The Voice - Baptism of the Lord

I. ENGAGE: The "What Do You Do?" Trap

The Dinner Party Test:

If you walk into a party today and meet someone new, there is a 99% chance the first question they ask you—right after your name—will be: 'So, what do you do?'

It sounds polite, but it’s actually an assessment.

We aren't asking how they spend their Tuesday.

We are asking: Where do you fit? How much respect should I give you?

The Reality:

From the time we are children, we are trained in one equation: Identity = Activity.

You are what you produce.

You are your grades.

You are your job title.

You are your tax bracket."

II. TENSION: The Exhaustion of Earning It

The Problem: "The problem with building your identity on what you do is that you can never stop doing it. The resume is never finished."

The Anxiety: "This creates a low-level anxiety. We feel like we are constantly auditioning for our own lives. Auditioning for our boss's approval. Auditioning for our spouse's respect. Auditioning for our parents' pride."

The Trap: "We live with the terrifying thought: 'If I stop performing, do I still matter?'"

TRANSITION:

This performance trap is exhausting. It crushes us.

And if we aren't careful, we assume that the Creator of the Universe operates the exact same way.

We assume He is just another Boss waiting for our resume.

But today, in the Jordan River, we see something that breaks the system completely.

If you have your Bible with you, or if you are following along in an app, go ahead and turn with me to Luke Chapter 3, verse 15.

III. TRUTH: The Baptism (Luke 3:15-17, 21-22)

While you are turning there, you need to understand the atmosphere.

Israel has been in a spiritual drought for 400 years.

Since the book of Malachi closed, there have been no prophets.

No miracles.

Just silence from Heaven.

The Wild Man:

Then, suddenly, John the Baptist bursts onto the scene.

He is wild, he is untamed, and he is shouting about repentance in the desert.

He isn't polite, but he demands a crowd.

The Crowd:

Thousands of people are streaming out to the muddy Jordan River.

They are desperate.

The air is thick with tension.

Everyone is asking the same question: 'Is the silence finally over?

Will we finally get to hear God's voice again?'

and they also have questions about John the Baptist himself.

lets take a look at verse 15.

A. THE DEFLECTION: Water vs. Fire (vv. 15-17)

Luke 3:15 ESV

15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,

The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah.

Imagine the temptation for John.

He has the crowd.

He has the momentum.

He could have easily said, "Yes, I am the one you've been waiting for."

But true ministry always deflects praise, it never absorbs it.

Luke 3:16 ESV

16 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.

John uses a specific cultural illustration to show just how far beneath Jesus he is.

He says, "The straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."

Cultural Context: In the first century, a disciple was expected to do almost anything for a Rabbi—fetch food, carry books.

But the Rabbinic law had one exception: a disciple was not required to touch the Rabbi's feet or shoes.

That task was reserved only for the lowest Gentile slave.

The Point: John is saying, "I am not the King. Compared to Him, I am not even worthy to do the job that is too low for a student."

Luke 3:17 ESV

17 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.”

The Winnowing Fork (v. 17):

John then pivots to the mission. He says, "I baptize with water... He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire."

He mentions a "winnowing fork"—a tool used to throw wheat in the air so the wind blows away the chaff (the useless husks).

This isn't just about punishment; it's about purification.

We often settle for "water religion" (cleaning up the outside).

Jesus brings "fire" to burn away the chaff in our hearts so the real fruit can remain.

Preaching this kind of judgement doesn't get John in a safe place.

Luke 3:18–20 ESV

18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

Luke 3:21 ESV

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened,

B. THE DESCENT: Solidarity with Sinners (v. 21)

The Text: "When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too."

The Confusion:

This is the most confusing verse in the Gospels for many people.

John's baptism was a "baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins."

Jesus is the spotless Lamb of God. He has no sin to repent of.

So why is the Perfect Son standing in the "sinners' line"?

The Muddy Water Analogy:

Imagine a parent walking with a toddler beside a river.

The parent is totally clean. But suddenly, the child falls face down and his hand slips out of the man’s hand, and the toddler goes under the water.

The parent doesn't stay on the dry bank of the river and shout instructions to the child on how to get out of the river.

The parent jumps into the mud.

They get their clean clothes dirty.

Not because they fell, but because they want to hold the one who did.

The Meaning:

Jesus steps into the muddy water of baptism not to get clean, but to get close.

He is identifying with us.

He is saying, "I will go where you go, so I can lift you out."

The Prayer:

Luke adds a tiny detail the other writers do not include: "And as he was praying..."

The heavens didn't open just because of the ritual; they opened because of the relationship.

C. THE DECLARATION: Identity Before Activity (v. 22)

Luke 3:22 ESV

22 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.”

The Theology: In this one sentence, the Father weaves together two massive Old Testament threads:

"You are my Son" (Psalm 2:7) = The King.

"With you I am well pleased" (Isaiah 42:1) = The Suffering Servant.

The Reveal: He is the King who serves. He is the Ruler who bleeds.

Look at the timing. When did God say, "I am well pleased"?

Before Jesus healed a leper.

Before He walked on water.

Before He died on the cross.

He hadn't preached a sermon or performed a miracle.

His "Ministry Resume" was blank.

The Truth: God's pleasure was based on Relationship, not Performance.

Jesus didn't have to "earn" the title of Son. He already had it.

Here we have the first words from God in over 400 years, the pronouncing of Jesus as God’s son.

TRANSITION:

So, look at the timeline. God didn't wait for the resume.

He gave the title 'Son' and the grade 'Well Pleased' before Jesus did a single day's work.

If that is how the Father treats the Son... why do you think He treats you like an employee?

IV. APPLICATION: The Identity Flip

1. Stop Earning (Burn the Resume)

The Trap:

Most of us are exhausted because we are trying to maintain God's love.

We think, 'If I fail, He fires me.'

That is an Employee Mindset.

Now, maybe you've been retired for 20 years.

You don't have an up to date job resume.

But you still have a list of things you think make you a 'Good Christian' ('I sent the cards,' 'I never missed a Sunday').

We think if we stop doing those things, we lose our value.

But you aren't an employee.

You are a child.

An employee is valued based on their output.

A child is valued based on their birth.

"Burn the list. You can’t buy what you already have.

You are His Beloved. Period.

2. Start Moving (Fuel the Mission)

Immediately after the Voice spoke, Jesus moved.

He went into the wilderness to fight temptation.

He went to Galilee to heal the sick.

Identity fuels Mission.

When you know you are loved, you don't work to get approval; you work to give it away.

V. INSPIRATION: The Unveiling is Complete

The Journey:

We started in the dark (Egypt).

We moved to the starlight (Magi).

We end today in the river (Voice).

The King:

The Unveiling is complete.

The King is no longer a secret.

God has given his seal and his authority to Jesus.

The only question left is: 'Will you follow Him?'

VI. ACTION/NEXT STEPS

THE POSTURE OF RECEIVING

Close your eyes.

Make a tight fists with both hands.

Squeeze hard.

That closed fists are your 'Spiritual Resume'—the anxiety of trying to prove yourself.

On the count of three, open your hands and flip your palms up.

One... Two... Three.

Open them.

Feel the tension leave.

Reach out your open hands.....

A child doesn't earn; a child receives.

With your hands open, whisper this to your Father:

'I am Your Child.

Father, put Your blessing in these open hands.

We are done earning. We are ready to receive.

5. THE CLOSING DISCIPLES PRAYER

PRAISE:

We praise You, Father, because You are not a silent God;

You spoke from the heavens to speak love over Your Son.

PROMISE:

We claim the promise that we are heirs of God—

not employees working for a wage, but children inheriting a Kingdom.

PROVISION:

Provide us with the security to rest in our identity as Your beloved children.

PARDON:

Pardon us for handing You our "resumes"—thinking we could buy the love You already gave freely.

PROTECTION:

Protect our hearts from the "Performance Trap" that tells us we are only as valuable as our last success.

PRAISE:

We praise You that the Unveiling is complete, the King has come, and we are His.

SING: ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND