Jesus' Journey Series

The Journey of Jesus

Text: Matt. 3:13-17

Introduction

1. Illustration: The cross of Jesus Christ and his baptism express the same thing. Our Lord was not a martyr; he was not merely a good man; he was God Incarnate. He came down to the lowest reach of creation to bring back the whole human race to God, and in order to do this he must take upon him, as representative man, the whole massed sin of the race. (Oswald Chambers)

2. Jesus’ journey to the cross begins with his baptism by John at the Jordan river.

3. You might ask, why did Jesus need to be baptized? That’s a very good question. He was God incarnate, and even though he was 100% human, he was sinless. So, why did he need to be baptized? The answer is that he did it for us!

4. Read Matt. 3:13-17

Transition: The first reason Jesus was baptized is for…

I. Identification (13-15).

A. Why Are You Coming to Me

1. Jesus’ journey to the cross begins with his baptism. In v. 13 Matthew tells us, “Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.”

a. The significance of this event can be seen in Jesus’ determination.

b. First, for Jesus to get from Nazareth in Galilee to the Jordan where John was baptizing, was a trip on foot of about 70 miles.

c. Second, we can see in the wording of the verse Jesus’ intent, “to be baptized by John.”

d. Jesus’ trip to the Jordan to be baptized by John had purpose.

2. Next, Matthew tells us in v. 14, “But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”

a. Now we see something very unusual. John tries to talk Jesus out of being baptized!

b. What preacher in his right mind would try and talk someone out of being baptized?

c. John tells Jesus, “Why are you coming to be for baptism? I’m the one that needs to come to you!”

d. Along with John, we need to ask the question, “Why on earth would Jesus need to be baptized?”

e. The main purpose of water baptism, at least John’s baptism, was to wash away sin. Well, Jesus hadn’t sinned...he was sinless.

f. So, if Jesus hadn’t sinned why was he wanting to be baptized?

g. Secondly, in John 1:33-34, John recognizes Jesus as greater than himself, and the one who would baptize in the Holy Spirit and fire.

h. John is essentially telling Jesus, “I need the baptism you have to offer more than you need mine!” So why is Jesus going to John?

3. So, what is Jesus’ response? “But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.”

a. This is one of those occasions where I like some other translations to the NLT.

b. In both the NIV and ESV it says, “it is fitting to fulfill all righteousness.”

c. Matthew usually uses this word “fulfill” in connection with the completion of some Scriptural concept or idea (Morris, 120).

d. This statement suggests that it was necessary for Jesus to carry out his mission, and that mission was to take our place on the cross.

e. However, in order for Jesus to do this he had to identify with us. He had to become one of us.

f. In Hebrews 2:17-18 (NLT) it says, “Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. 18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing; he is able to help us when we are being tested.”

g. So, to answer the question of why Jesus went to be baptized, he did it to identify with us. You see, identity matters!

B. Laid On Him the Sins of Us All

1. “Jesus became a human being because God the Compassionate One could not suffer and lacked a back to be beaten. God needed a back like our backs on which to receive blows and thereby perform compassion as well as preach it.”

2. Jesus was baptized by John to identify with us so he could take our place on the cross.

a. “Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.” (Is. 53:4-6).