Barton's Bible Study Notes

Life of Christ: Unit 3 - Sections 22-23

Read Matthew 3:1-17, Mark 1:2-11 and Luke 3:1-22. These are the accounts of the ministry of John the Baptizer. John also gives an account of the Baptizer’s ministry in John 1:15-34, but this took place after our Lord’s Baptism by John and His temptation by Satan. Note that John mentions the Baptism of our Lord as having taken place. After introducing two of his disciples to Jesus, Jesus returns to Galilee with them instead of going into the wilderness for forty days.

1. What was different about John’s lifestyle?

2. Why do you think he did this?

3. Mark says John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Does this mean you have to be baptized to have forgiveness of sins? Explain.

4. Those who came to John to be baptized were not sinless. They came, confessed their sin and were baptized by John as a sign of their repentance in preparation for the coming of the King. Jesus Christ, however, was completely sinless, yet He also came to John to be baptized. Why do you think He did this? What did His baptism mean or symbolize?

Read Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13 and Luke 4:1-13. James tells us that God is unable to be tempted. But man can be tempted. Jesus Christ is God, but He is also man. As God, Jesus Christ could not be tempted, but as a man, He could be tempted. Remember that when Jesus Christ was tempted by Satan, He was tempted as a man, not as God. In two of the three temptations, Satan says, ‘If you are the Son of God...’

5. What do you think Satan means by the title The Son of God?

6. List the three temptations through which Satan put Jesus Christ and our Lord’s response to each one.

The Applications:

What are the applications of these passages to our lives today? Identify as many as you are able.