The Example of a Messiah
Text: Matt. 3:13-17
Introduction
1. Illustration: A Sunday school teacher was trying to demonstrate the difference between right and wrong to her young teen class. She chose stealing for her example. The teacher said: "All right let’s use this example. If I were to go into a man’s pocket and take his wallet with all his money, what would I be?" A teenager in the back freely offered the answer, "You’d be his wife."
2. We need some good examples today. Unfortunately, we tend to look at people like rock stars, athletes, and politicians as our examples, some of which are very poor examples to follow.
a. Some of them are alcoholic, drug addicted; a criminal person whose lives are not worth emulating.
b. While they claim that they never asked to be anyone’s role model, their position and fame makes them fair game to put on a pedestal.
3. The good news is that we have a role model to follow who have never made a mistake, and will never let us down. His name is Jesus!
4. In our text today, we see Jesus give us some great examples to follow. He gives us:
a. The example of submission
b. The example of humility
c. He even gives us the results of following his example
5. Read Matt. 3:13-17
Proposition: If we follow the example of Jesus, God will reward us.
Transition: First, we see...
I. The Example of Submission (13)
A. Jesus Went From Galilee
1. This text begins with what seems like a fairly simple, straight forward verse, "Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John." However, a deeper look tells us some extraordinary things about the character of Jesus.
a. First, Matthew tells us that Jesus "went from Galilee to the Jordan."
b. This was a distance of about 70 miles. No problem, that’s like going to Akron, right? Yes, on foot!
c. The distance from Galilee to the Jordan river was a long journey on foot, and undoubtedly took several days.
d. For Jesus to make this journey for the purpose of being baptized by John showed significant motivation on his part. It shows "a firm sense of purpose" (France, NICNT: Matthew, 119).
2. Second, we should notice that Jesus went to the Jordan "to be baptized..."
a. Why would Jesus seek to be baptized?
b. Hebrews 4:15 (NLT)
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
c. John’s baptism was one of repentance, but Jesus has no need to be baptized because he had never sinned. So why would Jesus go out of his way to be baptized?
d. The answer, I believe, is to lead by example. He is submitting to something that he would later require of all his disciples.
e. If Jesus was willing to submit to baptism, even though he did not need to, then we should be willing to submit to baptism also.
3. A third aspect of Jesus character that is evident here is that Jesus not only came to be baptized, but to "be baptized by John."
a. Jesus came specifically to John to be baptized.
b. Jesus was compelled to be baptized, but not just to be baptized. He was compelled to be baptized by John.
c. He was to identify Himself with John’s ministry. He was the Messiah, the Lamb of God, being proclaimed by John.
d. Although he was greater than John, which John had already proclaimed and will declare that to Jesus in the next verse, yet he submitted himself to John’s ministry in order to connect himself with the one who was to prepare the way for him.
B. Submitting to God
1. Illustration: I recently ran across a wonderful quote about submission. "Submission. That word has received such a bad reputation that we rarely use it. It is the willful act of yielding to the power, control or authority of another. Submission is a voluntary act. It is a critical part of the learning process. Submission is a key concept in the Bible. To be true followers of Jesus, we must learn to be submissive."
2. Submission is a true act of worship.
a. In worship, we are submitting to God our emotions, wills, and bodies.
b. There are times when we don’t "feel" like worshiping God, but we submit ourselves to him in worship and he lifts up our spirits bringing us closer to him.
c. Anytime we submit to God we are in essence worshiping him by indicating that he is greater than ourselves.
3. Submission is voluntary.
a. It is not forced or coerced.
b. You willing submit yourself to another out of obedience to Christ.
c. You submit because you choose to submit.
4. Submission is not based on superiority, but on divine design.
a. A wife submits to her husband not because he is superior to her, but because God has commanded her to do so in his word.
b. Ephesians 5:22-24 (NLT)
For wives, this means submit your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
c. As your pastor, you submit to me, not because I am in any way superior to you, but simply because God has placed me in authority over you.
d. Hebrews 13:17 (NLT)
Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
Transition: If Jesus was willing to submit, we must also be willing to submit.
II. The Example of Humility (14-15)
A. Why Are You Coming To Me
1. John stated up in v. 11 that there is one coming who is greater than himself, and now the very one of which he had been speaking is now standing in front of him asking to be baptized.
2. So as you might imagine, John was a little taken back when Jesus comes to him. In fact Matthew tells us "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. What really sticks out here is the humility of both men.
b. John shows his humility by acknowledging that Jesus is greater than he is, and he is totally blown away that Jesus would come to him to be baptized.
c. He was not worthy to baptize Christ. Christ’s coming to him was too great an honor for him.
d. He did not deserve the privilege of baptizing the Messiah, the Lamb of God.
3. However, we also cannot overlook the humility of Jesus.
a. Here is Jesus, the spotless, sinless, Son of God coming to John, who needs the salvation that Jesus brings as much as anyone.
b. Here is Jesus, the one who created all things, even John, submitting himself to John for baptism.
c. If you want a definition of humility this is it.
4. We further see the humility of Jesus when John protests baptizing Jesus the Lord responds “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.”
a. A portion of this verse is literally translated "fulfill all righteousness."
b. The Greek word that is being translated here "all that God requires" carries with it the meaning of "conduct God expects of his people" (France, 119).
c. Jesus affirms, in effect, that it is God’s will that John baptize him; and both John and Jesus "fulfill" that will, that righteousness, by going through with it (Carson, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Matthew).
d. Even though it was truly beneath him, Jesus was willing to be baptized because it was the Father’s will.
e. Luke 22:42 (NLT)
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
B. Humility
1. Illustration: During the days when Mohammed Ali was a great boxer, he would go around in his arrogance and say that, "He was the greatest." Humility was never his strong suit. One day, back in his prime, he was on an airplane and the plane was ready to take off and the flight attendant had repeatedly told him to put on his seat belt. He finally told her, "I’m superman and superman don’t need no seatbelt." The flight attendant didn’t hesitate a minute but shot back with, "Superman don’t need no airplane either, now buckle up."
2. Philippians 2:5-8 (NLT)
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
3. Just as it is a part of Jesus character, so humility should be a part of our character.
a. 1 Peter 5:6 (NLT)
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.
b. One of the most important things for us to aspire to is humility.
c. Humble in the way we look at ourselves.
d. Humble in the way we look at others.
e. Philippians 2:3 (NLT)
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
4. Humility is a truly Christian characteristic.
a. It is based on the example of Jesus.
b. It characterizes the Christian almost as much as love.
c. It is distinctively Christian because it is distinctively Christ like.
Transition: From these examples, we see...
III. The Reward of Example (16-17)
A. After His Baptism
1. The last two verses of this chapter are an incredible illustration of the Biblical principle that God blesses obedience.
2. The beginning of v. 16 says, "After his baptism..."
a. It was after he was obedient to God and submitted himself to John’s baptism.
b. It was after he showed humility by allowing John to baptize him even though he was greater than John.
c. It was after he had done what God required of him.
d. Deuteronomy 4:1 (NLT)
“And now, Israel, listen carefully to these decrees and regulations that I am about to teach you. Obey them so that you may live, so you may enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.
3. Because of his obedience, "Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened..."
a. The phrase "the heavens were opened" is Biblical language for God’s revelation or future deliverance (Keener, IVP NT Commentary: Matthew, 85).
b. Ezekiel 1:1 (NLT)
On July 31 of my thirtieth year, while I was with the Judean exiles beside the Kebar River in Babylon, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
c. Because Jesus obeyed the will of the Father he had a heavenly encounter for himself, and opened up the door for us to have one too.
4. In addition to the heavens opening, "he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him."
a. Many believed that the Spirit was no longer available in their time; others believed that the Spirit simply did not work as forcefully as in the days of the prophets, until the time of the end.
b. That the Spirit comes on Jesus indicates the inauguration of the messianic era and marks Jesus out as the Spirit-bearer and hence Messiah (Keener, Bible Background Commentary - The IVP Bible Background Commentary – New Testament).
c. This should excite us, because Jesus set the example of obedience the Holy Spirit came on him and power and opened up the door for us to receive the Spirits power.
d. The same Holy Spirit that empowered Jesus is available to us.
e. Acts 1:8 (NLT)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
5. As if that wasn’t enough, "a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
a. God not only shows his approval of Jesus, but now he erases all doubt by speaking audibly from heaven and testifying to all that were there.
b. Many believed that voices from heaven were the closest anyone came to prophecy in their time; Jesus has both kinds of witness: the heavenly voice and John’s prophecy.
c. He heard what we all seek to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
B. Rewards of Faithfulness
1. Illustration: In his book Eating The Elephant, Thom Rainer tells of an interview Billy Graham had with an interviewer. The interviewer was fascinated by Rev Graham’s success and asked if he anticipated being given great rewards in heaven for the millions of lives he had impacted through his worldwide ministry. Billy Graham said that he was not sure of the extent of his own rewards, God is the final Judge, but he was certain that others would have greater rewards than he. He went on to say that there is a faithful elderly woman whom he knows, who is right now on her knees praying for her little country church, her family, and her nation. For nearly 80 years, the sweet lady has been faithful to her Lord. She has been constantly praying, and reading the Bible daily. To Billy Graham, that lady and many others like her, will receive the greatest rewards in heaven. At the close of the interview, Billy Graham said these last words: "You see, we are not called to be successful. We are called to be faithful."
2. Jesus shows us that the way to blessing is through obedience.
a. Jeremiah 7:23 (NLT)
This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’
b. Obedience to his word.
c. Obedience to his call.
d. Obedience to his will.
3. Jesus shows us that God rewards faithfulness.
a. 2 Samuel 22:26 (NLT)
“To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.
b. If we are faithful, God will bless us spiritually.
c. If we are faithful, God will reward us physically.
d. If we are faithful, God will reward us financially.
Transition: God blesses those who obey His word.
Conclusion
1. Jesus has left us an example to follow.
a. Example of submission
b. Example of humility
c. Example of reward
2. Are you following his example?
3. What kind of example are you showing to others?
