Jesus Baptized, The Son of God

Introduction:

Last week as we read, John did not hold back in letting the “brood of vipers” have it with his words, bringing a deep realization; and conviction to the crowd.

That this baptism isn’t to wash the outside, but a symbol of what was to come; the cleansing of our sins through Christ’s death, burial and resurrection from the grave

Us sinners being made new by Christ’s obedience and righteousness

We left off with John being locked up and put into prison… Luke 3:19-20 “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, added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.”

John was put in prison for what He knew was true!

But before He went to prison we notice He was able to be apart of a moment that I’m sure made Him even more sure of His Journey, mission and call from God to prepare the way for the Lord Jesus.

This morning we will look at John the Baptist, baptize Jesus in the Gospel of Luke; paired with one verse from the Gospel of John and on into finishing this account of Jesus fulfilling all righteousness through the Gospel of Matthew…Bringing together the Gospel stories to understand context and purpose.

These texts ultimately this morning will be pointing us and leading us to one main theme, and that is Christ Righteousness. Or a right standing is another way to say it.

“See knowbody likes to be in wrong standing with anyone. As their is tension, awkwardness, hostility, unresolved conflict and unforgivenss there.

So as we talk about wrong standing, and knowing all the bad and sin that comes with it; so this morning let it be said that one day their will be a standing before God that will take place for all of us, and either you will stand righteous or un-righteous before Him.

So this morning lets read our two texts and begin to dive into this:

Please Stand

Luke 3:21-22 “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 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.””

Matthew 3: 13-17 “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. |||||| 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; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.””

Pray

Starting in the Gospel of Luke:

Luke 3:21-22 “Now when all the people were baptized,…..

John 1:29 “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Matthew 3:13-17 “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 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; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.””

So as we read last week, John went to the region of the Jordan for what? “To proclaim a baptsim of repentance for the forgiveness of sin.”

So from this text we can see more than one person came to be baptized, as it says “all the people”

What makes up a crowd? People.

Meaning they had heard John’s sharp, strong, but loving message; and still they responded in faith and repentance to be baptized for the forgiveness of sin, through Christ; who was coming to fulfill all righteousness.

J.C. Ryle Speaks of these preaching moments for John as we see it does Say “all the people” so J.C. Ryle Says “Few preachers ever produced such effects as John the Baptist”

What a glorious day that day on the river banks of the Jordan; as people were baptized for the forgiveness of sin!

John preparing the way; as God called Him to do so!

To take it even deeper looking at the Gospel of Matthew those who were baptized were among the Scribes and Pharisees

They heard the proclamation and responded with a repentant heart

Mind you they thought they were righteous through their keeping the Law; but John’s fruit from his time in ministry so we can see brought in the crowds and drew them to their knees.

But someone else was on His way from Galilee; Who would fulfill the whole law, therefore fulfilling all of righteousness one who would not baptize not with water, but with the Holy Spirit and fire.

For we know as we read in Luke 3:16 “John answered them all, saying, (the crowd) “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.”

So John has been baptizing with water alone, and “all” in the crowd for the right reason, as John made it clear to them “who warned you to flee from the wrath to come.”

So John was preparing the way and through God’s Word people were set on the straight and narrow path

But…

John 1:29 “The next day (after all the crowds were baptized) he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

So here we have a new day which means the context and details have since changed.

As we look at these Gospel accounts of the exact same event so this would now be the day after the crowds were baptized. (Meaning they probably weren’t as big; as a day had come and gone)

Now I could be wrong about the crowds, but all that is really important to know is

The Son of Man now, walks silently to the region of the Jordan John is at and steps into the water with John

Now as Jesus approaches John the Baptist, as we read in Matthew 3:13 “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.” (mind you this is; prior to John being put in prison as we read in the Gospel of Luke a minute ago)

And now Jesus is by John and it’s obvious why Jesus is there!

So that John could baptize him!

But John has a response to Jesus…

Mind you John has known what He is called to do; as His Father Zechariah made it clear to him as he was growing up.

As Zechariah’s Prophecy in Luke 1:76-79 “was…And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.””

As John’s time in the womb jumping as He gets close to Jesus who is in Mary’s womb

As John’s time in the wilderness readied Him to prepare the way for the Lord, who was right in front of Him Now!

So it should be clear what John is to do. Right? (Well while we may be called to a mission it doesn’t mean we know every detail of what we will do or be faced with)

But as we look from the Gospel of John, so John the Baptist said something in verse 29 as Jesus was walking up, as Jesus came from Galilee to be baptized by John, John said something.…

John 1:29 “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

As John releases these ecstatic words of joy and adoration “as he sees Christ approaching, so John knows something others don’t yet.

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

See John’s annunciation of Jesus coming…as R.C. Sproul says..

“So John’s reference to the Lamb of God pertains to the OT sacrificial system. The Lamb that was slain on the Day of Atonement had to be a lamb without blemish. As a blemished lamb could not serve as an atonement for sins. John recognizes Jesus as the fulfillment of this practice.” (Something know one else sees or understands yet)

“The Lamb without blemish, without sin, came to John in order to be baptized by him. John did not understand this and tried to stop it.

It’s clear that Jesus knows this is what John is to do; but as we read in the next verse it’s not clear to John yet Why he must baptize Jesus.

Matthew 3:14 “John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?””

Matthew 3:15 “But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.”

John is like no Jesus you need to baptize me! But that is not why Jesus came to the Jordan

What is Jesus saying in His answer to John?

“But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness?”

Just like Jesus to phrase it to John in a way that John would have no argument or rebuttal!

Jesus silences people often with his fact; and our opinion.

See…Fulfilling all righteousness

For a Jew meant that every jot and tittle of the law of God had to be fulfilled.

An acute dimension of Jesus’ ministry was His coming as the new Adam. He came as the embodiment and personification of Israel To fulfill His mission, He had to obey every requirement that God had placed upon Israel and has given to man.

Jesus had no sin of which to repent; His entire ministry was vicarious. He was a substitute. He was killed on the cross not for His sins, but for the sins of His people. That is what He meant when He said “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” - Even though He had no need for baptism, Jesus submitted to this rite as part His corporate solidarity with His people.

What is this Jesus meaning to fulfill all righteousnes? To fulfill the Law (which was impossible for anyone to do, Even scribes and Pharisees of the day) and to show solidarity in baptsim with His people.

And it’s interesting; obviously to John Jesus words needed no futher explaining or expounding because the action John took was one of belief in Jesus words and an action as we read…

“Then John consented.” - He abandoned his way and sought to fulfill Christ’s way; and baptized Jesus.

Matthew 3:16 “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;”

And So John the Baptist did baptize Jesus, but something happned this time that hadn’t happened with the crowds past…

“immediatley he went up from the water, and behold the heavens were opened to him, and the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;”

So as Jesus arose from the water so heaven accompined Him and the “Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him.”

Mind you the same Spirit that John had leading Him and living in Him from His mothers womb, now was the same Holy Spirit that was descending on Christ (there is no different Spirit hear, now their is measures of the Holy Spirit to certain ones in the Scriptures, but this the Holy Spirit

“and the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;”

In Luke it explains this dove as in Luke 3:22 “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.””

Bodily - Having a shape or physically there of a dove.

Form - the act of seeing, the thing seen an external experience

So this was was seen by others; who might of been around. Others who might of hung back to rest awhile

But we know for sure John saw this happen

“like a dove.” - Symbolizing Peace on earth has come; Jesus the long awaited Messiah is here, the righteous one!

So why would Jesus need the Holy Spirit to descened and rest on Him?

It was at His baptism that Jesus was anointed and empowered by the Father for His earthly minsitry in fulfillment of the words of Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me” (Isa. 61:1)

Why did Jesus need this moment?

(As we know Jesus was fully God and fully man and as we know soon he will go to the wilderness to face the enemy. So in His fully God and Fully man stage so the full side of his humanity now has the accompanying of the Holy Spirit.

The Trinty reaching into earth; the full God head on display.

Matthew 3:17 “and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.””

So now we have Jesus the Son, the Holy Spirit descending and the Father speaking

We here believe in the trinity and here we see the three persons in one working together for one purpose.

So Jesus being baptized by John fulfilling all righteousness according to the law.

The Holy Spirit descedning like a dove on Him, for His earthly ministry

And now we hear the Father (God) speak to the Son “with you I am well pleased!” As the Holy Spirit has descended and rested on him in from of a dove. (Peace)

Points:

See it was right for John to baptize Jesus.

Why?

Because if Jesus was to be the righteous one “the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”

So the only way Christ could ‘take away the sin of the world.”

Was to be the righteous one, the one without error or sin in his life.

The one who never broke the Law but fulfilled the whole Law, every jot and tittle of it.

And why is it important for us this morning to know Christ did fulfill all righteousness?

Because if Jesus isn’t righteous then no one is righteous

If Jesus sinned, meaning not righteous, then He isn’t the perfect sacrfice and no one is saved.

If Jesus committed and broke the Law, then the lamb is with blemish and not perfect

See Jesus didn’t have to be baptized, just like he didn’t have to save us, but he wanted to because He loves us.

He wanted to fulfill all religious law and He wanted to identity with His people on earth, that he is the way the truth and the light.

In the Baptism that John was proclaiming a “baptism of repentance for the forgivness of sin.”

Baptism that was symbolizing what Jesus the perfect one, the righteous one was coming to accomplish and fulfill!

He:

Living a sinless and obedient life to the Father’s will

Crucified

Dying on the cross

Being burried in the tomb

And raised - (This is what baptsim is a symbol of for all Christians. That we have been buried with Christ in His death, only that just as Christ was raised from the dead that we too might walk in the newness of our resurrected life)

And as we are raised with Christ, so just as Christ’s baptism was the presence of Holy Spirit so we are - made righteous through Christ and sealed by Him with the Holy Spirit.

Therefore being righteous as Christ is.

Matthew 5:17-20

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

See we know from the crowds in the Gospel of Matthew that many in the crowd were who?

While we said last week vipers

And some there for the correct reason

So from the Gospel of Matthew 3:7 “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” - (it was the Pharisees and Sadducees)

The holy rollers.

Well Jesus came to fulfill the law And the prophets no abolish them.

And as the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees was viewed as perfect in their eyes and their works atoning for this sins

So Jesus is saying; in me is only Righteousness, you in yourself are not righteous, you in your good works, you religious people, it’s all not enough to raise you from the grave, your good works and tryings and rituals.

No Christ makes us righteous alone!

1. Righteousness - being without sin, without blemish or spot or wrinkle, so Jesus fulfilled all righteousness so that we could be made righteous through Him being that perfect Sacrfice for our sins that we can be given new life in Him by grace through faith and filled with the Holy Spirit

2. The Father said “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased!”

3. And we too as we run this race and finish it as his followers will hear the same words Christ heard “well done my good and faithful servant”

Matthew 25:21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”

4. Christ the righteous one is daily drawing people to Himself as He shows them it’s not by anything we’ve done for Him, but what he’s done for us

No Baptism doesn’t save you

No religious doings, not going to Church every Sunday can save you

Only He does the righteous, and spotless one to cover our sin and shame.

Jesus Christ!

The Father’s affirmation to the Son, as we know any Father is well pleased with the Son who obeys; so this brings me to our conclusion.

Are you at a right stand in with God for your sin? *If not repent and believe in the Gospel of Jesus today; that you are not good enough to make yourself righteous; no Christ work on the cross, in the grave and rising from the grave is

That way you can be filled with the Holy Spirit (The same Holy Spirit that descended on Christ and in John)

Because we will all stand before God one day: 2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Or are you at right standing with the Father; and you know your righteous is not your own but it has been fulfilled in what Christ came to Do?

We all will stand one day, at right standing or a a wrong and unrighteous standing.

Trust in Christ be saved from sin and have the Holy Spirit workout living this righteousness in your life.