Baptism Of The Lord.

BAPTISM OF THE LORD.

Luke 3:15-17; Luke 3:21-22.

The ministry of John the Baptist was causing quite a stir. It was four hundred years since there had been a prophet in Israel, and expectations were high. The question on many people’s hearts was, Could this be the long-awaited Messiah (Luke 3:15)?

John had to set them straight (Luke 3:16). John mentioned his own ministry: “I indeed baptise you with water.” Then, as was his habit (cf. John 3:30), John immediately points away from himself to Jesus: “but He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Luke 3:16).

John spoke of Jesus as “He who comes who is mightier than I, of whom I am not fit to loosen the thong of His sandals (Luke 3:16). This should be the position of all ministers. ‘We do not preach ourselves,’ said Paul, ‘but Jesus Christ as Lord’ (2 Corinthians 4:5).

“But He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Luke 3:16). Ten days before Pentecost, Jesus said, ‘For John truly baptised with water; but ye shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days hence’ (Acts 1:5).

To be baptised is to be immersed. John’s water baptism anticipates the Father immersing us in the Holy Spirit (cf. John 14:16). For Christians, water baptism is an outward symbol of our new birth, and by it we testify that we have been cleansed from our sins by the blood of Jesus. Our baptism with the holy Spirit is an empowering for witness and for ministry (Acts 1:8).

To be baptised “with fire” (Luke 3:16) is somewhat ambiguous. It may relate to the ‘tongues of fire’ which rested upon the disciples at Pentecost (Acts 2:3). Or it may relate to the refining work of the Holy Spirit within the believer.

Fire purges, but it also purifies. The image seems to tie in with the “winnowing” process of Luke 3:17, separating the wheat from the chaff (cf. Matthew 13:30). The wheat is “gathered into His granary, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire” (Luke 3:17).

“Jesus having been baptised” (Luke 3:21) is an affirmation of who He is. It marks a turning point: the end of John’s ministry, and the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

Jesus’ identification with the people is clear. They “having been baptised” and “Jesus having been baptised, and praying” (Luke 3:21). Jesus sets an example, by prayerfully participating in a baptism which He did not need.

After all, John’s baptism was a ‘baptism of repentance for the remission of sins’ (Luke 3:3). Jesus is the One alone ‘who knew no sin’ (2 Corinthians 5:21); ‘who did no sin’ (1 Peter 2:22); ‘and in Him is no sin’ (1 John 3:5). “Heaven was opened” by way of endorsement of what Jesus was doing (Luke 3:21).

“The Holy Spirit descended upon Him in a bodily form like a dove” (Luke 3:22). This is an anointing of Jesus for His unique ministry. Hereby Jesus is identified, for our benefit, as the Messiah (cf. Isaiah 11:2; Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 61:1).

All three Persons of the Holy Trinity were present. A voice from heaven, the voice of God the Father, authenticated Jesus: “Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22).

Application.

The commission which Jesus left us is, ‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’ (Matthew 28:19).

Christian baptism is different from the baptism administered by John.

The Apostle Paul found some believers in Ephesus who had been baptised into John’s baptism. Paul said, ‘John indeed baptised with a baptism of repentance, saying that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.’ When they heard this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:3-5).

The Apostle Peter said, ‘Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2:38).

Jesus associated Himself with man’s sin when He was baptised by John. When we are baptised, we are associated with the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is the bond by which Jesus unites us to Himself. Our union with Christ is secured when we put our faith in Jesus. Our baptism visibly seals the work of God in our hearts.

To His name be all the praise, and all the honour, and all the glory. Amen.