Untitled Sermon (4)

Introduction:

Luke being the greatest historian ever in the ancient times; so sometimes historians only give the facts without the details.

Luke in his account of Jesus baptism is giving us the bare facts:

What I am not trying to say by my next point is that this means facts aren’t un-important even if they lack detail

Or that Luke’s account of Jesus baptism isn’t sufficient in and of itself. No.

But the account of Jesus baptism in either Matthew, Mark or John, so we see it is quite repetitive in many ways and reflects the Gospel of Luke

But there is one thing I don’t want us to miss this morning; and this is in found in the Gospel of Matthew.

So yes we are preaching through Luke, but today we are in the Gospel of Matthew

In a sense Luke’s account of Jesus baptism feels a little dry with with details and I feel the Lord leading us this morning into the direction of being submerged into a specific point Jesus is trying to make in the Gospel of Matthew:, with His answer to John the Baptist

So context before we read the passage:

It is the next day after John baptized the crowds; and Jesus is now making his way from Galilee to be baptized by John in the Jordan.

Please Stand

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

Matthew 3:13-14 “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?””

As Matthew Henry says it best, about howJesus remained in Galilee until his 30’s

“Our Lord Jesus, from his childhood till now, when he was almost thirty years of age, had lain hid in Galilee, as it were, buried alive; but now after a long and dark night, behold, the sun of righteousness rises in glory.”

And we see from out text Jesus has now made his way from Galilee to John.

And as Jesus is by John, so it says “John would have prevented him, saying “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? “

Meaning if it was left up to John even though Jesus has left his home in Galilee for the specific purpose, So john would of...

Prevented - Meaning John would of kept something from happening

Yes John in his foolishness would of been the reason Christ wasn’t baptized! Wow

If it was left up to John...

But that did not happen, “John would have...” means something else happened

The plan from the beginning was to have Jesus be baptized as this was His Father’s will.

As we know if anyone knew His mission it was John; and if anyone knew Jesus, it was John.

See lets make this very clear, John knows who Jesus is:

How? Through His mission and calling; and through their connection from the womb

Referring to John and His mission:

John has known what He is called to do; as a child, as His Father Zechariah made it clear to him as he was growing up; and being led by the Holy Spirit “at a young age”

And as Zechariah’s Prophecy says Luke 1:76-79 “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.””

Referring to John knowing Jesus & having this divine connection:

John leaping in Elizabeth’s womb as Jesus is near When Mary enters the house of Elizabeth and Zechariah

Luke 1:41 “And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,”

But we we know from Luke 1:15 “for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.”

John knew Jesus.

John Knew His Mission

So John knew Jesus, and knew his mission; but what did John say “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to baptize me?”

Matthew Henry speaks this - ” Though John was filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb, yet he acknowledges he had need to be baptized with that baptism. || Note, They who have much of the Spirit of God, yet, while here, in this imperfect state, see that they have need of more, and need to apply themselves to Christ for more.

So John is left in a moment of debate; and confusion. Jesus you want me to baptize you?

“Do you know who I am? (Jesus) Because I know who you are, and that is the I great I am.”

But Jesus doesn’t leave John in confusion; as he leaves none of his children in confusion

1 Cor 14:33 “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,”

Jesus answers John back in V.15…

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.”

Let it be said, it’s just like Christ to answer in a way that we have no rebuttal or dispute lol

It’s like him answering questions with a parable at times. (it make’s sense to those who know Him)

So as John is confused; and perplexed as why Jesus would want him to baptize him?

So Jesus answers John’s question and brings clarity!

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

See when something is fulfilled - that means it is complete

See…Fulfilling all righteousness would mean…

As R.C. Sproul says “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 was coming to leave nothing undone, from the Law to the prophets; fulfilling them all, as it speaks of in...

Matthew 5:17-20 ““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. 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. 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. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

A quick fact from Matthew 3:7 (mentioning those who were baptized among John the Baptist the previous day were those of Scribes and Pharisees “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?”

And we know from the Gospel of Luke 3:21 “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened,”

The Gospel of Luke says “all” and that included that scribes and pharisees were even turning and repenting to find forgiveness to come.

Now us back to Jesus mentioning “fulfilling all righteousness..”

See 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 of His corporate solidarity with His people.

What is Jesus meaning when He says to fulfill all righteousness then?

To fulfill the Law (which was impossible for anyone to do, Even scribes and Pharisees of the day) and to show solidarity in baptism with His people.

Soon those baptized, to associate with Jesus in His death, burial and resurrection from the grave.

Which in context was to come...

And it’s interesting to me: As we need this deep expounding of what Jesus is meaning as he says “it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” - as he says this to John

So we can see Jesus words to John the Baptist needed no further explaining or expounding; because John knew Jesus, John knew His mission, and the action John took next was one of belief in Jesus words…

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

As we read on in V. 16…

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 happened this time that hadn’t happened with the crowds past, that John baptized the previous day…

“immediately He (Jesus) 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;”

“Immediately he went up from the water…”

Jesus, after being submerged (baptized) underwater by John )

He identifying in His Baptism with all those the previous day who were baptized; and the future saints to be baptized symbolizing their following of Christ with their life.

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

Mind you this is the same Spirit that John had leading Him (the Holy Spirit) living in Him from His mothers womb

Now this was the same Holy Spirit that was descending on Christ (as there is no different Spirit in this context)

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

In The Gospel of Luke in this account, it explains this dove as in Luke 3:22 in bodily form, like a dove;

Bodily - Having a shape or physically there

Form - the act of seeing, an external experience

So this was seen by others; who might of been around. Others who might of hung back to rest awhile / Or stayed the night on the banks of the Jordan

But we know for sure John saw this happen and as he did the Holy Spirit looked, and had the physical form of a dove...

“dove.” - Symbolizing peace on earth has come; Jesus the long awaited Messiah is here, the righteous one to deliver us from sin!

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

It was at His baptism that Jesus was anointed and empowered by the Father for His earthly ministry 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 state. so the full side of his humanity now has the accompanying of the Holy Spirit.

This is in no way saying Jesus was without; even more this moment was to demonstrate and show association with His followers, in power; not just with water.

And if that isn’t enough for John to see; so something else happens:

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

God the Father speaks from heaven, and speaks to His son; as John hears this is the Christ, the Messiah to come the righteous one...

And John hears from heaven... “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased”

The Trinity we see here in full, (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) on full display) reaching into earth; the full God head on display, the POWER AND FULLNESS OF YHWH.

So as we see the Father, is pleased with the Son, so my call and question to us from the text this morning is God pleased with us?

Points:

See knowbody likes to be in “wrong standing” with anyone. As their is tension, awkwardness, hostility, unresolved conflict and unforgiveness in that relationship of “wrong standing,

Meaning we have offended someone; if we are at wrong standing with them.

So as we mention here being in “wrong standing with someone” 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 at right standing with God or at wrong standing before Him.

And let me tell you right now, we all are born in wrong standing with GOd. Why?

Because we are sinners; we are lost in sin, and our sin has offended God.

Why did John come baptizing of repentance for the forgiveness of sin? For kicks and giggles? NO!

We needed our sins that were rightfully ours forgiven.

And we have Good New in Jesus, Because Jesus never offended nor disobeyed the Father!

But We being in wrong standing with God because of our sin need a Savior from sin.

See Jesus - Living a sinless and obedient life to the Father’s will (fulfilling the law and the prophets, never sinning, perfect and spotless)

Jesus, Crucified on the cross, hands, feet, and side

Jesus, Died on the cross, His righteous blood covering our sin

Jesus, Being buried in the tomb

Jesus, being raised from the grave - (This is what baptism is a symbol of for all Christians. That we have been buried with Christ in His death, (meaning we have died to our sin)

Only that just as Christ was raised from the dead, that we too might walk in the newness of our resurrected life!

And this morning as we are raised with Christ by repenting of sin and putting our faith and trust in Him

So just as Christ’s baptism was found with the presence of Holy Spirit to begin his ministry on earth

So we are made clean and come to life through Christ’s Blood; which is righteous blood as it has covered our sins

And now we are sealed for Him and with Him by the Holy Spirit!

Such as He sealed the Ark so nothing could get in and nothing could get out, so we have assurance of our salvation as we have trusted in Christ’s righteousness and not our own for salvation from sin.

See 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 rituals and customs don’t save you!

You going to Church every Sunday can’t save you!

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

For we who were in wrong standing before God because of our sin, are now at right standing with God because of His Son.

Now when the Father looks at us, He see’s Christ’s righteous and sinless blood; covering our sin and shame.

And as He saves us from Sin, so it’s natural we follow His example; even until death:

So why are we baptized? Because Christ was (it’s that simple) Baptism - Obedience to Christ in baptism (Christ was baptized so in our obedience to follow so are we

Why do we want to now obey the commandants and His Word? (because He did)

Why do we want to be apart of Bible believing, Holy Spirit led Church? (Because Jesus is the way the truth and the life, He is the fount that never runs dry, He’s the branch and we are the Vine, and we depend on Him for our nourishment.

This Morning:

Are you at a right wrong standing with God because of your sin? *If you are its a desperate call to repent and believe in the Gospel of Jesus today! Hear me out you are not good enough to make yourself righteous; no Christ work on the cross, in the grave and rising from the grave is Or are you at right standing with the Father; and you know you have no righteousness apart from Christ’s righteousness?

And now the Holy Spirit has now descended into your life, as a gift from the Father (the Same Holy Spirit that descended into John and on Christ)

We all will stand before our Maker one day, at right standing or a a wrong standing

Righteous or Un-Righteous

As God said to the Son “This is my Son with whom I am well pleased”

And as we now have been given faith to believe, as the righteousness of Christ is ours; and we are filled with the Holy Spirit

So one day, we will stand before God and He will says “enter into the joy of your master.”

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.’” Matthew 25:21

We will stand before our Maker one day, condemned, or free, righteous or unrighteous

And it’s important to know without faith in Christ and what he came to do so if you do not repent and believe in Jesus you will not hear “well done my Son or Daughter.”

You will be condemned to hell because you never trusted in Jesus in His death, burial and resurrection from the grave.

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

Those who have been saved from Sin, just as John was already with the Holy Spirit so may we continue to “hunger and thirst for righteousness, as the wells of Jesus never run dry.”

Because Jesus make it clear to John when he said ‘it is right for us, to fulfill all righteousness.” the Sons and Daughters of God are brought into His righteousness and we are alive to live for Him.

What a Savior we have in Jesus, A Savior who includes us and brings us into His, perfectness; His righteousness and one day His glory to be with Him Forever.

Where do you stand this morning?