GOD’S SON IS BAPTIZED (Outline)
January 9, 2011 -
Epiphany 1 -
MATTHEW 3:13-17
INTRO: Mankind’s sinfulness needs God’s forgiveness. Jesus came into this world as the very love and mercy of God. Jesus did not travel from place to place with fanfare. Jesus did not have an earthly army to display his strength. Jesus did not travel with servants who took care of his every need. It was a challenge for the people of Jesus’ day to believe in this man from Nazareth as the King of kings and Lord of lords. From time to time the disciples argued who was the greatest among them. Jesus had to remind them that God does not determine greatness with the same measurement mankind uses. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (MARK 10:45). Jesus came to do his Father’s will. Jesus even followed the laws of men. Jesus who lived as the fulfillment of God’s will and every prophecy comes to the Jordan to be baptized.
GOD’S SON IS BAPTIZED.
I. Jesus came to do his Father’s work. II. The Father praises our humble worker.
I. JESUS CAME TO DO HIS FATHER’S WORK.
A. Verse 13. “Then” connects us to the previous verses. John was preaching repentance.
1. God’s kingdom was near. God’s judgment was approaching. John warned the people.
2. After all of this “then” Jesus comes to be baptized. What a surprise – epiphany.
B. Verse 14. John is always, ever humble. John is sinful, imperfect. Jesus is sinless, perfect.
1. John is shocked Jesus would ask John to baptize him. John knows Jesus ought to baptize him.
2. John and Jesus discuss the request. “John tried to deter…” John tried to change Jesus’ mind.
C. Verse 15. Jesus takes charge. It will be so. Jesus came to do his Father’s work for all righteousness.
D. This was not a false humility shown by John. John truly felt unworthy. He saw his own sinfulness. Oh, that we had more attitudes like John the Baptist today. All too many consider themselves above any blame or fault. In fact, we often are quick to blame others for our own mistakes or shortcomings. We are all too anxious to switch the blame away from us. That is, if we are even willing to admit our own sinful-ness. We know how our society tries every way it can to not call sin, sin. We can fall into that same trap of denial. "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check" (JAMES 3:2). We are all sinners. We all need Jesus, our Savior.
E. When we honestly look at ourselves we see our many sins. We know that we cannot earn any of God’s free forgiveness. We also know that we do not even deserve any of God’s free grace. In spite of our daily sinning God sent his Son to carry out his miraculous plan of salvation – for us and for all of humanity. The Perfect has taken away our imperfection. The Sinless has removed the punishment of our sinfulness. "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 CORINTHIANS 5:21). God’s Son is baptized “to fulfill all righteousness” for us.
F. Jesus came to do his Father’s work because we fail miserably to do everything God desires. Jesus came to the Jordan to be baptized. Jesus showed everyone there and everyone for all ages his obedience in carrying out his Father’s will. Jesus is our Savior. He willingly obeyed his Father. Jesus willingly did everything that we could not do in order to give us eternal life. Yes, this means that we look at ourselves and discover the depths of our own sinfulness. It also means that we look to Christ Jesus who can and does save us from our shortcomings. "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect" (1 PETER 1:18,19). Our forefathers handed down to us a sinful nature. Our heavenly Father handed down to us his Son to be our Savior.
GOD’S SON IS BAPTIZED. Jesus came to do his Father’s work -- for us.
II. THE FATHER PRAISES OUR HUMBLE WORKER.
A. Verse 13. What a scene this was. John was preaching a message of repentance.
1. Crowds from the surrounding area came out to the Jordan to see this preacher.
2. Then Jesus arrives. Jesus wants John to baptize him. Jesus wants to do his Father’s will.
B. Verse 16a. Jesus comes up or away from the river. The river is lower than the surrounding area.
1. John is baptizing at the Jordan River because that is where there is water.
2. Wilderness surrounds the Jordan. One cannot baptize without a source of water.C. Verse 16b. What a sight to see the heavens opening up. The dove lands on Jesus, the Holy Spirit.
1. Verse 17. Only a father would call someone his son. This voice is God the Father.
2. Here we have Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is the triune God: three persons – one God.
D. We might overlook just how much Jesus gave up for us. Jesus lived in heaven. The saints and angels sang his praises and glorified Jesus perfectly, constantly. Heaven is perfection. For us – Jesus gave up all of this. Jesus was conceived, born, lived, suffered, died, and rose again. Jesus did all of this willingly to do his Father’s work. Jesus also did all of this willingly for our sins. Our sins deserve eternal condemnation. But instead, they have been removed and replaced with eternal life. All of this is because of Jesus’ life and death. "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name" (PHILIPPANS 2:9, 10). The name of Jesus saves people from their sins.
E. Our heavenly Father has accepted the work of Jesus on our behalf. Our heavenly Father is pleased with the willing obedience of Christ our Savior. Christ our Savior came to give mankind eternity by his perfect sacrifice. The Father praises his Son at his baptism. Jesus’ work is revealed to the world. Our first lesson (Isaiah 42:1-7) describes the pleasing, acceptable work which Jesus would do. "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations" (ISA. 42:1). We are the nations. We are the Gentiles brought into God’s kingdom.
F. It is only by grace through faith that we know, believe, and confess that Christ is our Savior. We are thankful and rejoice at this epiphany that the Holy Spirit has worked in hearts. So sadly, there are far too many who deny that fact that Jesus is the very Son of God. Many are willing to credit Jesus as being a good teacher, preacher, or prophet. But to confess Jesus as Son of God takes a leap of faith = grace. Even during Jesus’ time those outside God’s kingdom knew Jesus’ identity. "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!" (MARK 1:24). This was the testimony of a demon-possessed man. By grace we can freely, boldly confess.
CONC: GOD’S SON IS BAPTIZED. Jesus did not need baptism. The world needed Jesus to be baptized. At his baptism Jesus shows how much he will do to do his Father’s work. At his baptism the Father testifies that the work of Jesus is pleasing to him. At his baptism John the Baptist was given another opportunity to proclaim Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone" (HEBREWS 2:9). GOD’S SON IS BAPTIZED. Jesus came to do his Father’s work. Our heavenly Father accepts the humble work of Jesus, our Savior. Everything Jesus did he did and still does for us. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
EPIPHANY 1 rdgs.:
ISAIAH 42:1-7;
ACTS 10:34-38;
MATTHEW 3:13-17;
(PSALM 45)
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