Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself what was the significance of Jesus coming from Nazareth in Galilee to the Jordan River?

Points 1&2: Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee to be baptized in the Jordan by John.

It is interesting that the Bible mentions that Jesus came all the way from Nazareth to the Jordan to be baptized by John, the Baptist as John prepared the way for Him. Nazareth was at least 70 miles or 3 days walking distance from the Jordan River. This showed me Jesus’ commitment to be baptized.

It becomes that much more interesting that John baptizes Jesus when John specifically told the people “And this was his message: ‘After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’” (Mark 1:7-8)

If anything, people may have expected John to be baptized by Jesus. It did not happen that way.

I asked myself what was the significance of Jesus’ baptism?
Mark 1:9 did not really give me the details so I looked to other Gospels to see if they gave me reasons. The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew gave a reason.

I asked myself what do I learn about Jesus' CHARACTER?
Jesus did not have to be baptized because He was already perfect but took the long trip and allowed John to baptize Him to set an example to the people of the importance of baptism. Not only that, but Jesus was modeling the importance of humility and commitment. Thank you Lord!

It was so cool to read about Jesus’ commitment. Three days is a long trek to take to be baptized and yet Jesus took that trek. He did not allow obstacles to come in the way nor did Jesus have the attitude that He is in control and should be baptizing others rather than being baptized. This also shows Jesus' humility and the stand Jesus takes.

Implications:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
Jesus set an example to me that baptism is important and should be followed because Jesus Himself was baptized and was setting an example. Also, if I need to get something done, I should not let obstacles stand in the way. It could have been easy for Jesus to reason that Galilee was right in Nazareth to be baptized in the Sea of Galilee so why bother trekking for 3 days by walk. However, Jesus does not do that but goes all the way to the Jordan instead of asking John to come to Galilee.

This passage encourages me very much to show how committed Jesus was to get baptized but also what a stand Jesus took without letting obstacles come in the way. Right now, my sweet wife Chandraleela and I are facing a lot of obstacles while looking for a place to rent. One obstacle or another has come our way. Yesterday, my wife and I were so excited about a place because the communication was going so well until we let the person know it is for a family of 6: 4 adults and 2 kids. Then, they hesitated and told us they have a tenant pending. Almost the whole day was spent looking for places but no place has been found for us to live. We took a stand to be honest about how many family members will stay with us without thinking, oh no, what if they don't give it to us. Yes, a lot of people are saying no but as Pastor Josh reminded me, integrity and honesty is so important. Pastor Josh was proud of our family for not cutting corners to get a place to live that we like. It has been very challenging though but through the Word of God, we have realized that taking a stand for what is right is so important even when obstacles are in our way. Pray to the Lord Jesus for us please as we continue to search for the right place and find the right landlord.

My precious daughter Esther came running into the bedroom to tell me, 'Daddy, today I found the verse in the Bible that you helped me recite when we were going to school: "Unless the Lord builds the house, our toiling is in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

How true that is! When we take a stand for doing what is right, the Lord Jesus will be in it. My wife prayed that I don't become anxious and prayed thanking the Lord for the place we are going to live at even before we found it because she knows the Lord already has a place for us even if we do not know about it yet. Thank you Jesus. 

Let us be commited to taking a stand for doing what is right.

I ask you now dear friend, what will you take a S.T.A.N.D for in life?
Dear friend, there are many things we can stand for in life but not every stand is a right stand. From Jesus, we can learn about the importance of taking a stand for doing what is right from a biblical point of view even when obstacles come our way. Jesus set a great example when Jesus walked for 3 days to get to the Jordan from Nazareth just so  John, the Baptist could baptize Him. It was a 70 mile walk and Jesus took it by taking a stand to be committed to do what is right. It is important to stand for what is right. It becomes that much more powerful when we take that stand when the tide is against us. Jesus did not let obstacles come in the way. We too should take a stand for doing right and not let obstacles come in our way.

I love how my loving wife Chandraleela used to get up at 3:00 a.m. to spend time with the Lord Jesus when she had to be at work from 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m as a registered nurse in a dialysis clinic. She did not think to herself, 'Ouch, I have to work a 12 hr shift everyday so I need all the sleep I can get'. No on the contrary, she knew how important it is to start her day by spending in prayer to the Lord Jesus and reading/meditating on His Word. It is her commitment and love for the Lord and the stand she has taken for the Lord Jesus that drew me to her in our courting days. Our daughters Esther (7+) and Evangeline (4+) go to the Bible when they and my wife get up to start their day.

When I think about what Jesus did, it reminds me of his servant Evangelist Billy Graham who took a stand for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be shared with all who would come to listen so He can point them to Christ. Graham did not let obstacles stand in the way but would visit different nations to preach the Gospel so souls can be saved. It was always to point people to Christ, Graham took a stand for the Gospel. I need to take a stand for the Gospel and point people to Jesus without making excuses about obstacles. Help me Jesus!

Graham never let obstacles stop him from preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ till he went to be with the Lord at 99 years of age because he knew Jesus alone could give Eternal Life to a world marred in sin. Graham knew how much Jesus loves them and wanted them to experience the love of Christ.

It will not be easy to take a stand many times for issues you believe in that are biblical especially when things don't go our way, but taking a stand for Jesus and the Bible is the best thing we can do. Taking a stand for doing right is the best way to go. Spending time with the Lord Jesus is so important for us so Jesus can guide and lead us, taking the right stand in life.

As the COVID-19 virus is still underway, your faith could be tested and put through the fire challenging your stand on biblical issues. But, you don't have to give in to the negativity that prevails around you. You can be a voice against dishonesty, cutting corners, abortion, etc, and everything that goes against Scripture. You can overcome and become a beacon of light to those around you as you depend on the Lord Jesus Christ!

Yes friend, you can! You can take a stand! Yes, you can! But it starts with Jesus Christ and the principles of His Word revealed through the Gospel! Friend, more than anything, we should take a stand for Jesus Christ in our lives.

We all need Jesus in our lives because sin has marred our relationship with God separating us from Him. Now because of this deadly virus known as sin, it will prevent us from taking a stand for righteousness because it is a slave master keeping us in its bondage but thanks be to God that we can be freed through what Jesus did for us. Thank you Jesus! Jesus will help us take a stand for doing what is right when we yield our life over to Him.

We can know what Jesus stands for by reading His Word, meditating on it, and following it.

Friend, there will be those that tell you that this is the 21st century and the Bible is outdated but it is not friend. The Word of God stands the test of time and is the same when God gave it to His people to share with all those that would be born later such as you and me.

It will be easier to take a stand when we believe 'The Bible is the Word of God', instead of believing 'Bible becomes the Word of God' or 'Bible contains the Word of God'.

I love how Pastor Josh, Pastor Mike, Pastor Paul, Pastor Ridge, Pastor Terence, and Pastor Lake take a stand in our church to emphasize that 'The Bible is the Word of God'

Believing in the other two statements will only make us pick and choose what parts of the Bible we want to follow. We cannot choose which instructions to follow and which instructions to skip when we want to assemble something. No, all the instructions have to be followed in its context.

In the same way, God the Author of Life has given us an instruction manual here on earth to follow for our well being. It is the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation for us to follow. There is a song called 'B.I.B.L.E': Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.' I like to think of B.I.B.L.E as 'Breathe in Bible, Live Eternally'.

There is also a children's song called 'BIBLE, that's the book for me. I stand on the Word of God. BIBLE'

We cannot follow the Bible or take a stand on our own without the help of the Holy Spirit. Allow the Lord Jesus to help you to take a stand for Him, for He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit, guiding and leading you! Yes, He will!

As COVID-19 has struck the world, we all will be faced with making a stand for what we believe is the right thing to do. Let our decision be based on taking a stand for what is biblical in all issues such as sanctity of life, sanctity of marriage, sanctity of people's spiritual well being, etc.

You can let obstacles control you or let the Lord of Heaven and earth help you through the obstacles. It starts with taking a stand for your faith regardless of how tough the journey will be. Friend, the Lord will get you through so don't give up regardless of the days that go by! Today, May 16, the Lord Jesus encouraged me from Proverbs 16 where it says,

"We can make the plans but the final outcome is in the Lord's Hands. We can say we are right, but is the Lord convinced? Commit your work to the Lord and it will succeed." (Proverbs 16:1-3, TLB)

"Make your plans, counting on the Lord to direct." (Proverbs 16)

When you have to take a stand for a particular issue or reason and it glorifies the Lord, may you be given the strength and endurance to come through in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Amen!  Ask the Lord Jesus to reign in your life and He will!

You maybe asked to take a stand that you alone are supposed to do just as Queen Esther was chosen to free the Jewish people from the evil clutches of Haman. She fasted, prayed, and decided to take a stand against evil even when she knew her life could be at stake.

For you, your life may not be at stake, but your career could, your family could, your integrity could, etc. With the Lord's help and your love for the Lord, it will help you through the obstacles to be committed as you walk and talk with Jesus daily. Thank you Jesus. Come as you are and find help at the throne of grace for all your needs. Praise the Lord!

One day I met a former instructor of mine who told me something to the effect that these days no one participated in class like I did. The class had to do with law & morality. Whether it was concerning abortion, homosexuality, etc, I always spoke up against abortion, homosexuality, etc defending morality even if I was the only student speaking against them because I wanted to take a stand. My stand was based on Biblical principles. These days we are so afraid of 'what other people would say or think of us', 'are we politically correct' etc, even if we are speaking the Truth from Scripture in love. That is not taking a stand. Let us be BC (Biblically Correct) than PC (Politically Correct).

What Jesus did should motivate us not to be silent but speak out  regardless of the obstacles that may come our way whether it is losing a job, being ridiculed by our peers, family members etc as long as we speak the Truth of the Word of God in love.

Taking a stand does not just have to do with moral issues but in our daily lives too!

Trust in the Lord and allow Him to help you through the situations. Many people throughout history have taken a stand on many issues but it was not always peachy. I am not going to say that it is going to be easy but the Lord will strengthen you through the situations.

What about you friend, are you willing to give up your life for Jesus Christ, your job for Jesus Christ, your sleep time, etc?

We cannot on our own without the love of the Lord and His strength permeating in us. As we turn to the Lord, He will give us the strength. May we always put Jesus Christ first taking a stand for Him in our family, in our career, in our academics, job, etc. Whatever the outcome, we would have taken a stand for the Lord of the Universe. Help us Jesus!