Remember and Do Not Forget, Lest You Fall
«All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.»
«Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 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. 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.»
Promise and fulfilment
In the Old Testament, the people of Israel were promised that through obedience and remembering God's guidance, they would possess the promised land and live. It was announced that God would test His people to see if they would remain faithful to Him.
In Christ, this has been perfectly fulfilled. After His baptism, Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tested. He resists the devil's temptations by appealing to God's word, thereby fulfilling the righteousness that Israel could not. His baptism and the voice from heaven confirm Him as the beloved Son, who perfectly walks the path of faithfulness, thus making true promised life possible for all of us.
Let these verses remind you to take your own Bible in your hands, read them there again and, if you wish, continue a little further. Holding God's Word in your hands also gives you a precious moment away from the digital world.
Do not read the Bible in one long run, but passage by passage: one text, unhurried, asking the Holy Spirit for understanding. Whoever tries to swallow everything at once loses the overview. Whoever takes one passage each day will see the whole picture over time.
The connection
Yesterday, we saw how Israel was tested in the wilderness and failed to trust solely in God's word. In the Old Testament, the people are repeatedly admonished to remember God's guidance and keep His commandments. Christ takes this path upon Himself; He enters the wilderness to succeed where Israel failed. His baptism is the beginning of this journey, a public affirmation of His divine sonship, enabling Him to fulfil all righteousness and overcome temptations.
Reflection
The journey through the wilderness is a metaphor for our lives. God doesn't always lead us along sunny paths. Sometimes, these are barren, challenging times when we wonder if we're even on the right track anymore. Yet, it is precisely these times that reveal what our hearts truly trust in. Do you remember those moments when God carried you, even when all seemed hopeless?
Just as Israel constantly needed reminding not to forget God's way, so too do we need this remembrance. Jesus Christ showed us how to endure in the wilderness: not by our own strength, but by holding fast to God's word. He demonstrated that obedience is not a burden, but the path to true life.
Today, you are invited to fix your gaze upon Jesus. He is the one who fulfilled all righteousness, who stood firm in the wilderness where we so often fall. His baptism and the Father's affirmation are a sign that He is the way we can follow, not merely to survive, but truly to live.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank You for this new day and for Your word that guides me. I remember the path You lead me on, even when it sometimes passes through the wilderness. Help me not to forget what You have done, and to recall the faithfulness of Jesus. Let me live today from His strength and hold fast to Your word, so that I may not fall. May my heart remain true to You, and may Your favour rest upon me, just as it rests upon Your Son, Jesus. Amen.
The thread
Yesterday, we focused on remembering the journey in the wilderness. Today, we deepen this by seeing how Jesus' baptism is the beginning of His path, where He stands firm where Israel failed. Tomorrow, we will see how, in this strength, He proclaims the Sermon on the Mount.
Today, remember all the way God leads you, and trust in Jesus, who has fulfilled all righteousness.
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