THE MEANING OF JESUS’ BAPTISM
MATTHEW 3:1-17
I HAVE HEARD MANY STORIES ABOUT BAPTISM OVER THE YEARS.
A YOUNG MINISTER NAMED JAY UTLEY TOLD THIS STORY OF HIS FIRST BAPTISM. THE PERSON HE WAS BAPTIZING WAS ALSO A YOUNG MAN, BUT IT HAD BEEN A NUMBER OF YEARS SICE JAY WAS BAPTIZED AND WONDERED HOW DIFFERENT IT WOULD BE TO BE THE ONE BAPTIZING.
HE SAID THE APPROPRIATE WORDS AND LOWERED THE PERSON INTO THE WATER. WHEN THE PERSON REACHED THE DEEPEST POINT, UTLEY FELT THE PERSON’S BODY JOLT AND TIGHTEN. HE THOUGHT TO HIMSELF, “WOW, SO THAT’S HOW IT FEELS WHEN THE PERSON’S SINS ARE FORGIVEN AND THEY RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.”
HE ASKED THE ONE BAPTIZED “DID YOU FEEL THE JOLT WHEN THE SPIRIT CAME INTO YOU?” “NO” THE PERSON REPLIED, “BUT I DID FEEL IT WHEN YOU HIT MY HEAD ON THE BAPTISTRY STEP.
OR CONSIDER THIS SMALL COUNTRY CHURCH HAVING A OUTDOOR BAPTISM ON A COLD JANUARY DAY. THE PREACHER ASKED ONE OF THE CANDIDATES, “IS THE WATER COLD?” “NO” HE REPLIED. ONE OF THE DEACONS THEN SHOUTED, “DIP HIM AG’IN PREACHER, HE’S STILL LYING.”
I’M SURE YOU ALL HAVE MANY DIFFERENT STORIES ABOUT BAPTISM AS WELL. I THINK ONE THING WE COULD AGREE ON, IS THAT BAPTISM IS A SPECIAL TIME OF CELEBRATION IN THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN AND THE CHURCH.
IT IS NOT MY INTENTION TO DEBATE THE VARIOUS TEACHINGS ON BAPTISM TODAY. INSTEAD I CHOOSE TO INVEST THIS TIME TALKING ABOUT JESUS’ BAPTISM AND IT’S SIGNIFICANCE. AS WE SHALL SEE, THE REASONS FOR JESUS’ BAPTISM ARE FAR DIFFERENT THAN WHY WE ARE BAPTIZED.
WHAT WE WILL DO TODAY IS LOOK BRIEFLY AT WHO JOHN WAS AND LEARN ABOUT HIS BAPTISM, SOME SIGNIFICANT EVENTS THAT HAPPENED AT THE TIME JESUS WAS BAPTIZED, AND WHY HIS BAPTISM WAS SIGNIFICANT.
CONTEXT:
THERE IS EIGHTEEN YEARS BETWEEN THESE WORDS OF JESUS, AND THE TIME AS A BOY HE WAS AT THE TEMPLE. WE CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT JESUS LIFE WAS POSITIVE. HE WOULD HAVE LEARNED THE ART OF CARPENTRY FROM JOSEPH, WAS A GOOD SON AND TOOK CARE OF HIS MOTHER FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER.
ANOTHER THING WE KNOW FROM THE ACCOUNT IS THAT JESUS PLANNED HIS BAPTISM. THE DISTANCE FROM GALILEE TO THE JORDAN WAS A FULL DAY’S JOURNEY, BETWEEN 30-60 MILES, AND TRAVELING AT THAT TIME WOULD BE ON FOOT. JESUS DELIBERATEY SOUGHT OUT JOHN TO BE BAPTIZED BY HIM.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT JESUS WAS THIRTY WHEN HE WAS BAPTIZED, AND THAT JOHN WAS AT THE MOST THIRTY-ONE. WE KNOW THAT JOHN WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLDER THAN JESUS. THIS AGE IS SIGNIFICANT AS THIS WAS THE AGE WHEN MEN BEGAN SERVING IN THE TENT OF MEETING.
NUMBERS 4:3: COUNT ALL THE MEN FROM THIRTY TO FIFTY YEARS OF AGE WHO COME TO SERVE IN THE WORK AT THE TENT OF MEETING.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE LIFE OF CHRIST IS PLANNED OUT CAREFULLY, RELATING CLOSELY TO THE CULTURE AND TO PROPHECY.
JOHN’S MINISTRY WAS VERY POPULAR AND SUCCESSFUL. MARK DESCRIBES IT THIS WAY:
MARK 1:1-5:
THE BEGINNING OF THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF GOD, A 2 AS IT IS WRITTEN IN ISAIAH THE PROPHET: “I WILL SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY” 3 “A VOICE OF ONE CALLING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD, MAKE STRAIGHT PATHS FOR HIM.’ ” 4 AND SO JOHN THE BAPTIST APPEARED IN THE WILDERNESS, PREACHING A BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. 5 THE WHOLE JUDEAN COUNTRYSIDE AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF JERUSALEM WENT OUT TO HIM. CONFESSING THEIR SINS, THEY WERE BAPTIZED BY HIM IN THE JORDAN RIVER.
JOHN’S BAPTISM WAS A BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE. THROUGH HIS MINISTRY PEOPLE WERE MADE MORE AWARE OF THEIR SIN AND THEIR GREAT NEED FOR GOD. HE CALLED THEM TO REPENT AND TURN TOWARDS GOD WHILE THERE WAS STILL TIME BEFORE JUDGMENT. COMMON PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS GOD’S MESSENGER AND SO THEY SUBMITTED TO HIS BAPTISM TO SHOW FULL FAITHFULNESS TOWARDS GOD.
THE ESSENTIAL QUESTION THEN IS, IF JESUS WASN’T BAPTIZED FOR REPENTANCE, THEN WHY WAS HE BAPTIZED? THERE WERE FOUR REASONS WHY JESUS WAS BAPTIZED:
POINT ONE: JESUS’ IDENTITY WAS REVEALED AT HIS BAPTISM.
IT WAS AFTER THE BAPTISM THAT JOHN KNEW JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH. WE ARE TOLD IN MATTHEW’S ACCOUNT
MATTHEW 3:16-17:
AS SOON AS JESUS WAS BAPTIZED, HE WENT UP OUT OF THE WATER. AT THAT MOMENT HEAVEN WAS OPENED, AND HE SAW THE SPIRIT OF GOD DESCENDING LIKE A DOVE AND ALIGHTING ON HIM. 17 AND A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAID, “THIS IS MY SON, WHOM I LOVE; WITH HIM I AM WELL PLEASED.”
THIS MEANS THAT JESUS’ IDENTITY AS MESSIAH WAS KEPT FROM JOHN UNTIL THE TIME AFTER HIS BAPTISM. HE KNEW THE MESSIAH WOULD COME AND THAT HE WOULD HAVE AN IMPORTANT PART IN HIS MINISTRY, BUT DID NOT KNOW WHO IT WAS UNTIL NOW.
AFTER JESUS’ BAPTISM JOHN THE BAPTIZER CONTINUED TO POINT PEOPLE TO THE LAMB OF GOD. HE ALSO KNEW THAT HIS ROLE HAD TO DIMINISH AND PEOPLE FOCUS ON JESUS.
JOHN 3:29-30:
THE BRIDE BELONGS TO THE BRIDEGROOM. THE FRIEND WHO ATTENDS THE BRIDEGROOM WAITS AND LISTENS FOR HIM, AND IS FULL OF JOY WHEN HE HEARS THE BRIDEGROOM’S VOICE. THAT JOY IS MINE, AND IT IS NOW COMPLETE. 30 HE MUST BECOME GREATER; I MUST BECOME LESS.”
IT IS HERE THAT JESUS’ INDENTITY IS ALSO REVEALED BY GOD AS PART OF THE TRINITY. THIS IS THE FIRST PASSAGE WHERE THE THREE PERSONS OF THE TRINITY ARE REVEALED TOGETHER. IT IS HERE THAT WE HAVE: 1. THE BAPTISM OF THE SON
2. THE ANOINTING OF THE SPIRIT
3. THE WORD OF THE FATHER
HERE JESUS IS BAPTIZED NOT TO REPENT OF SINS FOR HE HAD NONE, BUT THAT IT WAS A PROPER MOVE TO BE OBEDIENT. JESUS WAS ALWAYS THE TEACHER, PROPHET, PRIEST AND SAVIOUR, AND THIS WAS SHOWN IN HIS BAPTISM.
THE HOLY SPIRIT:
AT HIS BAPTISM THE HOLY SPIRIT ACTED AS THE AGENT OF GOD BY ADDING A STAMP OF APPROVAL ON JESUS CHRIST AS THE SON. LITERALLY THE SKY OPENED AND THE DIVINE LIGHT SHONE UPON JESUS.
THIS LIGHTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON JESUS WAS A MARK OF AUTHORITY FOR JESUS. EVERYTHING HE WOULD DO AND TEACH IS GIVEN BY GOD AND HAS HIS AUTHORITY TO DO IT. THROUGH THE ACTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT JESUS MINISTRY HAS THE AUTHORITY OF GOD WITH IT.
GOD THE FATHER:
WE ARE TOLD THAT A VOICE WAS HEARD FROM HEAVEN. IT IS A COMBINATION OF TWO OLD TESTAMENT VERSES:
PSALM 2:7: I WILL PROCLAIM THE LORD’S DECREE: HE SAID TO ME, “YOU ARE MY SON; TODAY I HAVE BECOME YOUR FATHER.
ISAIAH 42:1: “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.
THESE VERSE WERE SPOKEN OF THE COMING MESSIAH, THAT HE WOULD BE THE SON OF GOD, AND THAT HE WOULD BE A SUFFERING SERVANT. HERE GOD IS FORMALLY COMMISSIONING HIS SON TO GO FORTH AS HIS SON. JESUS WILL BE GOD’S REPRESENTATIVE AMONGST ALL OF THOSE HE LIVES WITH, HEALS, MINISTERS TO, AND TEACHES. THIS WAS GOD’S WAY OF FORMALLY SENDING JESUS OUT FOR GOD’S PURPOSES.
POINT TWO: JESUS IDENTIFIED WITH SINNERS IN HIS BAPTISM
ALTHOUGH JESUS WAS NEVER GUILTY OF SIN, HE SUBMITTED TO BAPTISM AS A MEANS OF IDENTIFYING WITH SINNERS. JESUS WAS TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. WHEN HE CAME TO EARTH HE DID NOT COME TO BE ABOVE US, BUT GOD WITH US.
LUKE 3:21: WHEN ALL THE PEOPLE WERE BEING BAPTIZED, JESUS WAS BAPTIZED TOO
REMEMBER JESUS BAPTISM WAS INTENTIONAL. IT WAS A 30-60 MILE JOURNEY ON FOOT TO GET TO THE JORDAN. JOHN’S MINISTRY WAS ALSO QUITE STRONG AT THE TIME. HE WAS ATTRACTING LARGE CROWDS. HAD JESUS WANTED TO HE COULD HAVE ARRANGED FOR A PRIVATE BAPTISM, BUT HE WANTED PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT HE WAS DOING. JESUS WANTED THEM TO REALIZE THAT IF IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HIM, THEN THE PEOPLE SHOULD CONSIDER IT IMPORTANT THEM AS WELL. WE SHOULD CONSIDER IT IMPORTANT FOR US AS WELL. JESUS TAUGHT US THAT BAPTISM WAS INTENTIONAL AND REQUIRED A CONSCIOUS DECISION ON THE PART OF THE PERSON BEING BAPTIZED.
POINT THREE: JESUS WAS BAPTIZED TO GIVE US AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW
JESUS WAS A BORN LEADER. LEADERS CHALLENGE PEOPLE TO FOLLOW THEM. HIS INVITATION WAS FOR PEOPLE TO FOLLOW HIM. WHEN JESUS WAS BAPTIZED IT WAS TO FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS.
JESUS LIFE WAS A LIFE OF SUBMISSION AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD, AS IS EVIDENCED BY HIS BAPTISM.
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT JESUS FULFILLED IN HIS BAPTISM WAS NOT ON HIS OWN BEHALF, BUT ON OUR BEHALF.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:21: GOD MADE HIM WHO HAD NO SIN TO BE SIN FOR US, SO THAT IN HIM WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
POINT FOUR: JESUS WAS BAPTIZED TO BE CONSECRATED AND ANOINTED FOR MINISTRY.
JESUS BAPTISM MARKED AN IMPORTANT TRANSITION IN HIS LIFE – FROM A LIFE OF HIDDEN PREPARATION, TO ONE OF PUBLIC PROCLAMATION.
IT IS HERE THAT GOD PUT HIS STAMP OF APPROVAL ON JESUS’ MINISTRY AND ANOINTED HIM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
POINT FIVE: JESUS BAPTISM WAS A PREVIEW OF THE EXPERIENCE OF CALVARY
JESUS DEATH FORETOLD HIS COMING DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION FOR US. IN HIS BAPTISM HE DEMONSTRATES SYMBOLICALLY WHAT HIS ENTIRE EARTHLY LIFE WAS TO BE ABOUT. HE CAME TO DIE FOR US AND TO BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD.
HIS SUBMERSION IN THE WATER IS REPRESENTATIVE OF HIS SUBMISSION TO GOD’S DIVINE PLAN AND HIS VICARIOUS ATONEMENT FOR OUR SIN. HIS COMING UP OUT OF THE WATER IS A DRAMATIC EXHIBITION OF HIS CONQUERING DEATH IN THE RESURRECTION.
CONCLUSION:
ANOTHER REASON THAT JESUS WAS BAPTIZED WAS TO “FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS”. RIGHTEOUSNESS MEANT TO BE STRAIGHT OR RIGHT. IS IS “THE STATE OF HIM WHO IS AS HE OUGHT TO BE.” THAT IS GOD.
RIGHTEOUSNESS PRESUMES A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PARTICIPANTS. THE ONE WHO UPHOLDS, OR IS FAITHFUL TO THE COVENANT IS TERMED “RIGHTEOUS.”
GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IS CLOSELY RELATED TO HIS SALVATION, MERCY, AND LOVINGKINDNESS. THIS MEANS THAT OUR UPHOLDING OF THE COVENANT RELATIONSHIP IS ESSENTIAL TO BE DECLARED “RIGHTEOUS.”
ROMANS 3:21-22:
BUT NOW APART FROM THE LAW THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD HAS BEEN MADE KNOWN, TO WHICH THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS TESTIFY. 22 THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS GIVEN THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST TO ALL WHO BELIEVE. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JEW AND GENTILE,
WHILE BAPTISM DOES NOT SAVE IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OBEDIENCE TO THE COVENANT RELATIONSHIP THE CHRISTIAN ENTERS INTO WITH GOD. IT SHOULD BE THE DESIRE OF ALL CHRISTIANS TO BE OBEDIENT TO GOD, AND BAPTISM IS A KEY STATEMENT OF SUBMISSION AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S LORDSHIP IN OUR LIVES.
OUR CHALLENGE THEN IS TO LIVE OUR LIVES SO THAT WE CAN HEAR A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAY, “THIS IS MY SON, OR MY DAUGHTER, WHOM I LOVE, AND WITH WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.
