Then Jesus came...

Saturday, April 16, 2016 Comodoro Rivadavia, Patagonia

Scripture reading:  1 Sam 18    Psalm 11   1 Chron 6    Matt 3

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Matt 3:11-14 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. NKJV

O.  Matthew deals briefly with Jesus’ miraculous virgin birth (Chapter 1) and their move to Egypt and then to Nazareth (Chapter 2).  He then leaps past Jesus’ adolescent years to God’s John the Baptist, who knows he has been born to introduce the coming Christ.  “Then Jesus came...” first to be baptized and publicly endorsed by His Father’s voice from heaven.  He conquers Satan’s attempts to tempt Him to sin... and finally His wonderful ministry begins.  Then Jesus came... and my world will never be the same.

A.  Then Jesus came...  The Apostle Paul writes, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son... (Gal 4:4) As always God is right on time.  I was a little child in need of salvation.  Then Jesus came... and I fell in love with Him.  I was a 13 year old kid hanging by my finger tips on the face of a cliff in Oceanside, Oregon and sure to fall to my death.  I cried out.  Then Jesus came... and pulled off an impossible rescue.  I was a teenager seeking God for His will for my life.  Then Jesus came... and showed me the importance of the eternal as opposed to the temporal. 

P.  Yes, Lord Jesus, You always have come right on time.  And this fact fills me with confidence for the future.  Sometimes the black clouds on the horizon ahead show me that I am driving into a major storm, but I need not fear.  For I can count on You.  I can be called upon to speak to thousands of youth or to a dozen little kids... and You always show up right on time.  Your first coming was a miracle... and Your each subsequent coming is another miracle.  Thanks for coming to me today!  Amen.

Ralph

      George Beverly Shea sang this wonderful song

at Billy Graham’s Crusades

                       Written by Oswald J. Smith

1	One sat alone beside the highway begging,   His eyes were blind, the light he could not see; He clutched his rags and shivered in the shadows,   Then Jesus came and bade his darkness flee.
	When Jesus comes the tempter’s pow’r is broken;   When Jesus comes the tears are wiped away. He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory,     For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.
2	From home and friends the evil spirits drove him,   Among the tombs he dwelt in misery; He cut himself as demon pow’rs possessed him,   Then Jesus came and set the captive free.
3	“Unclean! unclean!” the leper cried in torment,   The deaf, the dumb, in helplessness stood near; The fever raged, disease had gripped its victim,   Then Jesus came and cast out every fear.
4	Their hearts were sad as in the tomb they laid him,   For death had come and taken him away; Their night was dark and bitter tears were falling,   Then Jesus came and night was turned to day.
5	So men today have found the Savior able,   They could not conquer passion, lust and sin; Their broken hearts had left them sad and lonely,   Then Jesus came and dwelt, Himself, within.