Matt Otto – Faith Baptist Church

Breaking All The Rules

Matt Otto D-Groups April 21, 2024April 23, 2024Bridegroom, Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath, Luke, Pharisees, Physician, Son of Man, the law

Are you a rule follower, or do you consider the rules made to be broken?

My brother has three wonderful children – a son, flanked by two daughters. They are gifted, creative, winsome, and love Jesus. Also, all three of them enjoy playing card games, board games, as well as the occasional video game. Out of the three, however, my nephew is the most difficult to play with, especially when he was younger. He consistently had an advantage, especially if the game was new or entirely unfamiliar. Why, you might ask? Well, though he would explain the game before starting, he would, without fail, change or add rules that would give him an advantage. These rule changes guaranteed that the game’s outcome would inevitably favor his hand, his game pieces, or his point total. They would ultimately aid him in snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Whether it was Uno, Monopoly, or Mario Smash Brothers, rest assured, I would be taken to the cleaners.

Luke introduced the Pharisees into his narrative for the first time when the Son of Man healed a paralytic man of his ailment and forgave him of his sin (Lk 5:17-26). After these “extraordinary things” (v. 26), this group became an integral fixture in Jesus’ life. According to historians and theologians, the Pharisees were a small group of perhaps 7000 that was devoted to Scripture and obedience to the Law. They identified with the judgment that Israel had endured as consequences of its rebellion and idolatry resulting in the destruction of the temple and the Babylonian exile in 586 BC. Consequently, the Pharisees were fundamentalists, sticklers for the details, and contending with many other Jewish groups that were liberals, politicians, revolutionaries, or ascetics. They were not only the observers of the rules, but their enforcers and, often, their creators. As a matter of fact, rather than the two commands Jesus stressed (Mk 12:30-31), the Pharisees had developed a system of 613 laws – a set of rules that had produced a heartless, cold, and arrogant brand of righteousness that cared more about external appearances than a change of the heart.

Jesus flips their entire religious system on its head! As Jesus eats with sinners and tax collectors (Lk 5:27-32), the Pharisees are appalled that this rabbi would break bread with such cheats and lowlifes. Furthermore, as Jesus’ disciples enjoy eating and drinking (Lk 5:33-39), the Pharisees are confused that they are showing little solemnity and piety. Finally, as Jesus is active on the Sabbath (Lk 6:1-11), the Pharisees are infuriated that He would have the audacity to break this holy day. How could Jesus not understand and obey the rules – their rules? Ah, and isn’t that where the problem lies? We so easily forget that when it comes to seeking, saving, and sanctifying sinners, God makes, demonstrates, and enforces the rules.

The Son of Man is the Physician who gives life to the sick. He is the Bridegroom who brings joy to His followers. And, He is the Lord of the Sabbath who gives rest to the weary. The rules of Jesus are not burdensome as are the rules of men (Matt 11:28-30). They are truly good news, since they are offered to the unworthy and undeserving. They are comforting, for their demands are met by their Provider.

Do you see yourself always on the right side of the rules? Are they your rules or are they Jesus’ rules? If they are your rules they will leave you sin-sick, joyless, and restless. Furthermore, you will project your rules upon others, leaving them miserable and empty. However, if the rules are Jesus’ rules, anchored in His Word, they will bring glory to your Heavenly Father and good news to your neighbor, because they give life, and joy, and rest. And, by the way, His rules never change. They will always be gifts of grace… You could say they aren’t rules at all!

Matthew 9:10-13 (ESV) – “And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard it, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.’”

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Make Me Clean!

Matt Otto D-Groups April 9, 2024April 9, 2024disease, Jesus, Luke, reconciliation, sin

It is always amusing when you travel or move to another country and begin to notice some of the interesting cultural distinctions that make each place and people unique and enjoyable. Having been born and raised in Germany during my childhood and early teens, there were certain manners and methods specific to a German way of doing things. Everyday tasks like shopping at the grocery store, eating at a restaurant, or using a public restroom are just a few of the experiences that can cause a visitor to think, “Well, that’s interesting.” Even manners pertaining to eating a meal are a bit different. For example, in Germany, good manners dictate both hands remain on the table throughout the meal. But most importantly, from the moment a child can hold a utensil, they are taught to eat with the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right hand. Regardless of the meal, Germans refuse to eat with their fingers. Even french fries are served with a tiny fork on the side. Apparently, when it comes to eating, Germans don’t like to get their hands dirty.

While eating sandwiches and pizza in this “clean” manner seems unconventional for many of us, it should be entirely expected for Christians to be bothered when they discover “dirty” sin in their lives. Of course, removing sin requires more than utensils, napkins, or hand soap. This cleansing requires the Purifier, Jesus, since our sin affects more than just our fingers and hands, but the very core of our being – the heart. Luke 5:12-26 records the separate encounters between Jesus and two men – a leper and a paralytic. Their conditions and subsequent miraculous healings become object lessons to those who witness these events and those who read them even now.

The ailments that these men suffered from illustrate the effects of sin on our lives. Leprosy or Hansen’s disease “lingered for years, causing the tissues to degenerate and deform the body… It is … a disease of the nervous system because the leprosy bacterium attacks the nerves… then spreads to other parts, such as the hands, feet, face, and earlobes.” Like leprosy, sin corrupts and, like paralysis, sin has consequences. Sin usually begins in subtle, almost unseen ways. Yet, over time it proceeds to spread like a cancer, separating the sinner from family, friends, even God. The consequences of sin leave a sinner incapable of helping himself and dependent on the intervention of others. This demands honesty, when a sinful brother or sister is ignoring sin’s sickening symptoms. It also requires love, care, and patience for people who are unable or unwilling to come to Jesus on their own.

The interactions between Jesus and these two afflicted men is rife with beauty!

Jesus welcomed these men, when conventional culture and religion had rejected them. He came near to them when others overlooked them or feared them. Most importantly, the Seeker and Savior met their greatest need by cleansing their heart and forgiving their sins (Lk 5:13-14, 20-25; Mk 2:17). The need of every man woman, and child is not to be relieved of the hardships and ailments of this life, but to be rescued from the judgment that sin requires. And the desire of every believer should be to become clean and remain clean. This dramatic change turns into our plea for reconciliation to those around us! Paul describes this dynamic in his familiar words written to the church at Corinth:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor 5:17-20)

What joy to know that when we recognize that we are gravely infected with sin’s terrible virus and in faith request, “Make me clean!” Jesus heals us. So, if you have not surrendered your life to Jesus, who sought you, gave His life for you, and lives so you can live – run, walk, even crawl to Him! Admit your need to Him, ask Him to forgive you, and turn away from your former way of life. If you are a follower of Jesus – restored to new life – you have been given a gift that only God could provide: true forgiveness and a second chance! Like the former leper, live as a new, metamorphosed creation! And, like the former paralytic, walk, dance, and glorify God. Make an onlooking world exclaim, “We have seen extraordinary things today” (Lk 5:26).

Psalm 103:8-12 (ESV) – “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”

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Resurrection Life

Matt Otto D-Groups April 4, 2024April 4, 2024Good News, Gospel, Jesus, Luke, resurrection

A skeptic’s response to the resurrection might sound something like this: “Do you seriously believe that Jesus was crucified in the most brutal and efficient manner devised in history and then rose from the dead, leaving an empty tomb behind?” Consider this question for a moment and then ponder your answer. Most of us would say, “Of course.” But why have you come to this conclusion? Certainly there is historical evidence and support from historians that validate the life and death of a man named Jesus. As a matter of fact, no true historian worth his salt would deny these facts. However, the bodily resurrection of a man once dead is a bit more difficult to believe, isn’t it? Yet, Luke is very clear in stating the purpose for writing his Gospel account: “… to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us … having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account” (Lk 1:1-4). In other words, Luke documents the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, from His birth through His ascension, using the accounts of those who were participants or first-person spectators in order to authenticate every happening.

As Luke’s account of Jesus’ life closes with the “unbelievable” events of chapter 24, we find a group of female followers discover an empty tomb and a disciple, by the name of Peter, who investigates their claim. Would that be enough to convince a skeptic that Jesus arose from the dead? How about all of the number of witnesses who claimed to have seen Jesus, beginning on the Sunday following His crucifixion? The list is quite lengthy: Early on Sunday morning Mary Magdalene and other women saw Jesus at the tomb. That same morning, Jesus appeared to Peter (Lk 24:34; Mk 16:7). Later that day, disciples traveling to Emmaus walked, talked, and ate with Jesus (Luke 24:13-35). Finally, still on Sunday, Jesus appeared to ten disciples, without Thomas, for a visit and little snack (Lk 24:36-49; Jn 20:19-23). A week later He appeared to the disciples again, this time with Thomas present (Jn 20:24-31). Jesus visited various disciples, both in Jerusalem and in Galilee (Jn 21:1-14; 1 Cor 15:5, 7). He even appeared to 500 followers at once according to Paul’s defense of the resurrection (1 Cor 15:6). Jesus’ appearances spanned a 40 day period between the resurrection and ascension with the final one occurring on the Mount of Olives as the disciples watched Him leave their sight and return to His Father (Acts 1:1-11). But, is the large and diverse group of eyewitnesses enough to sway a skeptic toward belief? While it may help, in the mind of a skeptic, their testimony may only be a collaborative effort to cover up the embarrassment of a wasted three-year devotion to a make-believe king! However, Dr. Peter Kreeft, professor of philosophy at Boston College, points out the obvious conundrum:

“Why would the apostles lie?….Liars always lie for selfish reasons. If they lied, what was their motive, what did they get out of it? What they got out of it was misunderstanding, rejection, persecution, torture, and martyrdom. Hardly a list of perks!”

The fact is that the most powerful evidence for any skeptic on the spectrum of doubt is not usually the “facts” that may be presented in a spiritual conversation or debate. Especially today, in a time where “my truth” carries more weight than “the truth”, facts carry very little impact. While the happenings and circumstances surrounding the resurrection are entirely true, the hardened heart of a skeptic or cynic is often left unmoved by cold historical facts. However, a changed, compassionate, and devoted life is hard to dismiss. The resurrection life that the disciples experienced following their encounters with the living Christ and with the indwelling Holy Spirit caused them to embody the Apostle Paul’s words, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21). According to tradition – other than John, who died in exile on the island of Patmos – every one of the apostles died as a martyr taking the Good News to the nations.

The standard has not moved. It remains that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17). The Good News never changes! Nevertheless, the need for genuine surrender and dynamic life-change has never been more essential in making the living Christ known! Chinese church leader and martyr, Watchman Nee, once wrote, “Christ is the Son of God who died for the redemption of sinners and resurrected after three days. This is the greatest truth in the universe. I die because of my belief in Christ.” Has the Good News of the living Savior so captured you that you live for it fully?

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (ESV) – “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”

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The Weeping Humble King

Matt Otto D-Groups March 26, 2024March 26, 2024Lord Jesus, Luke, Messiah, obedience, Passover, prophecy, the cross

There are many reasons that cause people to shed a tear: grief, pain, depression, even joy. Usually the cause is an event or experience that affects us personally. It is much less common for us to cry over the needs of others. Whether this is due to narcissism and selfishness or a lack of compassion and empathy, is hard to say. However, the fact remains that we are moved to a greater degree by our own condition than by the condition of others.

This is not the case with the Lord Jesus. As He completes His journey to the cross by entering Jerusalem on the first day of the Passover week, Luke’s readers are reminded of why the Messiah came and how deeply He is moved by His mission (Lk 19:28-44). As a matter of fact, after sovereignly preparing every detail for his mode of transportation and fulfilling prophecy, the disciples rejoice and praise God, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Lk 19:37-38; see also Zech 9:9). The reference to the one “who comes” is a reminder to the reader who Jesus is and why He has come (Lk 3:15-17; 7:19-23). Jesus has come to bring salvation and judgment, and these two purposes are inseparably linked.

On the one hand, Jesus – the once-and-for-all Passover Lamb – came to save the lost (Lk 19:10). He was fully obedient to the Father. His humble submission to His Heavenly Father is to be our example. Paul leaves no room for debate, when he points to Jesus as our model for humility and sacrifice:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)

On the other hand, Jesus is the perfect judge who has the power to condemn. In offering Himself as the substitutionary sacrifice for rebellious sinners and as the propitiation for objects of wrath, the Savior becomes judge, jury, and redeemer. Those who are guilty and lost now have an invitation and hope. Rebels are now offered peace and freedom. However, the offer must be accepted and appropriated. The Apostle John puts it this way: “Whoever believes in [Jesus] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (Jn 3:18). Every person must make a choice.

With the reality of the cross looming and eternal destinies standing on a knife’s edge, Jesus looked across the Kidron Valley toward Jerusalem, the city of peace, and began to weep. He knew the hearts of men and the plight of those in peril. He knew that the crowds that were laying palm branches before Him and shouting “Hosanna!” (Matt 21:8-9) would shout “Crucify, crucify him!” in just a few short days (Lk 23:20-21). He saw the horrific consequences that would result from their failure to recognize His kingdom. He realized the delay that this failure would cause in fulfilling the promises to God’s people. Jesus “audibly sobbed” because the ones He came to save had rejected His lavish love and peace-giving reign.

While the Bible is clear that God remains faithful to His covenant people, Israel, and has a future plan for their salvation, the Jews of Jesus’ time missed the day of His visitation. Since they did not believe, they were condemned. The gravity and urgency of the situation should break our hearts, fill us with compassion, and bring us to tears for those who need Jesus’ gracious visitation in their life. Don’t wait! Plead with the lost: “… now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2). Pray for, talk to, and share the Gospel with those Jesus came to seek and save.

Isaiah 53:3-6 (ESV) – “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

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The Cross Before Me …

Matt Otto D-Groups March 12, 2024March 12, 2024Gospel, Jesus, Luke, Simon Peter

For many, the events described in Luke 5:1-11 are at least somewhat familiar. We can almost smell the wooden boats, feel the dampness of the nets, see the sun glistening off the water, and hear the lapping of the waves on the shore. We can empathize with the fishermen’s unsuccessful night of toiling – the backbreaking letting down of the dragnets and straining to pull them back in, only to repeatedly discover that they are empty. Jesus’ imposition of using Simon Peter’s boat and later expecting the fisherman to climb back into it, put into the deep water, and let his nets down once more is wearisome to witness. Simon Peter’s emotional response makes complete sense, making his ensuing reply even more remarkable and admirable: “… at your word I will let down my nets” (v. 5). And, of course, we know the outcome of his obedience – two boats filled with fish to the point of sinking!

So, beyond the enormously large unexpected catch of fish, what makes Simon Peter fall at Jesus’ feet and express his brokenness and shame (v. 8)? What makes Simon, his brother Andrew, and co-workers James and John leave everything and follow Him (v. 11)? Is it simply the power of another miracle demonstrating Jesus’ authority over all He has created, material and immaterial? The fishermen have seen Jesus do great inexplicable things before. What is it on this particular occasion that captures their hearts?

The events that transpired on this lake, in these boats, and using these nets were personal. Jesus entered Simon Peter’s everyday routine. He entered what Simon considered to be comfortably familiar and methodically simple and turned his life on its head. Jesus’ astounding authority over the everyday ordinary caused Simon to be shaken and realize that his life is not his own. It was not Simon’s lake, Simon’s boat, and Simon’s net. The fisherman was a sinner with nothing to offer the holy Son of God, except surrender. Similarly, it is not your life, your job, and your marriage. You – everything that you are and hold – belong to Him and are under His authority. Paul, writing to the church in Colossae, reminds us that, “For in him all things were created … all things have been created through him and for him” (Col 1:16).

When this is realized – that we are sinners and have nothing to commend ourselves to God except repentance and trust – an invitation to follow Jesus on mission is presented. This mission requires that we leave everything behind (v. 11) and “count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Phil 3:8-10). The widely loved and sung hymn, I Have Decided To Follow Jesus, is a simple and worshipful reminder of this truth. It likely traces its origins to Simon K. Marak, a pastor, schoolteacher, and missionary from Jorhat, Assam, India. Other hymnologists attribute it to anonymous Indian Christians who were called to renounce their faith in Jesus or face martyrdom. Regardless of its exact origin, the wonderful hymn certainly communicates a desire to follow Jesus at all cost. He is worth obeying and surrendering one’s life to Him.

I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, I still will follow;
though none go with me, I still will follow;
though none go with me, I still will follow;
no turning back, no turning back.

Clearly, following Jesus and “fishing for people” should be natural responses to a personal encounter with the Jesus of the Bible. It is a call to go to your brother or sister, your friend or neighbor, your teacher or co-worker, and share the life-giving truth of the Gospel with them. The mission doesn’t wait for you to be ready – go when you’re not. The mission doesn’t wait for you to be clean and acceptable – follow when you’re not. The mission doesn’t wait for you to be courageous – speak when you’re not. In the end, we follow Jesus, because He has called us and will make us fishers of men (Lk 5:10; Matt 4:19). Like the prophet Isaiah, regardless of whether anybody else responds to the call, we will say, “Here I am! Send me” (Is 6:8).

Isaiah 6:1-5 (NIV) – “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’ At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. ‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.’”

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I Am All Ears!

Matt Otto D-Groups March 5, 2024March 5, 2024authority, demons, Jesus, Kingdom of God, Luke, Nazareth

Have you ever made someone’s acquaintance, heard someone speak, or read someone’s work, and realized that they were arguably the leading authority in their field? Most of us have likely met competent, even gifted, individuals that could speak and function in a particular specialty, but the likelihood that any of us have ever met the leading expert on a particular topic is remote indeed. Or is it?

In Luke 4, Jesus launches into His public ministry beginning in His hometown of Nazareth. Even though His messiahship is rejected in the synagogue of His youth, God’s divine purpose for His beloved Son is undeterred. As a matter of fact, Jesus’ teaching continued to catch the attention of all those who listened. The crowds marveled, were astonished, and amazed. And so, Jesus traveled down to Capernaum, a small, but bustling town, which became His primary ministry base for the foreseeable future.

The gospel writer notes repeatedly that Jesus’ teaching and actions were described as having authority. Unlike the scribes, who could only quote the rabbis who came before them, the teaching of Jesus was autobiographical, coming from the Old Testament Author Himself! Jesus’ teaching therefore had authority, because He had supreme authority (v. 32). Yet Jesus’ authority wasn’t simply an academic knowledge confined to the Scriptures. As a matter of fact, His word and teaching had power – it made things happen! His authority further spilled into the spiritual and physical realms.

Two individuals that were recipients of Jesus’ supreme authority were a demon possessed man (vv. 31-37) and Simon Peter’s ill mother-in-law (vv. 38-39). Both instances took place over the course of one Sabbath day. Both instances were addressed with a rebuke. Both instances provided instantaneous healing. And both instances, along with subsequent healing of the crowds, reveal that Jesus came to “teach the good news of the kingdom of God” (v. 43). Jesus’ sway over spirits and sickness give a glimpse into what awaits when He returns as victorious King (Rev 19:11-21). He will reign as glorious King and rule as perfect Judge. All enemies will ultimately be destroyed and the effects of sin will be no more (Rev 20:14-21:4).

However, while the ultimate realization of the kingdom is still to come, the King came to reign over our lives and rule in our hearts even today. We need this King, and we need Him now! His words are spirit and life (Jn 6:63). There is no one who can speak to our spiritual and physical needs like Jesus. He can address them with absolute confidence, understanding, and authority. As the Son of Man and Son of God, perfectly human and perfectly divine, He is the Leading Expert on what it means to be human. He knows how to meet every need that we have – both spiritual and physical. He is the personal Savior, who comes to us with grace, tenderness, and power (Lk 4:40-41).

May our prayer always be, “Let your kingdom come in my life! Your servant is all ears. Use me for your glory!”

Isaiah 35:1-6 (ESV) – “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.”

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A Gospel For All

Matt Otto D-Groups February 26, 2024February 26, 2024Isaiah, Jesus, Luke, Moses, Nazareth

Have you ever felt like you were special, part of a select few, and likely an essential piece to a significant project or plan? Maybe you were the first person picked for a playground game. Maybe you were given the impression that the selection process used to identify you was extensive. Maybe your employer has tasked you to oversee an important venture. Regardless of the circumstances, each of these scenarios give us the sense that we are distinct, extraordinary, or favored. It would surely bruise our ego if we found out that we are quite ordinary, one of many, and that success would have little to do with our talents or abilities – our choosing had little to do with any qualifications.

This was the hard truth Israel needed to come to grips with. In the Old Testament, Moses reminded Israel that they were special: “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth” (Deut 7:6). No doubt, Moses’ description would cause even the most downcast Israelite to puff out his chest with pride, pat his fellow Israelites on their backs, and say, “Wow! Did you hear that?! We are chosen, set apart, and treasured! Apparently, God has recognized our skill, strength, and spiritual potential.”

However, Moses continues in verses 7-8:

It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery …

Clearly, God’s selection has little to do with Israel’s religious credentials and all to do with God’s glorious character. It is His steadfast love and His faithful promise that ultimately aims to give them purpose and change their destiny. Unfortunately, over the course of Israel’s history, God’s chosen people lost sight of their inadequacy and continued need, and rejected the One sent for their redemption.

So, as Jesus launches His earthly ministry in Galilee, specifically, in His hometown of Nazareth and its synagogue, the Messiah confronts Israel’s religious leadership with their failing and with their need (Lk 4:14-30). As He receives the scroll of Isaiah, reads from it (Is 61:1-2), and returns it to the attendant, all eyes are on Him. Those present are riveted, awaiting the rabbi’s insight, and after sitting down, He states that “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (v. 21). Their surprise in hearing these words from the carpenter’s son quickly turned to anger, as Jesus refused to give them miraculous validation of His claim. He knew that no amount of miracles would satisfy them, because their reaction was simply a sign of their unbelief. Their response was indicative of their need for the Messiah as described in Isaiah’s words. Despite all of their God-given advantages – holiness, choice, value, love, and faithfulness – Israel was still in need of a redeemer.

The prophetic text that Jesus shares (Lk 4:17-19) contains three proclamations, each heralding good news delivered by the arrival of the Messiah. The announcement proclaims (1) that the bankrupt will become rich, (2) the captive will be set free, and (3) the debts will be settled. In other words, Jesus has come for those lost, broken, and needy. He has come for all people, Israel and Gentiles, alike (Is 42:6-7). However, based on their self-righteousness and sense of importance, Israel and its spiritual leaders’ crashed headlong into Jesus’ message. They considered their good works sufficient, while God found them to fall woefully short of His perfect standard. Despite their desperate distress they rejected the all-sufficient Savior.

We are no different! We often compare ourselves to others, evaluate our “goodness” on a sliding scale, and consider God impressed by our spiritual status. It is easy to forget that without the Savior and the Good News that He provides, we are spiritually poor, captives to our sinful desires, blind to God’s love, and oppressed by a debt that we are incapable of paying. Yet, Jesus came to save the lost (Lk 19:10)! God loved us before we loved Him (1 Jn 4:19) and chose us to be His own without being qualified or lovely. What a gracious and merciful God!

Isaiah 42:6-7 (NIV) – “‘I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.’”

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So Much Better Than…

Matt Otto D-Groups February 20, 2024February 20, 2024fully human, Jesus, Luke, Son of God, temptation, Victorious

A dozen sweet, freshly baked donuts that beg to be eaten… Items collected in an online “wishlist” quickly ordered with only a few keystrokes… Exciting, binge-worthy television shows ready to be watched for hours… We all have our little temptations. They often take the form of food, stuff, and comfort. And while those previously suggested temptations may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, they nevertheless can become major problems for health, finances, or relationships. Moreover, when it comes to serious temptations, the stakes are even higher. The dangerous deception of a temptation is not simply that it causes us to question God’s character, but scarier still, that it leads us to respond in selfish disobedience. Yet, in Luke 4:1-13, God’s beloved Son provides us with a wonderful example of how to live a victorious Christian life.

In its surrounding context, the temptation of Jesus confirms that the Father’s approval expressed at Jesus’ baptism was warranted and properly placed in His beloved Son. When the Father exclaimed, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Lk 3:22), it was an expression that demonstrated Jesus’ readiness to defeat sin and begin His undaunted, submissive journey that would lead Him to the cross and fulfill His Father’s redemptive plan.

So, as the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness for 40 days, Luke’s account brings to mind another temptation account that took place approximately 1500 years earlier, when Israel grumbled their way through the wilderness after their flight from Egypt. Yet, Jesus’ submissive faith stands in stark contrast to Israel’s repeated failure. He is better than Israel!

Furthermore, He is better than Adam (Lk 3:38; Rom 5:12-19). Jesus experienced the full force of Satan’s assaults and responded to each with undaunted trust in God, His character, and in His written Word. Every temptation our Savior experienced – from the three Luke records, the others that constituted His time in the wilderness, as well as the many that He would face on His way to Golgotha – were as real as every temptation that we face. They were powerfully custom designed by the prince of the power of the air (Eph 2:1-3) to entice Jesus to seek comfort, pursue fulfillment, and find care outside of God’s will. So, as the incarnate Son of God, Jesus was fully human, a high priest “who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15). This is a big deal! In short, because He is both the perfect, eternal high priest and the once-and-for-all sacrifice (Heb 7:26-28). He is the only means for salvation. There is no other!

But there is also a very practical, daily application of Jesus’ victory, because His wilderness encounter gives us a model for success in the midst of a sinfully seductive world that aims to win our affections (1 Jn 2:15-16). When the enemy dangles the shiny lures of this world in front of our noses in an effort to coax us from the protective shadow of our Hiding Place, let’s draw upon the stored-up Word (Ps 46:1-11; 91:1-2; 121:1-8) and trust in our Sustainer, Shepherd, and All in All. In other words, we can “with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16).

Psalm 91:1-2 (ESV) – “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”

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Well Pleased

Matt Otto D-Groups February 13, 2024February 13, 2024Beloved, Father, holy spirit, Luke, Son

Words are unbelievably powerful! Proverbs 18:21 tells us that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” I am sure most of us were told to respond to a verbal insult during our childhood with the following retort: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Certainly, the idiom was well-intentioned, but sadly misleading for most of us. Words do hurt, and while they may not break bones, they certainly cut deeply, bruise our soul, and leave our heart in pieces. On the flipside, carefully chosen and well-intentioned words have the power to build up and give grace to those who hear (Eph 4:29). One person who knew this well and communicated accordingly was Mister Fred Rogers, famous children’s TV personality and ordained Presbyterian minister. Besides his most recognizable quip, “Won’t you be my neighbor?”, Mr. Rogers consistently told his audience of children that he was proud of them.

In Luke 3:21-22, a voice resounds from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” As Jesus rises from the waters of the Jordan River in prayer, God, the Holy Spirit anoints Him for ministry and God, the Father declares His pleasure in His treasured Son. God’s declaration is the primary point of the text. Fixed in the midst of three significant events that launched His public ministry – John’s message of repentance, Jesus’ baptism, and Jesus’ temptation – the proclamation serves as a confirmation of kingship and a declaration of delight. It confirms that Jesus is the Messiah who has come to suffer and declares that the Father rejoices in Jesus’ present holy conduct and future glorious work. The phrases “beloved Son” and “well pleased” bring to mind Old Testament passages like Psalm 2 and Isaiah 42.

As The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you… Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. (Ps 2:7-12)

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. (Isaiah 42:1-4)

These passages brim with an invitation to love and adore Jesus for who He is (King) and what He has done (come to save). The Father is out front, inviting us to join Him in celebrating and rejoicing over the suffering servant, Jesus. In John’s Gospel, Jesus describes the Father’s response to His Son’s redemptive role in the following manner: “… I lay down my life for the sheep… For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again” (Jn 10:15, 17).

Why would the Father love His Son and be “well pleased” with Him for suffering and dying, not for something the Son had done, but for the trespasses of others? The answer is found in the surrounding context of God’s declaration, particularly in Jesus’ genealogy. For here and in His temptation (Lk 3:23-4:13), Jesus is presented as the second, true, and better Adam. Whereas the first Adam failed, the second Adam succeeded. Whereas the first Adam lost everything, the second Adam provides an eternal inheritance. Whereas the first Adam lost his bride through age and death, the second Adam will never be separated from His Bride. Whereas the first Adam’s death brought death, the second Adam’s death brought life.

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. (Rom 5:18-19)

In His sinless humanity, Jesus became our perfect substitute. This should give us great assurance, because “the free gift is not like the trespass” (Rom 5:15-17). It succeeds and supplants the failure of the first Adam. Paul put it this way: “… where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Rom 5:20, KJV). Everyone who has abandoned self-effort and works, and instead has placed their personal trust in the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus, now stands righteous, accepted, and loved. God is well pleased with you! A new relationship has begun and new heavenly affections have been ignited. As Mr. Rogers said on one occasion, “We are all longing for perfection, but that doesn’t mean you have to be ‘perfect’ to be loved.” We simply need to be “in the Beloved.”

Ephesians 1:6-7 (ESV) – “… he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace …”

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Baptism: Water, Spirit, and Fire

Matt Otto D-Groups February 6, 2024February 6, 2024baptism, holy spirit, Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, Luke, repentance

Everything about John the Baptist is captivating! First, John was born in a most unusual and miraculous way, fulfilling prophecies dating back 700 and 430 years before his birth (see Is 40:1-5 and Mal 3:1; 4:5). Also, his times were filled with turmoil and tumult, led by volatile and villainous people hungering for political and religious power. Furthermore, his appearance was overtly prophetic. With long, matted hair and an unkept beard, he dressed in garments made of camel hair, and sustained himself on a diet consisting of locusts and honey. Even his message was different. It was singular, direct, and repetitive. According to the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, it was simply, “Repent!” (Lk 3:3; Mk 1:4; Matt 3:2).

Which leads to the most captivating aspect of this larger-than-life biblical personality: his purpose. One of the most profound things about John’s ministry was that it pointed to something greater than himself and his ministry. He was the forerunner, whose role was to prepare the way for the arrival of royalty. This royal figure – the Christ or Messiah (Anointed One) – was of such significance that John was to level and straighten the paths for this King’s arrival. Through John’s ministry, “Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low” for the entrance of this singular King and His glorious kingdom (Lk 3:4-6).

In Luke 3:15-17, John the Baptist describes his ministry in the following fashion:

As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 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. 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.”

It is clear that John utilized the practice of water baptism in preparation for Jesus’s ministry. Similarly, it is important to note that there is a difference between John’s ministry and Jesus’s ministry. This is evident in John’s deferential description, placing him at the feet of Jesus, not even worthy to untie his sandals. What incredible self-awareness, humility, and reverence of the Messiah from a man who Jesus says “among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist” (Matt 11:11). So, what is the difference between John’s baptism and Jesus’s baptism? What is the difference between the baptisms of water, Holy Spirit, and fire?

Not unlike water baptism today, John immersed those who came to him in the waters of the Jordan River as a symbol of their spiritual posture. To put it another way, John’s baptism was an external sign of a person’s internal repentance. It, therefore, was intertwined with his preparatory purpose: turning the hearts of people back to God for the arrival of the King. John heralded the message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt 3:2). Put bluntly, John was shouting, “King Jesus and His kingdom are here! So, it’s time to get your heart and life turned around, because He is judge, jury, and executioner!” John expected Jesus to come with great might, power, and justice. He, like many, envisioned the Christ as a victorious military leader, who would separate the wheat from the chaff by crushing the Roman occupation and overthrowing religious corruption.

Yet the hearts of people did not change and eventually rejected the King. The kingdom did not come in the form of a military conquest and ritualistic cleansing as John and others expected (see Lk 7:18-23). Instead, the kingdom came in an unlikely way, with the King’s victory won by means of His sacrificial death, burial, and triumphant resurrection. However, even before these glorious events, Jesus had promised that He – God – would remain with us always by means of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Jn 14:25-29).

Unlike water baptism, the Spirit’s baptism isn’t simply a symbol of a spiritual reality, it is a spiritual reality! Salvation comes through giving up on your own goodness, works, knowledge, and wisdom and trusting in the finished, perfect work of Christ (Eph 2:8-9). All those who receive salvation or new life in Jesus are baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit. As the Holy Spirit takes residence in us, He begins His transformational work. Like fire, He begins to melt our very core. Like a refiner, He heats us up until He is able to skim off our impurities. More and more, our life begins to mirror back Jesus’s reflection. And as the Holy Spirit continues to melt our hearts, skims away the dross, allows us to cool, and repeats the process, the more we begin to look like the Lord Jesus (Gal 5:22-25). The Holy Spirit enables us to do what we could never do on our own by convicting (Jn 16:8), regenerating (Jn 3:5-6), assuring (Rom 8:16), enlightening (Jn 16:13), transforming (2 Cor 3:18), bearing fruit (Gal 5:22-23), gifting (1 Cor 12:7), and empowering (Acts 1:8).

Galatians 5:22-25 (ESV) – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

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Author: Matt Otto