1 29-34 Why Did Jesus Need To Be Baptized
liberty bible church 11/4/07 a.M.
By Tom Zobrist
“why did jesus need to be baptized?”
John 1:29-34
introduction
Illus. of SIGNS YOU'RE AT A BAD BAPTISM SERVICE:
1. The Coast Guard is involved.
2. The service is held at Splash Mountain Water Parks.
3. Pastor wears scuba gear.
4. As the baptism begins the organist plays the theme from "Jaws."
5. The preacher uses a "Billy the Bass" singing "Take Me to the River"
instead of the traditional "Shall We Gather at the River"!
6. You keep hearing the pastor saying, "Oops! Honestly, sister; I
didn't know about that drop-off!"
7. The pastor can't get the “big man” being baptized back up out
of the water and calls for help.
8. The deacon board shows up with fishing gear.
9. Just as the choir starts to sing, Hulk Hogan jumps out of the water
and wrestles the preacher into submission.
10. Someone puts Alka Seltzer into the baptistery.
There’s a great deal of confusion in the church about baptism. Some people believe in baptizing babies, while others believe in immersion. Some people believe one must be baptized to be saved. Some people believe we should be baptized in the Name of Jesus, while others believe we should be baptized in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Some people believe we should be baptized going forward while others believe we should be baptized going backward. Others believe we should be baptized three times, once in the Name of the Father, once in the Name of the Son and once in the Name of the Holy Spirit. Even more confusing is the baptism of Jesus. Was it to set an example for us? Did it fulfill some aspect of the Law? Why did Jesus feel the need to be baptized?
OPEN to passage.
Prop. In this passage, we see why Jesus needed to be baptized.
Open in PRAYER.
PREVIEW the passage. After the prologue, last week we saw who John the Baptist was and what his ministry was. Today we go on with further testimony from the Baptizer and answer the question of why Jesus needed to be baptized. First…
i. Jesus needed to be Identified for israel vs. 29-31
Illus. of how Solomon stood out, head and shoulders above the people. He had a physical presence that made him superior. Jesus didn’t have that. He looked like a regular guy. Is. 53:1-2 says, Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. How is Jesus introduced to Israel? First…
A. Jesus is superior to john the baptist
John was the most popular religious leader of this day, at least among the common people. They had to understand that John was not the Messiah. Jesus was clearly superior.
V 29 1. Jesus’ baptism by John is not seen here. As a matter of fact, this incident probably occurs after the baptism of Jesus because John already knows who Jesus is and He points Him out to the those around him. It’s interesting that he calls Jesus the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” What was he referring to? The animal used on the Day of Atonement was a goat. Lambs were used in other sacrifices but could not atone for sin. Possibly he was referring to the Passover, as well as to Is. 53:7. “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.” John’s ministry merely identified sin, Jesus takes it away.
V 30 2. John repeats what he had said twice before, so that his message was clear. Jesus’ superiority is based upon His preexistence. Cf. v 15, 27 Jesus is clearly superior to John which supports John’s message that…
b. Jesus was sent as Israel’s messiah
V 31a 1. Even though John and Jesus were related, there is no Biblical evidence that there was any childhood contact between the two. All John knew…
V 31b 2. John was to prepare the way for Him by baptizing with water and through John’s ministry Jesus would be revealed to Israel.
Trans. JESUS NEEDED TO BE IDENTIFIED FOR ISRAEL and John was the man to point Him out. How did He know Him?
ii. jesus was identified for john vs. 32-34
Illus. of meeting a distant cousin at a game last summer in Baltimore. I wouldn’t have known him had he not identified himself. The same is true for Jesus and John. Jesus had to be identified for John.
a. Jesus was baptized with water by john
V 32- 1. John was told by God that the confirmation sign as to who the Messiah was would be the Holy Spirit, taking
33 physical form, descending upon a Man. This Man would be the Savior, the One who would baptize with the H.S. (We’ll talk about that in a minute.) What about Jesus’ baptism by John?
2. Cf. Matt. 3:13- John’s Baptism was a baptism of repentance. It did not picture the death burial and resurrection of Christ as does believer’s baptism. It pictures the death and burial of a sinner dying under the wrath of God. The person recognized their need for a Savior and so were prepared to receive Jesus.
3. Matt. 3:14-15- John understood his baptism. Jesus didn’t need this, but rather John did. Now, here’s the question? What did Jesus mean in verse 15? Jesus’ baptism was necessary so that He could identify with the sinners death. He was identifying Himself with lost mankind and declaring that He is going to fulfill our righteousness their behalf. John’s baptism of Jesus told the sinners that Christ had come to identify with them and take their place. It was still a few years in the future, but it was a beautiful picture of what was going to take place. Cf. 2 Cor. 5:21 in bulletin.
4. Matt. 3:16-17- And so John gets his confirmation and passes that on the Israel in John 1. Now, the most important baptism…
b. jesus baptizes with the holy spirit
V 33b 1. To be baptized with water is symbolic, to be baptized by the HS is real; the same Spirit that descended upon Jesus indwells all true believers today. That makes us children of God. 1:12-13
V 34 2. John testifies that Jesus is the Son of God. Psalm 2:7 says that the Coming Messiah will be God’s Son. John only calls Jesus the Son of God. Other believers are called children, only Jesus is the Son.
conclusion
Remember, baptism is about identification. It saves no one, infant nor adult. In John’s baptism, the person identified with sin and recognized that they needed a Savior. In believer’s baptism, we identify with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus confessing that He is our Savior and Lord by our faith in Him. Jesus’ baptism was for identification as well. He identified with the sinners as the One who would eventually pay for their sins. Where does that leave us?
1. Like Israel, Jesus has been identified for us. The question is, will we accept Him or reject Him. GOSPEL
2. If we want to be His disciple, we need to be baptized with water. Cf. Matt. 28:19-20 And then, learn…..for life. That is our mission; to learn, grow, evangelize and teach others. None of us can do everything effectively, so we help by involving ourselves in the local church.
3. Jesus identified with sinners by being baptized with them. How hard would that be? We can identify daily with Jesus by serving Him; obeying His Word. It’s the least we can do.
Illus. of Tait and Lucy have no need to be baptized yet. But they will, when they trust in Jesus. It’s an important part of our discipleship of Christ.
pRAY
If you’ve never been baptized, I encourage you to consider this step of faith. It’s your chance to identify with the One who identified with sin and paid its price for you.
“why did jesus need to be baptized?”
John 1:29-34
introduction
There’s a great deal of confusion in the church about baptism. Even more confusing is the baptism of Jesus. Was it to set an example for us? Did it fulfill some aspect of the Law? Why did Jesus feel the need to be baptized?
i. Jesus needed to be Identified for vs. 29-31
A. Jesus is __________________ to john the baptist
Cf. Is. 53:7
b. Jesus was sent as _____________________ messiah
ii. jesus was identified for vs. 32-34
a. Jesus was baptized with water by john
Cf. Matt. 3:13-17; 2 Cor. 5:21
b. jesus baptizes with the ________________________
Cf. John 1:12-13; Psalm 2:7
conclusion
Remember, baptism is about identification. It saves no one, infant nor adult. In John’s baptism…
In believer’s baptism…
Jesus’ baptism was for…
1.
2.
Cf. Matt. 28:19-20
3.