The Baptism of Christ
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: Why did Jesus get baptized?
Introduction: Why did Jesus get baptized?
Have you every stopped and asked yourself “why did Jesus got baptized?”
Our goal today is to seek and uncover the answer to this question. What we will ultimately see is that God gives His stamp of approval on Jesus and His ministry.
Transition: Read Matthew 3:13-17
Transition: Read Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him.
14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”
15 But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.
16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him,
17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
Background:
Background:
John had been preaching “repent because the kingdom of Heaven has come near!”
He rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to see his baptism.
John’s message was you are not safe from God’s wrath because of your lineage. Repentance (and a life producing fruit consistent with repentance) is required in order to be saved.
He informs those he is preaching to that he is merely a forerunner of the coming messiah.
Which leads us to our first point:
#1 Jesus was sinless.
#1 Jesus was sinless.
Read Matthew 3:14
14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”
Remember John’s baptism was a baptism for repentance. So indirectly John affirms Jesus’ sinlessness by confessing he (John) needs to be baptized by Him (Jesus).
John recognizes his own sinfulness and Christ’s sinlessness.
One more verse to show John recognized Jesus was sinless.
Read John 1:29
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
John has in mind the suffering servant spoken about in Isaiah 53. Within that chapter Isaiah talks about this suffering servant of the Lord’s who did no wrong yet “bore the sin of many.”
The only way Jesus could be the lamb of God was if he was sinless.
#2 Jesus Identified Himself with those He came to save.
#2 Jesus Identified Himself with those He came to save.
Read Matthew 3:15
15 But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.
So why did Jesus get baptized?
To identify with sinful Israel, the ones He came to save.
To pivot His life towards His mission of saving sinners.
Approving John’s message and ministry.
Read Isaiah 53:12
12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the booty with the strong;
Because He poured out Himself to death,
And was numbered with the transgressors;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
And interceded for the transgressors.
#3 Jesus’ own ministry was approved by God.
#3 Jesus’ own ministry was approved by God.
Read Matthew 3:16-17
16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him,
17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
This event occurred at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.
Illustration: New ship being launched.
A grand celebration as a new ship begins its service.
Christ likewise is beginning His public ministry with God’s stamp of approval.
Notice that this is one of those events in Scripture where all three members of the Godhead are present together.
God the Son = Jesus coming out of the water.
God the Holy Spirit = Coming down like a dove and landing on Jesus.
God the Father = The Voice.
What does the voice say in Matthew 3:17
17 And there came a voice from heaven:
This is My beloved Son.
I take delight in Him!
Illustration: When I was Ordained.
I sat in a room with those on staff who had been ordained and some from within the church who had been ordained and was questioned. They then voted on me and when i was approved i went before the church and any man who had been ordained to the ministry came and laid hands on me and prayed for me. It was a meaningful and touching moment in my ministry life. I was being approved for ministry by the church leaders in the presence of witnesses (the church)
Application: So what does this mean for us.
Application: So what does this mean for us.
#1 You need to recognize your own sinfulness and need for a savior.
#1 You need to recognize your own sinfulness and need for a savior.
Take some time this week to reflect on your life in comparison with Jesus’ life. Allow for yourself to be utterly humiliated by Christ's perfection and your imperfection.
#2 Follow Christ’s example by orientating your life towards God and His mission.
#2 Follow Christ’s example by orientating your life towards God and His mission.
Invitation & Response
Invitation & Response