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