What Jesus Did! 'Beginnings' — Luke 3:23

Jesus begins his public ministry. He has accepted baptism, been anointed with the Spirit, and received affirmation from God. ^[1] Now he begins the public side of his life. If he were Joseph's son from Nazareth and just a carpenter, ^[2] there would have been little reason to describe any part of his life as public. From a non-descript little town, no one of importance would have known Jesus or cared about his actions. But he is much more than that. Now he begins his public ministry that will touch billions of people over the course of time. Just as Jesus' human beginnings were small, so also was his family small and insignificant. But, they are connected to a long line of folks - some of whom are important, many of whom are not - a line that extends back to Abraham and ultimately back to Adam and therefore back to God. ^[3] So in three ways, Jesus begins his ministry as God's Son:

1. He is God's Son because of conception by the Spirit.
2. He is God's Son through the anointing of the Holy Spirit at his baptism.
3. He is God's son as all of us are, a child of humanity that traces its beginnings back to the creative work of God.

We all have begun our human lives, but we need to begin our spiritual lives. The key is to start. Have you started? What are you waiting for? If you have started, are you growing in wisdom and favor with God and people as Jesus did?  ^[4]