Jesus was recognized as the Servant – Messiah. He was discerning his true vocation
as given by His Father.
 The devil tempted Him so he would give up on his mission and settle for some compromise.
 The devil challenges Jesus to prove the authenticity of his identity.
 The temptations that Jesus experienced present to him the prevailing Jewish ideas of a Messiah.
 1. “If you are the Son of God, order these stones to turn into bread.”( Economic Expert)

Jesus knew the anguish of his people who were poor and oppressed. He knew the misery of poverty.

He could bring material abundance and put an end to poverty. That would confirm Jesus’ messiahship and
drew people to him.

But Jesus recognized a more urgent need than material needs; that is a right relationship with God.

His mission was to save his people from sin and not to satisfy all their physical and material needs. His
mission was to awaken his people to their deepest need which could not be subordinated to any other
need.

Answer: “Man cannot live on bread alone but in every word that comes from the mouth of God.

2. “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.” (Wonder Worker)

He can dazzle people with his miraculous deeds and so people would believe that truly he is the Messiah.

His mission was not to seek a great name for himself by his ability to work strange wonders.

His mission was to draw people to the Father by his preaching and by doing the will of his Father. He
rejected the way of worldly prestige and reputation.

Answer: “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”

3. “All these I will give you if you kneel down and worship me.” ( Political Genius)

He could put an end to Roman cruelty; put an end to people’s suffering. He can gain all the world’s power
by paying homage to Satan.

Jesus knew that the people were suffering from a deeper and more serious bondage – that of a life
harassed by fear and anxiety, sick of hatred for enemy, empty of purpose and meaning: A life of
separation from God.

The deliverance that the people needed most could not be attained through a change of government but
only through the active, concrete expression of God’s love and purpose in human life.

Answer: “Worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.”

“The devil departed until a more opportune time.”

 Jesus’ life was a life of temptation because of the great decision he had made in the desert. His
choice was to be renewed again and again.
 He was even tempted by Peter to avoid the cross (Mt. 16:23).
 At the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed to be spared from the cross but He did not
compromise his mission: “Not my will but your will be done.”( Lk. 22:42-44)
 By his example Jesus teaches us to object the worldly way. Jesus opted for the long and hard way
by obedience to His Father’s will, the way of self giving love. No shortcuts, no compromise.

Meaning of Jesus’ temptations for us:

 People have been tempted by the possibility of gaining more riches, popularity and power and
sometimes we allow all these enticements to destroy our lives.
 Life confronts us with problems and we are tempted to find easy solutions. Satan is a wily tempter he
does not tempt us to do outright evil. He leads us to rationalize the evil that we do as “good for us”
here and now (ex. “I had to do t because of…) Satan disguises his suggestions in many ways – a
practical solution to a problem, a friend’s advice, etc..but never in a clear cut mode.
 Our sufferings are often caused by the temptations we surrender to.
 God tempts no one. Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity, it gives birth to death.
(James 1:13-15; cf. CFC 2191)
 Temptation accosts everyone, especially those who consider themselves resolute in doing good.
Temptation comes at a time one is trying to accomplish something really good.
 When we are faced with temptations, God offers us strength to endure the trial for we are weak in the
face of temptation without God.

Church Teaching
Catechism for Filipino Catholics #2190
In “lead us not into temptation” we pray that God may not let us enter into, give in, submit to
temptation. Such a petition follows Christ own warning to his disciples in the garden: “Be on guard and
pray that you may not undergo the test. The Spirit is willing but the nature is weak” (Mt.26:41). God surely
does not want us to be tempted but rather to be liberated from temptation. Our petition, then, becomes an
invocation for the spirit of discernment and of decision.

“No trial greater than human endurance has overcome you. God is faithful and will not let you be tempted
beyond your strength. He will give you, together with the temptation, the strength to escape and resist.”
(1Cor. 10:13)

 The saints exemplify this promise of God.

St. Ignatius of Loyola experienced difficult/serious temptations from the devil to depart
St. Teresa of Avila from the seemingly difficult missions to which God has called
St. John Ma. Vianney them, but they were strengthened by God to overcome their
St. Augustine temptations.

Points for reflection:

1. What are these occasions in my life tat tempts me to go away from God?
2. How do I overcome these temptations I face in my life?