The Way of Rightousness

Matthew 3:13–17 NIV

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 alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Introduction

perspective

Transition

Text

The baptism of Jesus is recorded in three of the gospels - Matthew, Mark and Luke. John’s gospel doesn’t record Jesus’ baptism, but it does record the words of John the Baptist who spoke of Jesus’ baptism.

Because it was recorded in all of the gospels, there are different lenses that we have to put on as we read about Jesus’ baptism. For example, if there were four eye witnesses to a car accident, and all four people were on different sides of the accident, they all have different points of view.

When you read the gospels, the four writers have different audiences, and so they write to their specific audience in words and illustrations that connect with them.

Let me give you all an example of this.

If I were talking to my parents about really good food that I ate, I might say that the food was good.

If I am talking to my wife, I might say that the food was bomb. Shout out to all the 90’s lingo.

But to my children, I would say that the food was bussin’, or that it slapped.

I have just embarrassed myself in front of my children, but I am very creatively teaching you some theology this morning…

Why do I say that? Because we need to examine Jesus’ baptism in the eyes of the readers. Matthew’s gospel is written to Jewish readers. So let’s put on this lens as we read.

The Jewish Lens

In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ baptism you will notice that it is in the third chapter of his gospel. When you read chapters 1 and 2 of Matthew, there is actually very little about the man Jesus. In fact, chapter 1 of Matthew is all about the lineage of Jesus.

Matthew is not ready to talk about Jesus until he tells you where he came from. You need to know who his daddy is, and who his daddy is, and who his daddy is, etc.

It’s very reminiscent to Mexican culture. Whenever I talk to an older person about my family, they want to know where is your family from? What part of Mexico? Oh, from Nayarit! Then you must be related to… and the conversation is about a lot of people that I do not know, but they are apparently my lineage.

That’s how it was for the Jews as well. Don’t tell me anything about this person, until I know where he comes from.

So when we get to chapter 3 of Matthew, Jesus appears as a full grown 30 year old man. And here is Jesus coming down to be baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist.

When Jesus finally gets to the water, John tries to stop him. John tells Jesus, “I know who you are and you DO NOT need to do this.”

And as we just read a minute ago, “Jesus told John that this was necessary to fulfill all righteousness.”

Now, I said all of that because I need to start making some applications this morning.

Your Past Does Not Disqualify You

Matthew sets up the story of Jesus to show the Jews exactly who Jesus was.

We could trace Jesus’ history back to David. That was a big deal to the Jewish audience, because their Messiah, their King, would come from the line of David.

We could trace Jesus’ history back to Abraham. That was a big deal to the Jewish audience, because Abraham was under a covenant with God. The Messiah would have to be under the same covenant as Abraham.

Matthew tells about Jesus’ birth and how wise men showed up, and angels showed up. All of this is Matthew’s way of saying that this man is the Messiah.

So when we get to his baptism, there is the Messiah and he is standing in line to be baptized.

And John is looking at all the people lined up for baptism Sunday, and it’s like that old show, One of these things is not like the other. There is the savior of the world who had no sin, in line with people who were full of sin, getting baptized for repentance.

John wants to stop the charade. John wants to pull Jesus out of the moment. John is saying, “You are not qualified to stand here today! You are over qualified.”

And in the same, but opposite way, some people refuse to get water baptized because they feel as though they are not qualified to stand there.

Unlike Jesus, who had no sin, you maybe feel as though you have too much sin.

Unlike Jesus, whose past more than qualified him to step out of line, you feel like you can’t stand in that line because your past disqualifies you.

So just as Jesus submitted himself to the act of baptism, I want to say to every person in this room, you do not qualify for baptism, you submit to baptism.

John thought that Jesus was over qualified for baptism.

You might think you’re under qualified for baptism.

But the way of Jesus teaches us that baptism isn’t for the qualified, but baptism is for the submitted.

So when are you ready to be baptized? When you are ready to submit to the Lordship of Jesus.

When you are ready to stop doing things your way, and you are ready to start doing things His way.

My concern is there are so many people in this room that are letting their past get in the way of their future.

Maybe someone judged you.

Maybe someone condemned you.

Maybe you are the victim of someone’s erroneous interpretation of the Bible. Someone who can’t even properly read the Bible put a couple of verses together completely out of context and you made an agreement with a lie.

But I’m here with good news for everyone today…

Your past does not disqualify you from making one of the best decisions that you can ever make in your life.

Your past doesn’t disqualify you from the love of God.

Your past doesn’t disqualify you from the grace of God.

You’ve got a past, but the Lord sees your future. And he’s calling you out from your past so that you can start walking into your futures.

God Sees Your Future

In Luke’s gospel, we have another lens on the baptism of Jesus. Why is that? Because Luke’s gospel is our gospel. It is the gospel to the gentiles. In Luke 3:21-23 we have the same account of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist.

But here is the difference…

Luke doesn’t introduce us to Jesus at the day of his baptism. Luke shows us the life of Jesus before he is water baptized. We see Jesus presented in the temple as an infant. We see Jesus discussing the scriptures in the temple when he was 12 years old. We see that same 12 year old Jesus get into it with his Mary, his mother. Then finally, we see Jesus at his baptism.

But what is more interesting to me is that after Jesus is baptized, then Luke gives us the lineage of Jesus. He doesn’t give us the lineage first, he gives us Jesus first.

Matthew shows us his history before he shows us the person.

Luke shows us the person before he shows us his history.

What’s the application?

Luke is telling us that we can’t even begin to understand his past until we see who Jesus is.

And I am here to tell you, that until you see who Jesus is, you won’t fully understand who you are.

Pastor that is a big statement! How can you say that?

Well it’s very simple actually… We are made in the image of God. We are made in the image of the invisible God. So if we are made in His image, and yet He is invisible, how on earth do we see His image?

Let me quote Jesus to you:

John 14:8–9 NIV

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

God sent his son Jesus into the world so that we would see the image of God. He did this for our sake! That is why in order to see God so that you can see yourself, you need to see Jesus first, and then you’ll begin to understand who you are.

That is why we exist to tell the world about Jesus. We aren’t here to make much about ourselves, we are here to make much about Jesus.

It’s all about Jesus.

It’s not about religion. It’s not about the brand of our church. It’s not about the style of our music. It’s not about the culture of church.

No, it is none of those things. It is about Jesus. It has always been about Jesus, and it will always be about Jesus.

Luke shows us Jesus, and then Jesus is baptized.

And if you are here today, and you have experienced Jesus. You have felt Jesus. You have encountered his love. Then I would say to you, your next step is water baptism.

And if you say, but Pastor, I don’t know if I can live up to this commitment.

You can’t. You won’t. And there’s nothing you can do to be “good enough” now.

So let me help you understand this…

The Righteousness of God

Let me go back to Matthew’s gospel to explain this and close this message.

When John tells Jesus not to get baptized Jesus tells him that righteousness is fulfilled through His baptism. What is righteousness? It is the life that God calls us into. But let me define it. Righteousness is to be morally and ethically right.

Jesus was already morally and ethically right, and yet he stood in line with the sinners.

I want you to see this.

Can I illustrate this?

(bring up 5 volunteers)

There is Jesus, standing shoulder to shoulder with people who were in need of a savior.

He tells John that if I am to stand before them, I need to stand among them.

If I can’t stand among them, then I can’t die for them.

Jesus submitted to baptism, and then submitted to the cross and the grave. (Have Jesus lay down)

But just know that Jesus wasn’t buried, he was planted. Jesus was the seed of righteousness, but you are the fruit of righteousness.

You won’t be good enough, and you can’t be good enough.

But when we receive Jesus as our Savior by faith… everyone say faith… It is only by faith that we become the righteousness of God.

(Exchange their signs of sin, for signs of righteousness.)

This exchange is the way of Jesus. This is the way of righteousness. Nothing you do earns it. Nothing you wear earns it. Nothing you abstain from earns it. No, it is by faith and by faith alone.

The righteous one has already done everything that needed to be done!

So now we stand in the finished work of Christ.

Righteousness Fulfilled

Jesus was righteous, and then he took the next step in order to fulfill righteousness.

When you have received Jesus by faith, then everything in the Bible points to the act of submitting to baptism.

Does baptism make you righteous?

No, Paul writes to us that Abraham wasn’t made righteous through the outward act of circumcision, he was made righteous by faith, and then took an outward step of circumcision.

He said to that explain to the church that we are made righteous by faith, and then we take an outward step of baptism.

Conclusion

For many of you, that is your next step in your faith journey.

You’ve been declared righteous, and now your next step is to not keep this quiet, but to tell the world. I am a new person. I am not my history. And because of the obedience of Jesus, and my confession of faith, my future is certain.

Baptism follows your profession of faith.

Your parents can’t profess your faith for you.

Maybe you were baptized as an infant, and I am not up here to disqualify that experience for you and for your parents, but that was their profession of faith. Now that you have made a personal profession of faith, with every ounce of love I encourage you, consider baptism as your next step in your faith journey.

Call

We have several people ready to be baptized today. But maybe you are here and God is tugging at your heart right now to take that next step, I implore you, do not wait. We have everything you need to get water baptized today. As we exit this service and make our way to the baptistery, stop by the table where we have extra garments and take the next step in your journey today.