For 40 Days – Day 32: Mission Prep: Content

Key Episode Scripture: Matthew 3-4 and Luke 3-4

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:20-21 ESVUK)

Jesus came to do much more than just one part of what is often emphasised. Some stress Him being a good teacher. Others stress that He’s the Saviour. Some speak of Him as the son of God, and others look at Him as the Son of Man. The gospel accounts invite us to consider all He was sent to accomplish. That mission would not have been accomplished unless He had gone through the necessary preparation. Previously, we looked at the context of the King being sent. This looks to outline the content of the preparation stages. Matthew and Luke’s approaches give us fascinating insights into it, which is why both are being used. This outline does not take the place of enjoying the reading, hearing, appreciating and applying the beautiful Word of God. It is here, however, to offer a basis on which concepts and conclusions will be explored.

Matthew 3

1-6 – John the Baptist preaching repentance for the impending Kingdom, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy. Description of his unconventional dress sense and diet and how he attracts those who came to be baptised, confessing their sins.

7-10 – John’s word to the Pharisees and Sadducees tells them to show the fruit of repentance because their heritage won’t save them, whereas God can make others part of the family. So it’s about the quality of the tree, which, if not good, is going up in flames.

11-12 – John says that someone will come after him who will baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire, gathering wheat and throwing the chaff in the fire.

13-17 – Jesus comes to be baptised and informs John, despite the protests, that baptism has to happen to do what’s right. As Jesus emerges, the Spirit descends, and the Father affirms the Son.

Matthew 4

1-2 – The Spirit leads Jesus to the wilderness for devil temptations. After 40 days of fasting, Jesus is hungry.

3-4 – The devil tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread. Jesus says God says man lives by God’s word.

5-7 – The devil tempts Jesus to jump off a temple top, saying scripture assures angelic insurance. Jesus says, God says don’t test God.

8-11 – The devil tempts Jesus from a mountaintop, displaying the world’s kingdoms and offering it to him if He worships him. Jesus dismisses him and says God says only God is to be worshipped and served. When the devil leaves Jesus is helped by angels.

12-17 – John’s arrest prompts Jesus to move to Capernaum, fulfilling the prophecy from Isaiah. He picks up John’s message of repentance as heaven’s kingdom is pending.

18-22 – Jesus goes by the Sea of Galilee, and he calls brothers Simon and Andrew, offering them to become fishers of me, and he calls brothers James and John, who leave their jobs to follow.

23-25 – Jesus tours Galilee, teaching, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing people. His fame spreads and more people bring sick with various issues to be healed. Great crowds are drawn from the area.

Luke 3

1-6 – Political and religious context dates the start of John’s ministry in the wilderness, fulfilling what Isaiah said about the one preparing the way.

7-9 – John tells the crowd to show the fruit of repentance because their heritage won’t save them, whereas God can make others part of the family. The quality of the tree, if not good, is going up in flames.

10-14 – John offers advice to different occupations on how they can show repentance

15-18 – Knowing who the people are expecting, John insists he’s only preparing the way for the next guy who will store the wheat and burn the chaff.

19-20 – John’s pointing out iniquity rubs Herod up the wrong way. Herod eventually uses this to lock John up.

21-22 – Jesus gets baptised and as he prays, the Spirit descends, and the Father affirms the Son.

23-38 – Outline of Jesus’s genealogy through Joseph establishing Him as coming from God, as He embarks in ministry at thirty.

Luke 4

1-2 – The Spirit leads Jesus to the wilderness for devil temptations. After 40 days of fasting, Jesus is hungry.

3-4 – The devil tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread. Jesus says God says man lives by God’s word.

5-8 – The devil tempts Jesus from a mountaintop, displaying the world’s kingdoms and offering it to him if He worships him. Jesus says God says only God is to be worshipped and served.

9-13 – The devil tempts Jesus to jump off a temple top, saying scripture assures angelic insurance. Jesus says, God says don’t test God. The devil leaves Jesus to find another good time for tempting.

14-15 – Jesus returns in the Spirit’s power and gets a good reputation in the area as he teaches.

16-22 – Jesus returns to Nazareth and, on the Sabbath, is invited to read and is given the scroll to outline His mission concerning how the Spirit anoints Him to serve powerfully. He then explains that what Isaiah is saying is about Him.

23-30 – After an initial positive response, Jesus points out that He didn’t expect to be welcomed at home and refers to how God used Elijah and Elisha to bless those outside the home. The people react violently to this and would have thrown Him off a cliff if He hadn’t passed through them.

31-37 – Jesus enforces the authority of the Word by dealing with a demon-possessed man who wants to reveal who Jesus is. People marvel at the teaching and the power. The reputation spreads.

38-41 – Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law of a fever. In the evening, Jesus continues healing many, even dealing with the demons who want to blurt out who He is.

42-44 – The following day folks want Jesus to stay, but Jesus informs them that He’s got to go other places as that’s His mission.

Next, we will explore some of the concepts that help us understand Jesus’ Mission Prep.

For His Name’s Sake

C. L. J. Dryden

Shalom