PROVENANCE

PROVENANCE

Monday, August 21, 2017

Matthew [MKJV] 3:13-4:17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him. But John restrained Him, saying, I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me? And answering Jesus said to him, Allow it now, for it is becoming to us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he allowed Him. And Jesus, when He had been baptized, went up immediately out of the water. And lo, the heavens were opened to 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. Then Jesus was led by the Spirit up into the wilderness, to be tempted by the Devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterwards hungry. And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But He answered and said, It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." Then the Devil took Him up into the holy city and set Him upon a pinnacle of the Temple. And he said to Him, If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down. For it is written, "He shall give His angels charge concerning You, and in their hands they shall bear You up, lest at any time You dash Your foot against a stone." Jesus said to him, It is written again, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God." Again, the Devil took Him up into a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him, Go, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve." Then the Devil left him. And behold, angels came and ministered to Him. But when Jesus heard that John was thrown into prison, He went back into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and lived in Capernaum, which is on the seacoast, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the nations! The people who sat in darkness saw a great Light; and Light has sprung up to those who sat in the region and shadow of death." From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent! For the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

Romans 12:2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God. [underlining mine]

2Corinthians 13:5 examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith, prove your own selves. Do you not know your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are reprobates?

Galatians 6:2-4 Bear one another's burdens, and so you will fulfill the Law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, being nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one prove his own work, and then he alone will have a boast in himself, and not in another.

1Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things, hold fast to the good.

  There were acts by Jesus to publically declare and establish His identity. Baptism (Mt.3:15-17), soon thereafter following the Spirit into the wilderness to fast for 4o days and then be tempted by traducer Satan. Was this as some tried to convince me as a young Christian, a training period for Jesus in His humanity? No. As with His baptism, and later miracles, the wilderness acts established His existent character as God Incarnate. (Jn.1:1)

  Claiming to be followers of Christ it is ours to emulate Him in kind as testimony of our new repentant character in and by Him.

  Let us too prove all to honor God by evidencing eternal life ours.

EBB4