The Baptism of Jesus

The Gospel of Matthew The Baptism of Jesus - Matthew 3:13-17 January 12, 2025 As most of you know, I was a student for a very long time ... one would think that I had a Doctorate or something. Nope. Anyway. It's not uncommon, as you know, to have to take classes or complete assignments when you're in school that you know you would never need to "know" to be 100% successful in adulthood. Here are a few examples. In my P.E. class in my Intermediate school in Montebello, CA, we had to learn square dancing. And before you ask - NO, I don't remember how to do it, and NO I will not demonstrate. In High School, in Arcadia, CA, every student was required to pass a swimming test to graduate. At least this one was a good life skill. Most of us did the test going into our freshman year, but a decent number of Seniors were taking swimming lessons during their final semester, so they could graduate. Or my all-time favorite. Algebra. Still trying to figure out when I'm solving for "x" in life. This morning, we continue in Matthew 3, this time reading the account of Jesus' baptism from Matthew's perspective. Maybe you're like me, and wonder, why? Why did Jesus get baptized? He was perfect. He did not have to repent. Why did He do it? We'll answer that question this morning, and maybe a few more. Let's read Matthew 3:13-17: 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." First, here's the main idea of this passage which is just a simple statement: Jesus' baptism was the mark of the beginning of His ministry. This is what this passage is all about. We'll see exactly why this is, as we unpack this passage. But before we do that, let's talk about baptism. For some reason or another, Bible translators decided to "transliterate" the word "baptize" or "baptism" instead of translating the word. If they were to translate the word, it would be something like "place into" or "immerse," or even "dipped," but instead they decided to place the Greek word in the English language. This is why there are so many varied methods of baptism. Another interesting point, and reminder, is that John's baptism was a baptism of repentance - as we saw last week from verse 11 - meaning that Jesus' baptism was not the "believer's baptism" which occurs as a public confession of faith through the physical act of being immersed into the water, which is a picture of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. Going into the water symbolizes death and burial; coming out symbolizes new life (MacAuthur). Kenneth Wuest, who was an expert in New Testament Greek explains the usage and background of the word. The word/s used, "refers to the introduction or placing of a person or thing into a new environment or into union with something else so as to alter its condition or its relationship to its previous environment or condition." This is what Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians 12:13. So, for the believer, when we are baptized, we are proclaiming our faith and identifying ourselves as followers of Jesus. So, the question remains: WHY DID JESUS NEED TO BE BAPTIZED? There are at least four reasons for this: * To be obedient to God o We'll expand on this shortly o Very interesting that Matthew does not quote any specific prophecy of fulfillment here. o However, Isaiah 42 (quoted later in Matthew 12) does allude to Jesus as a servant of God, which of course implies a duty of obedience to Him. o The word choice of "fulfill" actually means "duty" or "obligation." o Jesus had to do this. o We'll see more of this in the next couple of minutes. o Another reason for Jesus' baptism was ... * To announce the arrival of the Messiah o John's message - which we reviewed last week - was short, direct, and powerful: REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND. o Shortly after this - John 1 implies that this was "the next day" - Jesus arrives to be baptized by John, and in a sense, this also validated John's ministry. o In fact, John 1:29 states that when Jesus came to be baptized, John proclaimed that the Lamb of God had arrived. * Literally, this is the One of whom I've been preaching about! * To identify Himself with humanity o J. Vernon McGee said it this way: baptism means identification, and I believe identification was the primary purpose for the baptism of the Lord Jesus ... He was baptized to completely identify Himself with humanity. o John was baptizing others as an act of obedience. o And there is a sense here that Jesus was not only preparing Himself to minister to these people, but also to show them that He was identifying with those who He was sent to save. o Next, Jesus was baptized in order ... * To mark a new beginning o This baptism of Jesus was a mark of the beginning of Jesus' ministry. o All the Gospels agree that following this event, Jesus began His ministry. o Of course, as we'll see next week, this first begins with His temptation. So, what are some ... LESSONS FROM JESUS' BAPTISM * Be active (v.13) o Notice that Jesus went to the Jordan River to be baptized. o While we do not know exactly the distance He traveled, as we do not know the exact location of the Jordan river He was baptized, most calculations put the journey from 60-70 miles o He was not passively waiting to "be in the area" or for John to go to Him o This was a deliberate act and it required a lot of work o This means that Christianity is not passive. It is active. o Our worship is not passive. It is active o What does it look like to be active today? * Regular church attendance * Serving * Fellowship with believers * Witnessing and sharing Christ with others * Giving * Praying * Spending quality time in the Word and applying it to your everyday life o I read a book recently - actually, I think it was an audiobook - that was all about pursuing the Lord. o Are you pursuing God? o Next, * Be humble (v.14) o John here was the one to show humility when Jesus approached him. o We know from verse 11 that John knew his role and his place before Jesus. o John understood his purpose. o But, for Jesus to come - as a perfect man, into the physically and spiritually filthy waters of the Jordan - to be baptized by John showed humility as well. o Most of us are familiar with Paul's words in Philippians 2, but verses 3-8 are worth reviewing again: 3 DO NOTHING FROM SELFISH AMBITION OR CONCEIT, BUT IN HUMILITY COUNT OTHERS MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN YOURSELVES. 4 LET EACH OF YOU LOOK NOT ONLY TO HIS OWN INTERESTS, BUT ALSO TO THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS. 5 HAVE THIS MIND AMONG YOURSELVES, WHICH IS YOURS IN CHRIST JESUS, 6 WHO, THOUGH HE WAS IN THE FORM OF GOD, DID NOT COUNT EQUALITY WITH GOD A THING TO BE GRASPED, 7 BUT EMPTIED HIMSELF, BY TAKING THE FORM OF A SERVANT, BEING BORN IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN. 8 AND BEING FOUND IN HUMAN FORM, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF BY BECOMING OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH, EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS. o Are we placing others before ourselves? o Jesus was above all others here, but as we saw earlier, as a Man, He had to identify with man. o On Monday morning we talked about how important it is for a leader to do exactly what they ask others to do. o Pat mentioned unclogging the floor drains in the kitchen when he was in his catering business. I can absolutely relate to that. I can remember the server stations on a busy meal period in the restaurants too. Quite literally rolling up my suit sleeve and my shirt sleeve and sticking my hand in the drain so it would stop flooding the server station. o I can remember deep cleaning my restaurant with my staff on an early close weekend many times in LA. o Or restocking Starbucks when they have dozens of people in line. o Jesus walked with man. He served them. He died for them. Jesus said it perfectly in John 15:13 when He said, GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS, THAT SOMEONE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. o Jesus' example of humility should translate to how we are with others, putting them before us. o Are you putting others before yourself? o Next, * Be obedient (v.15) o Coincidently (wink), the very next verse in John 15(verse 14) reads: YOU ARE MY FRIENDS IF YOU DO WHAT I COMMAND YOU o Jesus showed us at the onset of His ministry that what He was about to do for the next 3 years was to be obedient to the Father. o This is what the phrasing that Jesus uses at the end of verse 15 indicates, namely, that He was being obedient to God's will o Scholar and theologian Charles Ryrie said that: "Jesus fulfilled all the righteous requirements to be Israel's Messiah. Also, by allowing John to baptize Him, He identified with sinners whom He came to save, though, of course, He Himself had no sin to repent of." o As we just saw moments ago from Philippians 2, Jesus humbled Himself, giving up His rights, 10 SO THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH, 11 AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER. (Philippians 2:10-11) o So, if Jesus was obedient to God's will, then there is no doubt, that we should be too. Next, * Be filled (v.16) o This is the first clear expression of the concept of the Trinity in the New Testament. o Here's what one source said about the importance and significance of the resting of the Holy Spirit: the descending of the Spirit on Jesus demonstrates that from the outset of His public ministry Jesus is giving us His pattern of perfect reliance on the empowering presence of the Spirit to fulfill ministry ... for believers to successively fulfill the "good works" ministry that God has pre-prepared for them in Christ Jesus, they need to learn the secret of relying wholly on the Holy Spirit! o I mentioned Isaiah 42 earlier. In verse 1, Isaiah prophesies that the Holy Spirit would come upon the Lord. That is what we see here. o In the Old Testament, God often sent down the Holy Spirit on His servants to perform His divine service. I think about Samson, for example. In his story, the phrase (and I'm paraphrasing), "the Spirit rushed upon him," comes often. Luke records several examples of this in the ministry of Jesus as well. o So, we too are to be filled with the Holy Spirit. As a reminder, if you are a believer in Christ, then the Spirit indwells in you, according to John 7:37-39, Acts 11:16-17, 1 Corinthians 2:12, and 2 Corinthians 5:5. o So, to be filled with the Spirit, we are exercising His fruit, as seen in Galatians 5. o To be filled with the Holy Spirit, it means that we are empowered to do the work that we are called to do as disciples and followers of Christ. * That is ... to make disciples. To serve and love our God. To serve and love our neighbor. To do good works. To pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace (according to 2 Timothy 2:22). o The Bible teaches that we can grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). It teaches that we can resist the Spirit (Luke 10:21), and even outrage the Spirt (Hebrews 10:29). o When Paul is addressing this in Ephesians 4 and 5, he is exhorting the reader to live a life worthy of our calling. We must listen and follow His direction in our lives. o Are you listening? Are you following? o The next lesson we can learn from Jesus' baptism is to ... * Be ready (17) o We talked about this a bit earlier. o In our main idea, we stated that: Jesus' baptism was the mark of the beginning of His ministry. o This event was to usher in a new beginning for Jesus. o He leaves His home, comes to the Jordan and arrives as the promised Messiah that John and the rest of the prophets had been preaching about. o This baptism, therefore, acts as an anointing. A commission, straight from God the Father, inaugurating Jesus' ministry. o God speaking audibly indicates His direct involvement, and His absolute approval and confirmation that Jesus was this Promise. o For us today, that means when we've been called to complete a work, we must be willing, able, and ready to perform that duty. o Just as Jesus demonstrated in this event, and many others in His earthly ministry, we are to follow His lead. o We are to be Christ-like. o I shared this with the kids last week, traditionally the name "Christian" as we know it was originally meant to be an insult, a derogatory term to associate Jesus' disciples with Him. o Apparently, it means "little Christ," or literally, "little anointed ones" o Do people see you as a "little Christ?" o Are you Christ-like in your readiness to serve? To obedience? To love? For a long time, I looked at Jesus' baptism as an example for us to follow. But, as we've seen today, there is so much more to it than that. By being baptized by John, He confirmed His message and was commissioned by the Father to begin His ministry. A life changing ministry. A life altering ministry for all of mankind. And. He invites us to be a part of that. Will you accept His invitation? Will you seek and be obedient to God's will? Let's pray. 2