Baptism

Baptism

Matthew 3: 13 - 17

Intro: A small country church was having a service of baptism in January following a week-long revival. Since the church believed in emersion baptism and they didn’t have the facilities in the church to do so, they decided to have the baptism service in the river. It was a cold January day. The pastor asked one of those baptized if the water was cold. “Naw!” he replied. One of the Elders shouted, “Dip him again pastor, he’s still lying!”

I John’s baptism was offered to both Jews and Gentiles.

A The Jew at the time of Jesus believed they were already “clean” and acceptable to God because they were the chosen people. So for the Jew it was a kind of ritual cleansing if they had been “defiled” in some way. It was “starting over” clean.

B In order for a Gentile to become a Jew, they would have to submit to a ritual cleansing. It was called “Proselyte” baptism. A transition from non-Jew to Jew.

C. For the Christian, baptism is a matter of obedience to God and receiving of the Holy Spirit. We often forget that God and a congregation of Christians have, through baptism, claimed us a beloved child of God.

II John baptizes people as a sign of repentance in preparation for the coming of the kingdom of heaven. Why does Jesus come to John to be baptized?

A VS 14 – “But John tried to deter him (Jesus), saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

B Jesus answers the protest of John with the assurance that this must be done and gives John sufficient information that John complies. What changed in John’s mind?

C Can you identify with John here? Have there been times in your life when God has called upon you to do something and you questioned? Why me? Why now?

III Jesus gives John two reasons for his request: VS 15 – “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”

A To “fulfill” --- here seems to mean simply “do”, perform” / The meaning is that it is necessary for both John and Jesus to do God’s will, which includes the baptism of Jesus.

B “righteousness” / doing the revealed will of God. In his gospel, Matthew portrays Jesus as the humbly obedient Son of God who fulfills God’s will.

Concl: If we are following the model, exemplary example of Jesus we must remember to be humbly obedient to God in fulfilling the will of God. To this end we have been baptized through water and spirit into this relationship with God.