Season 1 of the TV series The Chosen features the tagline, “Get used to different”, based on a line by Jesus in the show. In yesterday’s passage, John was giving the people a taste of different in responding to their questions, “What should we do?”

Today, we see John continue to speak of what is different about the one to come. John was preaching a message of repentance and Jesus started His ministry with the same message (see Matthew 4.17, Mark 1.15, Luke 5.32). The Greek word translated “repent” means literally to think differently. Jesus brought a whole new way of thinking in the Gospel, as captured by the Apostle Paul: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2.8-9). Israel was looking for salvation by doing the right things the right way (works) but Jesus told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12.9).

Thank you, Lord, for bringing a different way: the freedom, peace, and grace of the Gospel!

Luke 3.15-22

15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ How is John’s prophesy of v. 16-17 in line with the expectation Israel had for the coming Messiah (see, for example, Psalm 110)? How was their expectation different from the ministry that Jesus brought?

+ What is different between the baptism practiced by John and the one being brought by Jesus? What does that difference mean to me?

+ We see Jesus praying immediately after His baptism and He continuously is in prayer through the Gospels. What should we make of Jesus discipline of prayer?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Baptism was and is a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. If Jesus is my Lord and Savior, have I made that same public profession? (see Romans 10.9-10)

+ Jesus set an example of a life devoted to prayer, to be in fellowship with and of the same mind as His Father. Do I seek the same level of communion with my Heavenly Father?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ Who do I know that is bogged down by the thinking of the world and needs a different way of thinking?