If we measure our goodness against the sins of others, it’s easy to pass judgment. But if we measure ourselves against the holiness of God, we’re not the judges we imagined ourselves to be. We’re the accused! When a sinful woman was brought to Jesus, He refused to condemn her, because her sentence would be paid in full on the cross. Since we’ve all been shown that same mercy, shouldn’t we be just as quick to extend it to others? Only the one without sin has the right to throw stones, and none of us qualify.
Jesus’ Baptism: Affirmed by the Father
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Why was Jesus baptized, even though He had no sin to repent of? First, it marked the beginning of His public ministry and vividly foreshadowed how it would end—with His death, burial, and resurrection. Second, it was God’s public affirmation that Jesus is “the Son of God,” a title reserved for the promised Messiah. This was no ordinary baptism. It was a line drawn in the sand for every watching eye, every questioning heart, and every doubting demon that the Messiah now stood in their midst. Some fell down in worship. Others clenched their fists in rage. Jesus’ baptism was both a declaration and a commitment, setting Him on an unshakable path to the cross, where the symbolic He enacted would become the brutal and beautiful reality that sets every captive free!
