Jesus’ Baptism
Matthew 3:13-17
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.” Matthew 3:13
The King’s Baptism
Back in the 5th century there was a priest named Patrick who would later be known as St. Patrick. While performing his priestly duties, he was approached by the King Aengus of Ireland to be baptized. Of course the priest agreed and performed the baptism. During the baptism things seemed to go well. As Patrick dunked the king and then in the process of bringing him up out of the water, Patrick noticed there seemed to be blood in the water. St. Patrick immediately knew what had happened; he had inadvertently stabbed the kings foot. St. Patrick carried in his hand, as usual, the Bachall Isu; at the end of this crozier there was a sharp iron spike, by which he could plant it firmly in the ground beside him while preaching, or exercising his episcopal functions. Of course he had brought that into the water with him. After the baptism was over, St. Patrick looked down at all the blood, realized what he had done, and begged the king’s forgiveness. Why did you suffer this pain in silence, the Saint wanted to know. The king replied, “I thought it was part of the ritual.” Ouch!
One of the great privileges I have as a pastor is to perform baptisms. Some people have some great stories about them too. People are often scared about water getting up their nose or that somehow I will drop them and they will not be pulled back up. Note: to date I have never had that happen. J I wanted to start the New Year be continuing the story of Jesus. Typically the church spend the month of December looking at the birth of Jesus and then as the New Year begins they jump to a new series or another book of the Bible and I though it might be good to continue looking at the events of Jesus early ministry. So today, we are going to focus on the Baptism of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 3:13-17. If you are able, please stand as we read God’s Word.
Read Passage – Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16 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 alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
The Silent Years
We have the birth of Jesus recorded for us in the Gospels and a few brief glimpses of those early days. From there it jumps to a time where Jesus is 12 and in the Temple talking with and conversing about the Scriptures with the leaders. From there until the story we read this morning we literally have nothing. The ages between 12 and 30 we have no written record but we can make a few assumptions and remember a few important things..
- Remember that John and Jesus were related. We are not sure they ever did anything together or that their families were close. They may have heard stories about each other, could have spent some holidays or festivals together, but we are just not sure.
- We know that when the story of Jesus in the temple ended that the Scripture tells us that Jesus obeyed his parents. So from that point on, he was being trained and mentored in the family business. He would have spent a lot of time with Joseph learning the trade of carpentry. They lived in an agriculture area so he probably spent time making things like plows and other tools of agriculture as well as things like chairs, tables, etc.
- We know John’s ministry started much earlier than Jesus. John’s father and mother were much older and it is guessed that they may have died by this time. John’s dad was a priest and John did not follow his dad’s profession of working in the Temple but was active in the ministry. By the time we reach the passage we read this morning John seems to be in full stride in his ministry and working at pointing people to God.
We can also assume that Jesus was aware of his calling and the timing of what God brought him here to earth to do, to preach, perform miracles, heal, and to lead people to his father. Jesus knew that the time had arrived. The time was now for Jesus to come forth for the task that awaited him.
John The Baptizer
For a brief moment let’s look just a bit closer at John the Baptizer. It says in verse 13:
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.” Matthew 3:13
As I said earlier, John’s ministry was in full swing and he was preaching and baptizing people for them to repent and turn to God. Think about it, many people were probably pretty upset with him that he wasn’t working in the Temple and just performing all the duties of a priest. Those in charge were probably not happy about what he was doing and those that were being baptized by him were really taking a big step that would not have met approval from the Temple leaders. He is about the same age as Jesus but he was pretty much considered a renegade that live d in the desert, wore camel hair clothing, ate honey and locust, and was living with a purpose. His purpose was to prepare the way for Christ to come. Jesus now comes to him and asks to be baptized. I think this is really significant, so much so that we call John “the Baptizer.” We don’t call him John “the Preparer” or John “the Paver,” or anything like that. His job was to prepare the way for Christ and I believe part of that purpose is to baptize Jesus. This is why we still refer to him as John the Baptist. It is also important to note that from this point on John takes a back seat to Jesus. He knows it’s all about Jesus not himself.
Jesus Message For Us In Baptism
So Jesus comes to John and wants to be baptized. Ever wonder why? Why would Jesus need to be baptized? He is the Son of God. I say he needed to be baptized because it was important for us to understand its significance in our live and because he never asks us to do something that he hasn’t done. I also think that he was baptized to show that he was giving his all to God and he wants us to know what it looks like so we can make the same commitment. He teaches us so that we can experience what he experienced.
- Jesus Partners With Us
There is something very significant in Jesus reply in verse 15 to John when John says that Jesus should be baptizing him not the other way around:
“Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this…’” vs. 15a
Notice and underline or circle the word “us.” Jesus says to John that is it proper for us to do this. Jesus is partnering with John in his work. As Jesus enters his public ministry he knows that his time on earth is limited. Part of what Jesus came to do was be the sacrifice for our sins but he also came to instill in us the tools to go into all the world and teach others who he was and for us to be part of the ministry. Jesus partners with us to expand his ministry and keep it going. They way Jesus partnered with John is also the way Jesus partners with us. He trained the disciples who in turn trained others and so on and so on so that the gospel is spread throughout the world. He partners with us. He could do it without us but we can’t do it without him. Jesus is careful to make sure that we know we should stay connected to the Godhead so that our ministry is fulfilled. Remember Jesus words in John 15:5:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
We can work hard and try to do all the right things but if we are not tied into and reliant on God we are missing the key ingredient.
Ex. A current example of abuse of power. So many people in our world when they get a little attention of a little power, it goes to their head and they want all the focus on themselves. Kim Jung Un of North Korea is a good example of that. The atrocities and things he is doing since assuming the reigns in South Korea are just crazy. He has had many family members killed, including his uncle who was supposed to be a right hand man to him and many of the rest of his family. He is oppressing the people and doing things like developing nuclear weapons so that he can assert and gain more power and wealth.
2. Jesus Recognizes God’s Plan
The second part of the response is significant as well; Jesus recognizes God’s plan. Verse 15a:
“…to fulfill all righteousness.” vs. 15b
Jesus realizes that the time has come for him to fulfill the purpose that he was sent to us to do. He is ready and prepared to step into public ministry and fulfill God’s plan. This phrase “to fulfill all righteousness” is his way of saying that he is now setting in motion God’s plan and he is ready to take his place in that plan. This step of baptism is the expression that you no longer live for yourself but you live for God. Jesus repeatedly says that he is here to do the will of the father and that he can only do and say what the father tells him. This shows us an importance of the sacrament of baptism’ to say that we are aligning our lives with the will of the Father; God. As Jesus was aligning himself with God through baptism so we, when we take the step of baptism, are aligning ourselves with God’s will and his plan and our willingness to be part of that plan by doing what he has designed us to do. In proverbs 19:21 it says:
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Prov. 19:21
The reality is that God has a plan and he is working his plan. We have to ask ourselves if we are willing to be a part of that plan or if we are insistent on having our own way. Part of the understanding when we are baptized is that we are committing ourselves to live in God’s plan.
3. Jesus Receives God’s Blessing
The third part of why Jesus was baptized or a result of his baptism is that he receives God’s blessing through it. Verse 16:
“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 alighting on him.” vs. 16
There is an affirmation that takes place when we publicly take the step of baptism and tell people that we have accepted Jesus as our savior and that we are God’s children. The affirmation comes in God’s blessing. Let me follow this up with a verse from Romans 10:12:
“…the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him…” Romans 10:12
Notice that it says that God richly blesses us. Try not to get caught up in defining the richly blessings as money or monetary things. Instead, reframe that thinking into the understanding that God pours out his love, his peace, his blessings, joy, hope, grace, mercy, etc. Taking the step of baptism is allowing ourselves to be emptied so that he can fill us with his blessings. In our passage we are fortunate to see this happen in the form of a dove that descends on Jesus.
Ex. The server at Taco Bell
God’s Love For His Children
This story of the beginning of Jesus ministry life has a wonderful ending (or beginning) that comes in verse 17:
“And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” vs. 17
In that moment when Jesus stepped forth, the heavens were opened to him, the spirit of God descended upon him like a dove, and he heard the voice of His Heavenly Father, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” I believe the same thing happens when we step forth. I believe the heavens open up, God looks down upon us and says, “This is my child, with whom I am well pleased.”
I believe we see this in the joy of the peoples faces that have been baptismed. Here is a brief glimpse of that in some of the people of our own congregation that have been recently baptized. Show slide show.
