Matthew 3-4

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (4:1). Born of God and born of a woman, Jesus was announced as Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23). Experiencing our humanity yet in perfect unity with the Father, Jesus was baptized (ch 3) and then led by the Spirit into a time of testing. He was weak, tempted and under pressure, yet he did not break relationship with God (4:4,7,10). In him, “the kingdom of heaven” came near and became available to us (4:17).

“Come, follow me” (4:19). When we repent and follow Jesus, he shares his relationship with the Father with us and we become whole, truly human, as God intended.