The Beginning ... A Very Good Place to Start the Year

Introduction (5m)

ABC - the Beginning of Learning

Often at beginning of learning, we learn ABC’s.

Today, beginning of New Year, going to begin with an ABC about Jesus.

Six able-bodied volunteers to form letters A, B and C with bodies.

Explanation (5m)

A is for Arrived

2 x volunteers form letter A.

Matthew 3:13 NLT

Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.

J has arrived at beginning of earthly ministry.

J’s journey on earth begins with his birth.

J grows from a baby into a boy, and from a boy into a man.

Now he senses his Father wants him to start out on his ministry.

So makes his way here, to River Jordan, to be baptised by JtB - his cousin.

According to Mark, JtB had spent some time before this preaching in the wilderness. Encouraging people to be baptised and to repent of their sins and to turn to God and be forgiven:

Mark 1:7 NLT

John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.

That person was J, and now, at last he has arrived.

B is for Baptised

2 x volunteers form letter B.

Close eyes and imagine conversation between John and Jesus. JtB didn’t want to baptise J. JtB had been baptising people as a sign of their repentance from their sins - it showed they were sorry for the wrong they had done in their lives and wanted to turn away from sin. But knew J well enough to know he had never sinned! Knew Jesus was Son of God and could never do anything wrong. Didn’t need to be baptised!

But J was insistent. Determined to show what should be done. Insisted JtB should baptise him:

Matthew 3:15 NLT

But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.

He wanted to identify himself fully and publicly with sinners he had come to save.

It might be that the symbol of being “washed clean” in order to carry out all that God requires hints at the way J would take on the sins of the world and be punished instead of us when he died on the cross.

J probably went into the river and either JtB poured water on him, or more likely, J may have fully gone under the water as a sign of his baptism.

However it happened, it was a dramatic moment:

Matthew 3:16 NLT

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him.

Wouldn’t that have been amazing to witness!

C is for Chosen

2 x volunteers form letter C.

Ask congregation to discuss in pairs/small groups whey they think J was chosen by G to do. Invite feedback.

After J had been baptised:

Matthew 3:17 NLT

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

God was delighted his Son had come to JtB at River Jordan, in obedience to him, and in order to fulfil his plan for the world.

In his sermon in Acts 10, Peter says this event was beginning of J’s work:

Acts 10:37–38 NLT

You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

God gave J the HS’s power - he was truly the Son of God.

Application (5m)

A = Arrived, B = Baptised & C = Chosen

These letters are beginning of alphabet. This amazing event was the beginning of J’s earthly ministry and the fulfilment of God’s plan for his people.

J arrived at River Jordan. Baptised by John and filled with the Holy Spirit, and went on to the work God had chosen for him to do.

We have arrived at the beginning of a New Year. Many of us have been baptised in the Holy Spirit as followers of Jesus - given the same power to do good and to heal a broken world wherever we go. That’s why many of us wear uniform - as a visible sign of Holy Spirit power we have been given and the mission in the world that comes with it. We have been chosen to do things in God’s name to make this world a better place.

As we turn to prayer, consider what God wants you to do at the beginning of this New Year ...

Next Steps

Prayer Activity