Relationship With Oneself Shapes Relationship With Others

SUNDAY Worship Service: NOVEMBER 3, 2024

Relationship With OneSelf Shapes Relationship With Others

MATTHEW 3:13-17

Rev. Jason Noh

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Opening: Relationship with oneself begins with the sense of identity. 

Identity, Self-awareness

Attunement & Mirroring 

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)

“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)

The Biblical identity is the healthy identity. 

5 Values of a Worldly Self-Image
a.       Possession
b.      Accomplishments, Achievements 
c.       Position
d.      Appearance, health
e.       Connections, Influence

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (v.17b)

Strong sense of identity builds strong relationships with others. 

“John would have prevented him, saying ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’” (v.14)

“He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’” (Matthew 17:5)

Self-fulfilling prophecy

Closing: We need to proclaim the truth of the Gospel to ourselves each day.