The Baptism of Jesus, Matthew 3:13-17

Introduction

A couple of years ago, Elizabeth, Ellie, and myself were able to go to the Lenovo Center in Raleigh during a special event for hockey fans. I have a couple picture I want to show you.

HERE IS THE FIRST PICTURE

We were able to go behind the scenes and see the locker room and workout area for the Carolina Hurricanes. Here I am holding Ellie standing in front of where the players prepare for the games and where they go during intermissions.

HERE IS A SECOND PICTURE FROM THAT NIGHT

We were able to be on the level with ice. This is not a perspective that I get very often.

The next year I was able to go back with my brother-in-law, Jeff. Here are a couple of pics from that night.

HERE IS THE FIRST PICTURE

Here I am getting ready to take a shot. I am not ashamed to admit that I missed it far right. On a side note, Jeff put the puck straight into the goal that night.

IN THIS LAST PICTURE

I had the opportunity to go to the bench where the players are during the game.

I loved both of these opportunities because I was able to go some of the places that the players went on game days and I was able to do some of the things that they do on gamedays.

To a certain extent, I was able to identify with them by walking in their footsteps.

As you know, we have been looking in the Bible asking God to “Tell Me the Story”.

We began with looking at the stories that Jesus told.

These were the parables of Jesus. He told them to help us understand his teaching even better.

Today, we begin looking at the stories in the Bible that tell us about the life of Jesus.

I want to take a moment to make one thing perfectly clear.

A lot of times we use the word “story” to talk about fictional events that are recorded in a way as if they are real.

The Story that we are tapping into is not a fiction. It may be told in an engaging way but what we read in scripture is the truth. T

he narrative of the life of Jesus found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are true events.

This is a powerful true story.

The first part of the story of the life and ministry of Jesus that I want us to look at is the baptism of Jesus. Let’s read our text and see what it says about the baptism of Jesus.

Read Matthew 3:13-17

Prayer

Adoration of God.

Thanks for the life and ministry of Jesus

Thanks for this opportunity.

Thanks for the word.

Call the lost

Save those who repent and believe

Encourage, change, challenge, comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.

Use me

Our text this morning records one of the first events of the actual ministry of Jesus.

In Matthew, chapter 1 and 2 were told of the birth and the very early life of Jesus.

Matthew 3 begins with the story of a prophet who lived in the wilderness who came forward declaring a message of repentance.

This man was named John but we know him as John the Baptist because baptism was a significant part of his ministry.

In the verses leading up to our text this morning, John has said that there is someone much greater than him who is coming and that his work will be mighty work of God.

In Matthew 2, Jesus is just a child. When we read of Jesus again, he is 30 years old. He has left home and our text tells us the very first action that Jesus took in his ministry.

Let’s take a closer look at what is going on here.

Jesus Comes to Baptized by John (Vv.13-15)

Let’s begin by looking at verses 13-15. Here we see that Jesus comes to John to be baptized.

Jesus is intentional about coming to John to be baptized.

Now John tries to convince Jesus that he does not need to be baptized

John was correct in once sense. Baptism is often viewed as a symbol of repentance.

People would repent of their sins and the baptism served as a physical announcement to everyone as well as a reminder that they were committing to live a changed life.

Was Jesus sinful? NO Did Jesus ever sin? NO Did Jesus need to repent? NO.

John was right that Jesus did not need to repent.

John was also saying that he needed to be baptized by Jesus.

Humility on John’s part.

Jesus tells John that this needs to be done for “fulfill all righteousness”.

This simply means that Jesus is making a claim to identify with God’s kingdom work on earth.

John is passing on the baton to Jesus and Jesus would take this ministry forward.

The baptism of Jesus would confirm this.

For those being baptized today and all who have been baptized, our baptism served similar purposes as those of Jesus’s time.

Like the people that heard John’s message, we know that we are sinners and that we need to repent of our sins and put of our faith in God. When we do this, we are a new creation.

Baptism is a symbol of that.

When we get in the water, we look one way. Our clothes are dry.

When we go under and come back up, we are wet. There is a physical difference.

Baptism reminds us of the difference that should be in our lives when we repent and believe.

Jesus’s baptism was also announcement that he was in agreement with John’s ministry and was even part of that same ministry.

When we are baptized, we are making a statement we are part of the church.

Baptism is a privilege given to anyone who is a child of God.

Baptism is also a responsibility because we need to live a life that makes God proud as a member of his church.

Heaven Responds (Vv. 16-17)

Look back at our text one more time. In verses 16 and 17, we see that something amazing happened when Jesus was baptized.

When he came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove.

We are also told that there was a voice from heaven announcing, “This (Jesus) is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

This was a confirmation of the ministry of Jesus to all who were there.

This was also a celebration.

I didn’t see any doves when I was baptized and I didn’t hear any heavenly voices.

I think it’s safe to say that we won’t see any doves or hear any heavenly voices today.

What I can say is that two things will happen when we baptize Ava and Cammie.

There will be celebration

In fact, I want to encourage every person here today to cheer when they both come up from the waters.

The Bible says that when one person comes to Jesus in faith, that heaven rejoices. I want us to join in that celebration.

Yesterday, I heard a gym full of people celebrate when one kid made a basket during our basketball game.

I’d like to think that we can celebrate just as much for these two who have made a commitment to Christ.

For everyone us, when we were baptized we made a public announcement that we were sons and daughters of God.

If you are a child of God, then God is pleased with you!

Conclusion

Earlier I shared with you my excitement about walking in the steps of my favorite hockey players.

Today, Ava and Cammie get to walk in the footsteps of Jesus

As we prepare to celebrate baptism today, I want to extend and invitation to everyone here today.

Ava and Cammie are both being baptized today because they have repented of their sins and put their faith in Jesus.

Have you do the same. Do you know that you are a child of God?

You can be sure.

All you have to do is repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus.

I hope and pray that everyone that hears me today, knows Jesus as their Savior.

Perhaps you know you are a child of God but you need to recommit, I encourage you to do that today.

If you want to take the first step of salvation, I’m here to talk with you.

If you need to recommit, I’m here to help you and pray with you.

If you have a burden and just want to spend some time talking with God, this altar is open for you.