Baptism (Fall 2019) Sermon
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13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, 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 all 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.”
Sermon Title: When God was baptized
Sermon Title: When God was baptized
The Setting (v.13)
The Setting (v.13)
Read Verse 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
Read Verse 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
In the gospel of John we saw John the Baptist bearing witness of this in .
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.”
In our text today, we see Jesus coming from Galilee which was North from the Jordan River, and the purpose for Christ traveling there was so that He would be baptized by John.
Prior to our text we see John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness in Judea.
And the message he preached can be found in verse 2 of this chapter.
2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
John the Baptist wore garments that were similar to some prophets in the Old Testament and in verse 5 we see the response from the people of Jerusalem and all of Judea.
5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,
John the Baptist was preparing the way for Christ in his preaching of repentance and in his baptism which was a baptism of repentance.
When we speak of repentance we are speaking of the change of someone’s way of life.
to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness—‘to repent, to change one’s way, repentance.’
Repentance is meant to show a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness.
as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness—‘to repent, to change one’s way, repentance.’
John’s baptism was a recognition of this in preparation for the coming Messiah.
Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 509.
We also see John the baptist and his confrontation with the Pharisees and Sadducees.
He rebukes them and warns them of the wrath to come.
Pharisees and Sadducees
He then speaks of the One who was mightier than him. The One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.
The One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.
He was speaking of Jesus Christ who would travel from Galilee to the Jordan to get baptized by him.
The baptism of John demonstrated an acknowledgment of one’s sin with the anticipation of the Messiah’s appearance.
His baptism represented a change of someone’s way of life.
Repentance meant to show a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness which prompted the confession of sin. We see this in .
It represented the turning away from one’s sin which prompted the confession of sin. We see this in .
Jesus came from Galilee to be baptized and we see how John reacted to this in verse 14.
a desire for spiritual cleansing, and a commitment to follow God’s law in anticipation of the Messiah’s arrival.
2. The Humility of John (v.14)
2. The Humility of John (v.14)
Read Verse 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
Read Verse 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
Question: Why did John respond this way?
Question: Why did John respond this way?
We have to remember what John’s baptism represented.
John said that he baptized with water for repentance.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance,
To John it wouldn’t make sense to baptize Jesus since He was without sin.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .
In , John the Baptist said,
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!
John knew that Jesus came to take away sin and that Jesus was before him. Which was a recognition of Christ being sent by the Father.
John knew who Jesus was. He knew what the writer had said about Christ in .
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jesus was God in the flesh and there was no need for Him to repent or to confess sin because in Him was no sin.
There was no need for Him to repent or confess sin.
John knew who Jesus was which humbled Him.
Second,
He said that Christ was mightier than him. So much that he was not even worthy to carry His sandals.
John the Baptist of course would have wanted to prevent Him.
but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.
whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.
This act on humility on Jesus’ part is hard to understand.
How the sinless Christ who was and is God would humble Himself to be baptized by someone who needed to be baptized by Him.
John was not sinless. He himself needed what Jesus would give.
Namely, a baptism that represented not just repentance but a union with Him.
John was the one in great need, but Jesus humbled Himself. Giving us the greatest example of humility.
But Jesus humbled Himself. Giving us the greatest example of humility.
Because the baptism of John was meant to prepare the way for Jesus, it makes sense for John to ask to be baptized by Him.
Question: So if Jesus didn’t need the baptism of John, why would Jesus want to get baptized?
Jesus tells us in verse 15.
3. The Humility of Christ (v.15)
3. The Humility of Christ (v.15)
Read Verse 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.
Read Verse 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.
John went from wanting to prevent Christ from being baptized to consenting.
In other words, John agreed to what Jesus asked.
Jesus did not need to be baptized. But in His response we can see why He did it.
“Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
Righteousness here means: an observance or practice that is required.
Jesus here wanted to fulfill something that was required.
Since He was sinless, John’s baptism of repentance could not apply to Him.
But Jesus, submitting Himself under the law, adheres to a requirement that was made to those who were called to the priesthood.
One of the things we cannot forget about Jesus is that He was the perfect High priest.
A High Priest was someone who offered sacrifices for the purpose of atoning for the sins of the nation.
The OT emphasises the spiritual importance of the high priest, especially as the one who makes atonement for the sins of the nation. It also sets out his duties and responsibilities.
From carm.org
Martin H. Manser, Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies (London: Martin Manser, 2009).
man’s reconciliation with God through the sacrificial death of Christ.
man’s reconciliation with God through the sacrificial death of Christ.
Atonement theologically speaks of God's acting in human history to reestablish the original relationship between God and man by dealing with sin. To atone means to make amends, to repair a wrong. Biblically, it means to remove the guilt of man. The Old Testament atonements offered by the high priest were temporary and a foreshadow of the real and final atonement made by Jesus. Jesus atoned for the sins of the world (). This atonement is received by faith (; ).
F. L. Cross and Elizabeth A. Livingstone, eds., The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), 124.
This is Jesus who is our High Priest. And because He is God who came in the flesh, He came to fulfill all the requirements of the law in order to make atonement for our sins!
There are four things that we see Jesus fulfilling here in our text.
There are four things that we see Jesus fulfilling here in our text.
These represent what Jesus fulfilled when entering into the priest hood.
These represent what Jesus fulfilled when entering into the priest hood.
First, Jesus met the age requirement.
First, Jesus met the age requirement.
In , we see that when a man was called to the duty of the priesthood they had to be of the age of 30 to fifty years old.
In , we see that when a man was called to the duty of the priesthood they had to be of the age of 30 to fifty years old.
Second, Jesus would be washed with water.
Second, Jesus would be washed with water.
When entering the priest hood, men had to be washed with water before becoming priests.
In ,
And in we see,
4 You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water.
6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.
1 “Now this is what you shall do to them to consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. Take one bull of the herd and two rams without blemish, 2 and unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers smeared with oil. You shall make them of fine wheat flour. 3 You shall put them in one basket and bring them in the basket, and bring the bull and the two rams. 4 You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water. 5 Then you shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the coat and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastpiece, and gird him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod. 6 And you shall set the turban on his head and put the holy crown on the turban. 7 You shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him.
Jesus was baptized to fulfill His ministry as a priest.
Levit
17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
This was done as a ritual in order for the men to enter the priesthood.
Jesus was on a mission. And it was to fulfill all the requirements of the law which He did perfectly and without sin.
Since this was required, Jesus would do so to enter into His ministry.
And it was all about the F
Third, He was anointed.
Third, He was anointed.
According to , men who were chosen to serve as priests were anointed with oil.
In , we see the Holy Spirit descending on Christ.
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;
in , it speaks of the anointing which we as believers have recieved as from Him who abides in us. Which is the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was anointed by God the Holy Spirit.
Lastly, a verbal blessing was given.
Lastly, a verbal blessing was given.
In and , we see Moses giving a verbal blessing to those chosen to enter into the priesthood.
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 53.4 δικαιοσύνη, ης
53.4 δικαιοσύνηc, ης f: observances or practices required by one’s religion—‘religious observances, religious requirements.’ προσέχετε δὲ τὴν δικαιοσύνην ὑμῶν μὴ ποιεῖν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων ‘be careful not to perform your religious observances in public’ Mt 6:1. It is also possible to understand δικαιοσύνη in Mt 6:1 as meaning ‘alms’ (see 57.111).
53.4 δικαιοσύνηc, ης f: observances or practices required by one’s religion—‘religious observances, religious requirements.’ προσέχετε δὲ τὴν δικαιοσύνην ὑμῶν μὴ ποιεῖν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων ‘be careful not to perform your religious observances in public’ . It is also possible to understand δικαιοσύνη in as meaning ‘alms’ (see 57.111).
But with Christ it wasn’t Moses who gave Him a verbal blessing and affirmation.
4. The Affirmation of Christ (v.16-17)
4. The Affirmation of Christ (v.16-17)
It was God the Father.
Verse 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;
Verse 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;
Read Verse 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Read Verse 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
In the baptism of Christ, we see the perfect fulfillment of what was required.
Jesus became the perfect High Priest and in doing so He would complete the work and finish it so that we could receive it by faith through grace!
He became like us in every respect, so that He would become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God.
Making propitiation for our sins.
So now when we are baptized we follow in His steps.
The difference with us is that we are born into sin. Jesus was not.
We could not fulfill the laws requirements perfectly.
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
While Jesus lived a sinless life and fulfilled all the laws requirements, we did not. So this means that we are guilty of breaking them all.
It would be right for us to be baptized as a sign of repentance. But this is not Christian baptism.
The baptism of John was in preparation for the appearance of Christ.
Christian baptism is a sign of what God has done already in Christ.
Christian baptism is an ordinance given to us by our Lord that speaks of a profession of faith in public.
I want to end with 2 reasons as to why a Christian is baptized.
I want to end with 2 reasons as to why a Christian is baptized.
First, we are baptized because Jesus commanded it.
First, we are baptized because Jesus commanded it.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:
Baptism is an act of obedience to the command of Christ.
A Christian does not get baptized for salvation. Baptism does not complete our salvation.
It’s because we have come to saving faith that we get baptized.
It is an outworking of what God has already done in a believer’s life.
Second, Baptism is done publicly to represent one’s identification with Christ.
Second, Baptism is done publicly to represent one’s identification with Christ.
The way we identify with Christ is the public profession of our being dead to sin and alive with Him.
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
Baptism is a public identification with Christ
We have been buried with Christ! Baptism is a public confession of this.
And it also presents the newness of life! We were raised with Him by faith in Him!
Baptism symbolizes death to sin
That is why in Article 20 of our Articles of Faith we say,
Baptism is a sign of being a disciple
“Water baptism, the immersion of the believer, is a visible testimony to the work of regeneration and a mark of identification and union with Christ. It has no saving or cleansing power, but it is the answer of a good conscience before God; hence, it should be administered only to those who have, by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, realized the forgiveness of sins and possess the assurance of acceptance with God.”
Baptism as a covenant sign
Notice that the article does not include those who live perfectly.
We are simply doing out of obedience what the Lord commanded us.
We have heard the people getting baptized today make a profession of faith.
As an ordinance given to us by Jesus Christ we in humility and obedience seek to obey Christ in making disciples.
Baptism does not save anyone. Christ does. And we follow in obedience to outwardly express the work that He has done in His burial and resurrection.
Which means that a denial of this truth is evidence that you are still dead in your sins.
Apart from saving faith in Christ you have no life.
Ephesians 2:1-10
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.