Life of Jesus - The Baptism of Jesus

January 17, 2024 The Life of Jesus (4) - The Baptism of Jesus

Wednesday

God does not need people to bring about His will; however, He blesses us with the opportunity to participate in His plans. Some aspects of a person’s role in the Kingdom may be fulfilled quickly while others prove to be lifelong tasks. John the Baptist’s mission—preparing the way for the Messiah — certainly consumed his life, and eventually brought about its end.

READ: Mark 1:1-11; John 1:19-37

Mark 1:1–11 (NLT) This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. It began 2 just as the prophet Isaiah had written: “Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way. 3 He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming! Clear the road for him!’ ” 4 This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. 5 All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 6 His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!” 9 One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

Isaiah 40:3 (NASB95) A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.

John 1:19–37 (NLT) This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” 20 He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No,” he replied. “Are you the Prophet we are expecting?” “No.” 22 “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the LORD’s coming!’ ” 24 Then the Pharisees who had been sent 25 asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?” 26 John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. 27 Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.” 28 This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.” 35 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.

Watch Video

Why do the Gospels of Mark and John begin their narrative of Jesus with the baptism of John the Baptist?

James Montgomery Boice asks in his commentary on Acts 10:34-48:

Why is Jesus’ baptism so important?

When we talk about the baptism of Jesus, generally we talk about it in terms of Jesus’ identification with us. He stressed that point himself when he was baptized. When John protested about baptizing him, Jesus said, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt. 3:15). He was saying in effect, “I want to identify with people; I want to go through all that is proper for me to do.” That is important in its own place. But that is not the primary reason why the baptism of Jesus by John has such an important place in the kerygma.

The reason it is involved in ALL these basic proclamations of the gospel is that when Jesus Christ was baptized God the Father spoke from heaven, authenticating him as his Son, and on that occasion Jesus was anointed visibly with the Holy Spirit for the task he had to do. John saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove upon him, and the voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17).

It is significant in this respect that the four Gospels do not begin by giving us information about the Lord’s early life, the time between his birth and the start of his public ministry about thirty years later. Some but not all tell of the birth. Luke mentions his growth “in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). That is something but not much. Rather, each of the Gospels passes quickly to the baptism of John. And Mark does not even mention the birth! Mark just starts with John’s baptism. This is because at his baptism God set his seal of approval on Jesus. He identified him as his Son and messenger, the one to whom we should pay heed.

In the Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments:

In addition, all set Jesus in the context of John the Baptist who plays an integral role as the forerunner of the Christ. John is identified in all the Gospels as the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy.

John did not fulfill a call to the priesthood given by being the oldest (and only) son of Zacharias and Elizabeth (both from priestly tribes) . He fulfilled a higher call to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Mark 1:3, Luke 1:76; 3:2-6, Malachi 3:1; 4:5). How does this apply to our lives?

Zechariah understood John’s higher call: Luke 1:76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO MAKE READY HIS WAYS,”

Then, John himself heard a higher call: Luke 3:2–6 “during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT. 5 ‘EVERY RAVINE WILL BE FILLED, AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL WILL BE BROUGHT LOW; THE CROOKED WILL BE STRAIGHT, AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH. 6 AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.’””

We are not bound by tradition, societal or parental expectations. We need to hear “What thus saith the Lord” above all other calls.

In the same way, we need to encourage our children and grandchildren to first and foremost folllow God’s call on their lives.

What does it say (or mean) that some of Jesus’ closest disciples were first disciples of John the Baptist?

John understood his ministry as a bridge to Someone else and that Someone’s call on a person’s life.

His call takes precedence over our preferences, our comfort, our following — because it’s NOT about us.

How does the example of John the Baptist help us to understand our ministry (John 3:26-35)?

We need to echo his sentiment in:

John 3:30–36 (NLT) He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. 31 “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else. 32 He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! 33 Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true. 34 For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. 36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

Our time on this earth is about promoting Him above all.

After commending John the Baptist, Jesus pointed to the ongoing work of the Kingdom, saying, “Even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!” (Matthew 11:11). As we follow Jesus, our main goal is to advance the Kingdom, not make a name for ourself.

Fire Bible commentary on Matthew 11:11 Greater than he.

John was living during the time period of the old covenant (i.e., God’s laws, commands and plans before Christ finished his life’s work on earth).

This statement may mean that any NT (i.e., new covenant) believer in Jesus Christ has a greater privilege because of everything Christ has revealed and accomplished for them since finishing his work (cf. 13:16–17).

If we follow the word picture that Jesus is giving, NT Christians are part of Christ’s “bride” (i.e., the church, Eph 5:25–27, 32; cf. Rev 19:7; 22:17), while John was a friend of the groom (i.e., Christ, Jn 3:29).

Of course, John was also a true follower of God who obviously was saved by his faith in Christ. His role (assigned by God) was to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus and his message.

Yet, the NT Christian’s greater privileges include deeper revelation about Christ, the experience of greater miracles (11:5), the opportunity to testify about the death and resurrection of Christ and to receive the Holy Spirit

• What steps can you take to avoid comparison or pride as you fulfill your call?

Remember the MAIN reason for our call — it’s not about what others think.

Romans 14:4 (LSB) Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

• How can you keep your focus on the Kingdom instead?

Matthew 6:33 (TPT) “So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.

Fire Bible 6:33 Seek … Kingdom … Righteousness.

Those who follow Christ are urged to seek—above all else—God’s kingdom and his righteousness.

The verb “seek” means being continually absorbed in a search for something, or making a long and consistent effort to obtain something (cf. 13:45).

God’s kingdom and righteousness are not passive matters; they are things we must actively pursue.

Christ refers to two objects, or focuses, of our seeking:

(1) “His kingdom” (i.e., his power and authority over all, his purposes and way of life both on earth and into eternity)—we must desperately desire for God’s authority and power to be evident in our lives and in our Christian gatherings. Our own desires should never get in the way of what God wants to do in our individual lives and our churches. We must pray that God’s kingdom will operate in the mighty power of the Holy Spirit to save people from sin, to destroy demonic power, to heal the sick and to bring honor to the Lord Jesus in every way (see article on The Kingdom of God, and chart of The Kingdom of God versus the Kingdom of Satan).

(2) “His righteousness” (i.e., his standards of truth, right and goodness)—through the power of the Holy Spirit, we must make every effort to obey Christ’s commands, show Christ’s standards of truth and right, avoid the ungodly practices of the world and show Christ’s love toward everyone (cf. Php 2:12–13).

Your call may be as visible as that of Moses who marched into Pharaoh’s court to demand the children of Israel be freed. Or it may be as humble as that of Ruth who quietly obeyed God and honored her family, thereby bringing forth a line of kings who would rule God’s people. Thankfully, God determines each person’s call, and He reveals it as we live in an obedient and loving relationship with Him.

• Have you established a pattern of obedience and love for God?

• How has the nature of your relationship with God impacted your decisions?

• In what direction is God leading you right now?

Did anything else in the video stand out or provoke a question?