Jesus' Baptism

John 1:29-34 - Communion Sunday - 3

Good morning,

This morning we are going to have communion.

There are two events or actions that we are told to by Jesus to recognize and perform, … only two.

They are; baptism, to acknowledge and identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and the Lord’s supper or communion.

Today we are going to talk about Jesus’ baptism and the start of his ministry. This is a topic that could be looked at in so many ways but today we will hold to just the event and how our baptism is an act of that also.

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Following that we will discuss the importance of communion and that your heart needs to be right with God before taking it and how not taking the Lord’s Supper is okay and sometimes necessary also.

Let us Pray

Last week we looked at how John was walking through the wilderness and baptizing people.

Do you remember what for? Repentance correct

To make one open and ready to receive the Holy Spirit

How he was questioned by the priests about who he was and why he was doing this.

To alert the Jewish people to the fact that the Messiah was among them

It is now the next day where we pick up the story and begin Jesus’ ministry.

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29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that He might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on Him. 33 I myself did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

Let us look into these scriptures and see what we can learn to better prepare ourselves for witnessing and discipleship.

29 The next day he (John) saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

The evidence of God’s existence and his gift is more than compelling, but those who insist that they have no need of him or it will always find ways to discount the offer.

Blaise Pascal (French Scientist, Polemicist and Christian Apologist)

In the Jewish religion what would a lamb be used for?

Sacrifice - once can easily read into this that Jesus would become the last sacrifice ever needed to wash away sin.

30 (John is still talking here) This is He of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.”

Remember John 1:1 from two weeks ago.

31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that He might be revealed to Israel.”

If you recall my sermon from the 17th of August we talked about the fact that both Jesus’ and John’s parents, or at least their mothers, actually knew each other. But here we see that John says he did not know Jesus

This is most likely because it was not revealed to him that Jesus was the Messiah until this time, up until this, He was just a cousin that John knew-

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32 And John bore witness: “I saw the spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.

HOLD UP!

John has not said a word about this here but here he is declaring the Son of God?

Let’s look this up, it is so important.

So the day before we need to look at and to do that we need to go to: Matthew 3:13-17

What we are going to look at right now would be the day before, so if Jesus’ baptism was on Wednesday this would be Tuesday.

13. The Jeus came down from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.

14. John would have prevented Him saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

15. But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill righteousness.” Then he consented.

16. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;

17. And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

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Doesn’t everyone like to be recognized by their parents?

Remember that this is talking about the human, the man side of Jesus Christ, not the spirit portion.

It is the act of baptism that we as Baptists, or our denomination, came into being.

It was in 1638 (last week said 1698 WRONG!) when Roger Williams established the first Baptist church in America in Providence, RI

The three things that separated us from the mainstream Protestant groups are/were:

Baptism for believers only (not infants)

Congregational church governance - each church is self-governing

Importance of individual interpretation of the bible.

Back to our main verses and finish up what John has to say

32 And John bore witness: “I saw the spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.

33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”

34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. - VERY PROPHET LIKE HERE!

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Quite often we see people that also start their ministry or walk with God after their baptism.

I had been baptised many years ago but after coming back to church and wanting a closer walk with God I rededicated my life to God by going through this act again.

A public way of saying to myself and others that God is what is important to me.

12 years later this is where God has put me

If you have not been baptised and would like to be please see me after church today, Wednesday evening at bible study, or feel free to message me, even if you just have questions

Our baptism today is one to recognize our walk with Christ and his death, burial, and resurrection.

Or like Christ you can use it as a dedication of putting your life into His service

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As mentioned earlier there are two ‘ceremonies’ that are talked about in the bible that we as Christians are instructed to do.

The first is baptism, to identify with Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection

We do this in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

The second is communion, or the Lord’s supper.

There are several places in the bible where the Lord’s supper is talked about or described

The best of these actually being in 1 Corinthians 23 with Paul describing and giving guidance.

If you have your bibles please turn to 1 Corinthians 11:27–29 “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” and look at verses 27 through 29 PAUSE FOR PEOPLE TO GET HERE.

When we take communion it is very important that you are right with God and others.

Holding anger or resentment or other feelings that are not of the Father negates the whole meaning of this event.

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27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.

When taking the sacraments you need to be of clean mind and focused on your relationship between you and the Son

28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup

29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

We are going to take a minute, pray, look at your relationship with God and be honest with yourself, are you good with Him right now?

What about others?

It is okay to not take communion, there is nothing negative about not taking communion if you are not right with God.

— Begin to play music here —

As we begin to pass out the bread and wine today please keep in mind that these only represent Christ’s body and blood, they do not transform physically in any way.

Pass out the bread

— Fade music here —

PRAY (Short)

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Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians: For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.

Eat the bread

– Play music here –

Pass out the wine

— Fade music here —

PRAY (Short)

Paul continued to write quoting Jesus: In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

Today was a look back at the beginning of Our Savior’s ministry, His baptism and our connection through it to Him.

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For us Baptism is allowing us to identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of our Savior, it is not needed for salvation though it is a part of our with with Him

We also had communion His final earthly link to us and command if to do a physical act in remembrance of Him, the only one of its kind in the bible

The Lord’s supper is done in remembrance of what Jesus, the physical earthly Son of God, did for us

His body broken, His blood spilt

To wash us of our sins so that we can be with Him and the Father in Heaven

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These acts ground us in who we are in our faith and belief of Christ Jesus and the hopes, the promises, that we will see Him when we are called

In conclusion, today you are invited to bible study on Wednesday night at 7 pm, it is an open topic so bring your questions and thoughts.

Remember that there is a potluck meeting after church today

Let us Pray

Thank you all for attending today and we look forward to seeing you on Wednesday and next Sunday.

If you have felt moved to accept Christ as your savior please, visit with me and let us talk.

God be with you as you go.