Full Sermon Jesus’ Baptism Opens Heaven to Us based on Luke 3:15-22

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I. Waiting expectantly. You know the feeling. You are excited about seeing something or someone. You are waiting expectantly. Maybe you are going to see family members that you have not seen for a while. Or you might be eager to receive a special delivery through the mail. Waiting is not easy for a lot of people. We like to get things done as quickly as possible, especially if we are waiting expectantly.

II. Thoughts about John in Luke 3:15 – 18. Luke 3:15 tells us, “As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ …” John the Baptizer had made quite an impression on the people with his calls to repent with sorrow over one’s sins and wrongs and his baptizing of many people in the Jordan River. The people were curious about John the Baptizer and they were wondering if he might be the One the Old Testament prophets had predicted would come to bring people God’s forgiveness and mercy.

Luke 3:16-18 reveals who John the Baptizer really was: “John answered them all, saying, ‘I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.”

John the Baptizer was preparing people for the One the prophets of old had said would come on the scene.

III. Epiphany season. Today we observe the First Sunday after the Epiphany. The day of the Epiphany is January 6th each year. The day of the Epiphany is a reminder of the Magi or the Wise Men finding the baby Jesus in Bethlehem and giving Jesus the gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. The Bible reveals that the Magi or Wise Men were the first non-Jews or Gentiles to visit and worship the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. The Epiphany season also points us to Jesus being revealed as the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One of God. On this First Sunday after the Epiphany, we especially think about Jesus on the day of His baptism in the Jordan River.

IV. Read Luke 3:21-22 and comment. Luke’s account of the baptism of Jesus is shorter than the Gospel of Matthew’s account. Luke’s account is short and to the point. Luke 3:21-22 states, “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’”

V. More details in Matthew 3:13-15 and Holy Trinity revealed. Luke does not mention that John the Baptizer as the one who baptized Jesus. Luke simply tells us that people were being baptized and Jesus was one of the people who was baptized. Matthew’s Gospel gives us more details about the baptism of Jesus. Matthew 3:13-15 tells us, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he consented.”

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record the unusual things that took place after Jesus was baptized and was praying. The Holy Spirit landed on Jesus like a dove. The voice of God the Father from heaven said that Jesus was His beloved Son and the One with whom He was well pleased. The three persons of the Holy Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—are revealed to us in the account of Jesus’ baptism.

VI. Jesus was baptized for us. Jesus did not need to be baptized to wash away any sins or wrongs, since He was and still is the sinless Son of God. Jesus did not need to be baptized to become a child of God, because He was and still is the One and Only Son of God. Jesus was baptized to start His earthly ministry and to begin bearing the sins and wrongs of all the sinners of the world—including yours and mine. Jesus was baptized and the Holy Spirit was with Him as He began to do all the things to obey God’s Law that we have failed to do. Jesus was baptized to go through the same kinds of things we go through as human beings—the bad times and good times, the times of sadness and the times of gladness. Jesus’ baptism marked the start of His earthly ministry of teaching, preaching, and doing miracles.

VII. Jesus and Isaiah 42:1-4. Jesus came to fulfill Isaiah’s Old Testament prophecy. Jesus is the One who came to be a servant. Isaiah 42:1-4 is pointing to Jesus the Christ with the words, “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.”

VIII. Jesus other “baptism” and Mark 10:35-40. Jesus was later baptized for us in another special way, too. Mark’s Gospel gives us these words of Jesus in Mark 10:35-40, [James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to (Jesus) and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”]

IX. Jesus was “baptized” for us on the cross. Jesus was “baptized” for us also when He was nailed to the cross and died for the sins and wrongs of people of the world. That second “baptism” on the cross was the main reason Jesus came to our world. He was baptized for us, so that we could have all our sins and wrongs forgiven. He was baptized for us, so that we could have the sure hope of eternal life with Him in heaven. Through the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River and His baptism on the cross for us we now have heaven opened to us. He was baptized for us, so that we could be baptized into His death and resurrection as well.

X. Martin Luther on what baptism signifies for us each day. In Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, in the section about baptism, we are reminded: (What does such baptizing with water signify?

Answer: It signifies that the old Adam in us, together with all sins and evil lusts, should be drowned by daily sorrow and repentance and be put to death, and that the new man should come forth daily and rise up, cleansed and righteous, to live forever in God’s presence.

Where is this written?

Answer: In Romans 6:4, St. Paul wrote, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”) [The Book of Concord the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. 1959 (T. G. Tappert, Ed.) (page 349). Philadelphia: Mühlenberg Press].

Thanks be to our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ that He was baptized to save us from our sins and wrongs, to open heaven for us, and to give us new life in His name. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.