Module 1 | Lesson 6
College of Education I Religious Education Department | Notre Dame of Marbel University, City of Koronadal
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, the
students can:
D: present clearly the meaning and
implications of Jesus’ baptism and
temptations in preparation for His
mission in a tabular format
M: cite concrete ways of imitating
Jesus
in
daily
life
through
commitment writing
W: ask for the values of obedience
and commitment to God’s will
through praying the Lord’s Prayer
“..Thy will be done on earth as it is
in heaven..”
Introduction
Have you experienced preparing for something
very important? Did everything fall into its proper place
as you have expected?
We have turning points in our lives which
influence us greatly. Preparation is very important so
when we encounter these instances or turning points,
we are ready. The kind of preparation we have at
present will determine one's identity and mission.
Why must Jesus be baptized with water if it
was intended for the forgiveness of sins? Did Jesus
commit sins? These are some questions which will be
dealt with in this lesson. Jesus' turning points and
preparation for his public ministry will be discussed; his
baptism and temptations.
BTI
Knowledge and Pedagogy
Demonstrate content knowledge
and its application within and/or
across curriculum teaching areas.
Domain 3: Diversity of Learners
3.2.1 Implement teaching strategies
that are responsive to the learners’
linguistic, cultural, socio-economic
and religious backgrounds.
CapSoul of the Session
“No trial has come to you but what is human. God is
faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength;
but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that
you may be able to bear it.”
- 1 Cor10: 13 -
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ACTIVITY
A. Read about Jesus' baptism and Temptations: Mt. 3: 13-17 and Matthew 4: 1-11
B. Answer the following questions briefly.
1. Who baptized Jesus?
2. What is the meaning of forerunner?
3. In which river Jesus was baptized?
4. Think of the people in your life who, like John the Baptist, brought you nearer to Christ. Say a
prayer of thanksgiving for them.
ACQUISITION OF NEW KNOWLEDGE
PREPARATIONS FOR JESUS’ PUBLIC MINISTRY
Then, Jesus became a grown-up man. It was at this time that he was confronted with a
fundamental option - whether to live in accordance with God’s will or not.
A. The Baptism of Jesus (Mt. 3: 13-17)
Setting a transition from Jesus’ childhood to his adulthood, the Gospels agree on a
common point of introducing John the Baptist, a cousin of Jesus.
Although Jesus was sinless himself, it was fitting for him to be identified with us,
the sinful human race. He freely chose to go through everything sinners would
have go (except sin).
We should remember that John the Baptist was a Levite and a prophet. Jesus
was the Son of David, the heir to David’s kingdom. David and all the kings after him
were anointed by Levites; a Levite would also baptize Jesus. (Scott Hahn)
The “Spirit of God” that descended on Jesus affirmed the truth that Jesus was truly the
“Anointed One”, and re-affirmed by the Father through the “voice from the heavens” which said:
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased”.
Obviously, Jesus already embraced his mission as the Messiah, the Anointed One of
Israel.
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Finally, Benedict T. Viviano commented:
In later Christian tradition the baptism is regarded as the first NT revelation of the
Trinity, economically, because Father, Son and Spirit are here together (Jerome), and
Jesus’ baptism becomes a model for Christian baptism.
The Three Phenomena in Jesus’ Baptism
1. The heavens were opened: The opening of the heavens signifies that God has come to visit
his people. It symbolizes God’s intervention in human affairs to liberate his people through his
Son-made-man, Jesus the Christ.
2. The Spirit of God descending like a dove: It signifies God’s Spirit resting on Jesus to
anoint him with extraordinary power and the gifts he needed for his public ministry. The dove
also symbolizes the Spirit’s gentleness and peace whose presence characterizes the divine joint
mission for which God sent Jesus and the Spirit to accomplish for the people of Israel and the
whole world. Jesus came to draw all to himself not by his power and force of arms, but through
his love and sacrifice.
3. A voice from heaven proclaiming: “This is my beloved Son with Whom I am well pleased”:
The voice from heaven was God the Father’s affirmation of Jesus as the Father’s own beloved
Son, the Messiah who will save his people from their sins.
The baptism of Jesus revealed both who he was and what was his mission was. It
showed that Jesus was called to accomplish his Father’s saving work through the power of the
Spirit with which he was anointed.
B. Temptations of Jesus (Matthew 4: 1-11)
Right after Jesus’ baptism, “he was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the
devil” (Matthew 4.1).
Like any other human being, Jesus also confronted the dilemma, and ordeal of making a
moral choice - good, or evil, following God’s will, or heeding Self-interest!
A word of note, however, must be said on how the writers intended to use the words - to
be tempted. In our modern sense of the world, temptation is almost synonymous to something
evil, and wicked; something unwanted, and abhorred. But William Barclay offered us another
perspective on this reality, particularly in the context of Jesus’ temptation:
What we call temptation is not meant to make us sin; it is meant to enable us to
conquer sin. It is not meant to make us bad, it is meant to make us good. It is not meant
to weaken us, it is meant to make us emerge stronger and finer and purer from the
ordeal. Temptation is not penalty of being a man, temptation is the glory of being a man.
The Three Temptations of Jesus in relation to his identity and mission
1. To turn Stone into Bread (Matthew 4: 2-4)
Jesus was provoked - ‘if you are the Son of God’. Satan new Jesus’ identity as the Son
of God, the Messiah vindicated during his baptism by John the Baptist. Thus, “Christ is being
challenged to establish his credibility by offering evidence for his claims” - ‘command the stones
to become loaves of bread’.
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Fully convinced about his identity and mission, Jesus refused to become an Economic
Messiah, a Messiah only in the sense that he grants people their material needs and wants.
Otherwise, Jesus would simply appear to be “bribing people to follow him” in exchange of food.
Instead, he deliberately intended that people must “first recognize God as their ultimate good”,
must learn “complete dependence on God.” Only then that hunger, and thirst will disappear.
Only then that men and women will find their true satisfaction.
The first temptation of Jesus is asking us to ponder on our ultimate priority in life, to
center our life in obedience to the Word of God, to be faithful to the will of God in every given
situation, not on the momentary desires, and fleeting promises of this passing world.
2. To throw Himself from the parapet of the temple and command the angels to rescue
him (Matthew 4: 5-7)
Satan challenged a more spectacular display of Jesus’ power - ‘to throw himself down
and command the angels to catch him’. Again, Satan “dared” Jesus to do what is impossible in
the eyes of men and women to make a shortcut to his public ministry: let people be amazed by
his wonders, overwhelmed them, and reaped supports, and hearts.
But Jesus was careful. ‘You shall not put the name of the Lord, your God, to the test’
was a direct reprimand to what Satan had in mind. Jesus disapproved conversion made
because of wonders, and spectacles. He condemned the very idea of making himself a Magical
Messiah, a performer of miracles to win people’s allegiance.
‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test’ is an invitation for us to re-examine our
motivation, and attitude towards God. It is a gentle calling that simply asks us to respond in faith,
and to follow Jesus in the spirit of loving trust, and obedience - without the spectacles that our
doubtful hearts, and selfish desires so desperately seek.
3. To prostrate Himself and worship Satan (Matthew 4: 8-10)
Satan made his greatest offer - ‘All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself
and worship me’. The entire world, the whole population that Jesus will save is just right before
him waiting to be conquered in their hearts form selflessness, and evil. Satan knew that. Thus,
he bribed Jesus, and offered him the world that Jesus will save, without sweat, in exchange of
his allegiance to Satan.
Such temptation is to become a Political Messiah, dominating men and women through
political power, and control.
God’s Kingdom does not depend or rest on power, control, or might, It’s place is in the
hearts of men, and women who embraced a life of humble confession of, and conversion to the
faith for it is only in this path that sin is conquered, and God reigns forever.
All three of the temptations we see Jesus confronting and defeating in the desert
represent the kind of temptations he would have to deal with throughout his ministry.
We must remember that the Gospels were written to guide the early church and its
members. They were warning Christians to resist temptation to find their own meaning and
purpose in life through economic security or through personal or political power over others.
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APPLICATION
Present clearly the meaning and values of Jesus' baptism and temptations following the
template given below.
A. On Baptism
What is the meaning of
Jesus’ Baptism?
What is the difference Give the three events in
between Jesus' baptism and Jesus' baptism
your baptism
1.
2.
3.
B. On Temptations
Temptations
Meaning
Value
Jesus’ Response
1st
2nd
3rd
ASSESSMENT
A. Write five significant lessons you have learned about the Baptism and Temptations of Jesus.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
B. As a baptized Christian, how can you follow Jesus example? Write five concrete ways of
being faithful and committed to your mission/God's will.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank you for coming to us in the person of your son, Jesus
Christ. We humbly say “yes” to your invitation to us and ask for grace and courage to serve
others as we have been served. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Singing and /or praying the Lord’s Prayer
REFERENCES
Quimba, Roawie L. (2011). Jesus Christ. Davao City, Philippines: Blue Patriarch Publishing
House.
Verzosa-Frago, Ester, Dango, Josephine C. (2005). Called to Meet Christ in Scripture, Church,
and Sacraments. Quezon City, Philippines: Sibs Publishing House, Inc.
ECCCE Word & Life Publications, Manila (CCC) Catechism of the Catholic Church, (1994)
ECCE Word & Life Publications, Manila (CFC) Catechism for Filipino Catholics, (1997)
Holy Bible
Vatican II Documents. The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents. Austin Flannery, O.P.
Costello Publishing Company. Northport, New York
Retrieved
January
15,
2021
reflection/baptism-and-temptation-jesus
https://www.theologyofwork.org/the-high-calling/daily-
Photos:
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