The Baptism of Jesus
\nJanuary 8, 2017
\nMatthew 3:13-17<\/p>\n
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.\u00a0 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”\u00a0 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”\u00a0 <\/em>Then John consented.\u00a0 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.\u00a0 At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.\u00a0 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”<\/em>\u00a0 (NIV1984)<\/p>\n Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/p>\n Who are you?\u00a0 There are any number of situations where the way in which you answer that question is very important.\u00a0 For example, if I go into the doctor\u2019s office and the receptionist asks me who I am, I would say, \u201cI am Steve Lockman and I have a 9:00 appointment with the doctor.\u201d\u00a0 At the same time, when I go to visit someone in the ICU, I need to pick up the phone outside the entrance, dial the number posted on the wall and identify myself by saying, \u201cI am Pastor Lockman and I am here to see so-and-so.\u201d\u00a0 On more than one occasion I have had a young member of the congregation I was serving ask me what my first name is.\u00a0 I smiled and say, \u201cPastor will do just fine.\u201d\u00a0 And yet, when I go home to Minnesota I am either Steve or Stevie or Padre.\u00a0 When I go to Seattle I am Papa Steve.<\/p>\n Who are you?\u00a0 While there are any number of situations where the answer to that question is indeed very important, our text for today gives us the opportunity to look at one of\u2014 if not the\u2014 most powerful answer to the question, Who are you?\u201d\u00a0 Today, let\u2019s see how these inspired words of Matthew\u2019s Gospel enable us to remember and to rejoice in saying:\u00a0 My Baptism Establishes Who I Am!<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 We need to look at our text for today from two very different yet closely related perspectives.\u00a0 First, let\u2019s look at this text from Jesus\u2019 perspective.\u00a0 Then, let\u2019s look at this text from our perspective.<\/p>\n If you have your Bible with you I invite you to open it up to Matthew chapter three.\u00a0 This portion of Scripture focuses our attention on the ministry of John the Baptist.\u00a0 As the angel Gabriel had told Zechariah (John\u2019s father), the ministry of John the Baptist had one central goal.\u00a0 Gabriel announced, \u201cHe will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous\u2014 to make ready a people prepared for the Lord\u201d<\/em> (Luke 1:17).\u00a0 In keeping with the role that God Himself had given to him, John\u2019s ministry was marked by two things.\u00a0 First, John boldly proclaimed the message, \u201cRepent, for the kingdom of heaven is near\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 3:2).\u00a0 Secondly, John was called \u201cthe Baptist\u201d<\/em> because one of the most visible and one of the most well-known aspects of his ministry was found in the words, \u201cPeople went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.\u00a0 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 3:5, 6).\u00a0 Because of the uniqueness of John\u2019s ministry and because of the power of John\u2019s message people began to wonder if John the Baptist might possibly be the Messiah whom God\u2019s people had been waiting for for so many generations.\u00a0 (See Luke 3:15)\u00a0 John, however, very quickly and very clearly made sure that everyone understood who he is and what role God had given to him.\u00a0 In the verses preceding our text we hear John say to the people, \u201cI baptize you with water for repentance.\u00a0 But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry.\u00a0 He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 3:11).<\/p>\n It is against that backdrop, my friends, that God the Holy Spirit led Matthew to record an event that caught John the Baptist completely off guard.\u00a0 Matthew writes in the opening verses of our text, \u201cThen Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.\u00a0 But John tried to deter him saying, \u2018I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n John knew exactly who Jesus of Nazareth is! \u00a0John knew that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the \u201cLamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world\u201d<\/em> (John 1:29).\u00a0 Therefore, John tried to \u201cdeter\u201d<\/em> or \u201cprevent\u201d<\/em> Jesus from being baptized\u2014 not just once, but over and over again.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Because John knew that since his baptism was indeed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins and since Jesus is the true Son of God who has no <\/strong>sin whatsoever (See Hebrews 4:15) that Jesus did not need to be baptized by John.\u00a0 No, rather John needed to be baptized by Jesus!<\/p>\n Jesus humbly listened to all the reasons John was giving for not <\/strong>baptizing Jesus.\u00a0 Then Jesus put an end to the discussion with one simple authoritative statement.\u00a0 Jesus said to John, \u201cLet it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Just as John knew who he was\u2014 so did Jesus.\u00a0 Just as John knew his role, his mission, here on this earth\u2014 so did Jesus.\u00a0 Because of who Jesus is and because of why Jesus came into this world Jesus knew that He needed <\/strong>to be baptized by John.\u00a0 Therefore, Matthew tells us \u201cThen John consented.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n For approximately thirty years Jesus had been living in relative obscurity in a relatively insignificant little town called Nazareth.\u00a0 (See John 2:44-46)\u00a0 Now, however, was the proper time.\u00a0 Now was the proper time for Jesus to be openly identified as the Promised Messiah.\u00a0 Now was the proper time for Jesus to enter into what is called the \u201cpublic phase\u201d of His ministry here on this earth.\u00a0 Now was the proper time for Jesus to \u201cfulfill all<\/strong> righteousness.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 For thirty years Jesus had been humbly and quietly fulfilling His role as the Savior of this world by quietly and humbly living an absolutely perfect life\u2014 in our place.\u00a0 But that was only \u201cpart\u201d of the righteousness that Jesus needed to fulfill for us.\u00a0 In order to \u201cfulfill all<\/strong> righteousness\u201d<\/em> Jesus not only had to live a perfect life for us, but He also had to suffer and die on the cross as our Substitute to pay the penalty for our sin.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why Jesus insisted on being baptized by John.\u00a0 Here in the muddy waters of the Jordan (See II Kings 5) Jesus was willing to stand alongside His fellow Israelites to identify Himself as our true Brother.\u00a0 Here in the muddy waters of the Jordan Jesus was willing to receive the same baptism that \u201csinners\u201d were receiving to identify Himself as the One who was willing to walk the road that would lead Him to the cross on Calvary\u2019s hill.\u00a0 Here in the muddy waters of the Jordan Jesus was proclaiming that the reason He came into this world as the \u201cLamb of God\u201d<\/em> was to offer Himself as the \u201catoning sacrifice\u201d<\/em> for all the sins of all mankind.\u00a0 (See I John 2:1)\u00a0 And, my friends, if there are any doubts, if there are any questions that Jesus\u2019 baptism does indeed establish who He is, namely, both our Brother and our Savior, look at the closing portion of our text.\u00a0 Matthew writes, \u201cAs soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.\u00a0 At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.\u00a0 And a voice from heaven said, \u2018This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMy baptism establishes who I am!\u201d\u00a0 Did those words ever come out of Jesus\u2019 mouth?\u00a0 Literally\u2014 no, they did not.\u00a0 Realistically\u2014 yes, they did!\u00a0 When the chief priests and the elders of the people challenged Jesus with the words, \u201cBy what authority are you doing these things? … And who gave you this authority?\u201d<\/em> Jesus responded by referring them to\u2014 John\u2019s baptism!\u00a0 (See Matthew 21:23-27)\u00a0 In essence Jesus was saying, \u201cMy baptism establishes who I am!\u201d\u00a0 When His fellow Jews persecuted Him for healing a man on the Sabbath day, Jesus responded by referring them to\u2014 His baptism by John in the Jordan River!\u00a0 (See John 5)\u00a0 In essence, Jesus was saying, \u201cMy baptism establishes who I am!\u201d\u00a0 And so yes, my friends, as we heard in our Epistle Lesson for today (Acts 10:34-38) Jesus\u2019 baptism did indeed play a very important role in both His life and in His ministry.<\/p>\n That leads us to ponder the question, \u201cWho are you<\/u>?\u201d my friends.\u00a0 What gives you<\/u> your identity?\u00a0 Sometimes we answer that question by referring to our work\u2014 What I do (or what I did) for a living establishes who I am.\u00a0 Sometimes we answer that question by referring to our achievements\u2014 What I have accomplished in my life establishes who I am.\u00a0 Sometimes we answer that question by referring to our economic status\u2014 My house, my car, my toys, my possessions establish who I am.\u00a0 Sometimes we answer that question by referring to our family name\u2014 My family heritage establishes who I am.\u00a0 Unfortunately, all of those answers are incomplete at best.\u00a0 They easily leave us with a lingering sense of doubt and insecurity.\u00a0 Thankfully, as Christians you and I are able to answer the question, \u201cWho are you\u2014 what gives you your identity?\u201d by confidently saying along with Jesus, \u201cMy baptism establishes who I am!\u201d<\/p>\n Take a moment to think about that wonderful truth, my friends.\u00a0 Through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism the God of Heaven washed you clean of all your sins.\u00a0 You are <\/strong>forgiven!\u00a0 (See Acts 3:38-39)\u00a0 Through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth, the God who has the power to say \u201cLet there be\u2026\u201d<\/em> \u2014 and there was! \u2014 used His almighty power to cause you to be \u201cborn again.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 You are <\/strong>a saved and justified child of God!\u00a0 (See John 3:1-8; Titus 3:4-7; I Peter 3:18-22)\u00a0 Through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism the Father of the heavenly lights adopted you to be His own \u201ctreasured possession.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 You are<\/strong> an heir of His heavenly Kingdom!\u00a0 (See I John 3:1-2)\u00a0 Through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism your crucified and risen Savior gives you the power to say \u201cNo!\u201d to sin, to say \u201cNo!\u201d to Satan and to live a life that is \u201cworthy of the calling you have received.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 (See Romans 6:1-4; Ephesians 4:1)\u00a0 Yes, my friends, your baptism establishes who you are!\u00a0 That\u2019s why Martin Luther taught God\u2019s people to confess, \u201cBaptism means that the sinful nature in us should be drowned by daily sorrow and repentance, and that all its evil deeds and desires be put to death.\u00a0 It also means that a new person should daily arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever\u201d (Christian Worship<\/em>, p. 12).<\/p>\n Who are you?\u00a0 When you walk into the doctor\u2019s office you may be Terri or Susan or Mike or David \u2014 but in reality you are<\/strong> a baptized child of God!\u00a0 When you walk into work you may be the boss or you may be an employee\u2014 but in reality you are<\/strong> a baptized child of God!\u00a0 At home you might be Mom or Dad, Grandma or Grandpa, brother or sister, one of the children or grandchildren\u2014 but in reality you are<\/strong> a baptized child of God!\u00a0 My prayer this morning, my friends, is that no matter where you are and no matter what you are doing, no matter whom you are with and no matter what position in life you may have, I pray that you will always remember and always rejoice in the privilege of being able to say with your Brother and your Savior Jesus, \u201cMy baptism establishes who I am!\u201d<\/p>\n To God be the glory!<\/p>\n Amen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Baptism of Jesus January 8, 2017 Matthew 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.\u00a0 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”\u00a0 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all 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