The Baptism of Christ set us an example of a ceremony which has become the norm for Christians. Baptism is also the subject of some division and much misunderstanding. Let’s explore the mystery of baptism. Let’s look at Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3:13-17.
Leadership
Matthew 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”
We learn several key things about leadership from the baptism of Jesus. Real leaders are not so afraid of their positions that they cannot submit to the leadership of others at appropriate times. Jesus the Son of God, was superior to John, yet he submitted to John’s baptism. What humility!
Real leaders willingly submit to rituals of public cleansing even when they have no fault in a matter. Jesus was faultless and did not need to submit to a ritual of repentance. For example, weak cowards refuse to apologize. True leaders willingly apologize even when there is no need to.
Righteousness
Matthew 3:15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
In a choice between two good things, do we do the right thing or the righteousness thing? Which choice is God’s will? As Jesus approached John to be baptized, the right thing in John’s mind was that he should be baptized by Jesus. The superior ought to baptize the lesser.
However, Jesus’ purpose at that time was humility not high position. He was born in a stable, served an itinerant ministry and died on a cross. What was God’s reaction to Jesus’ taking the lesser position? He was well-pleased. Do we always demand our rights or willingly fulfill all righteousness?
Dip or Wash
Matthew 3:16-17 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Who is right about baptism, the dippers, washers or both? Baptize literally means to dip, but in the Bible it is not always used literally. It can mean to wash (Mark 7:4; Luke 11:38; Acts 22:16). The Bible is deliberately vague as to which mode is preferable.
When Jesus came up out of the water, it could have been ankle deep. Israel was baptized into Moses by walking dry shod through the Red Sea (1 Corinthians 10:1-4). Less literal modes of baptism like washing are also legitimate. Dippers and washers are equally baptized into Jesus Christ.
Baptism is the principal sacrament, a physical act with divine grace. Jesus was baptized though the mode is perhaps purposefully unclear. Baptism pictures a new beginning (1 Corinthians 10:2, 1 Peter 3:20-21), Jesus’ suffering (Luke 12:50) and washing away our sins (Mark 7:4; Titus 3:5).
Invoking the Trinity is mandated (Matthew 28:19) but the mode and age of baptism are not, anywhere. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is pictured by fire on people’s heads (Acts 1:5; 2:3). Renewal and rebirth differs baptism from any other sacraments (John 3:5; Titus 3:5).
Jesus came "up out of the water" after his baptism (Matthew 3:16), literally came "up away from the water.” Early mosaics show John pouring water over him from a shell. It is perhaps purposefully vague whether He was immersed or stood ankle deep. The mode seems deliberately left out.
Repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins and receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39) included the whole family. Baptism is to wash away sins (Acts 22:16). God elsewhere gave the Holy Spirit to people before physical baptism (Acts 10:45-48). Jesus declared baptism necessary (John 3:5).
It is a baptism into Jesus, his death and new life (Romans 6:3-5). It is like circumcision (Colossians 2:11-13), performed on children. Three whole households were baptized (Acts 16:15; 16:33; 1 Corinthians 1:16). Baptism is a physical and spiritual washing and must invoke the Trinity.
A baptism of repentance alone is not the baptism of Christ or His church (Acts 19:1-6). What about a “believer's baptism”? The Ethiopian eunuch could be baptized if he believed (Acts 8:36-38). Being baptized and receiving the Holy Spirit are not always the same event (Acts 8:14-17).
God gives the Holy Spirit when He chooses. Infant baptism and later confirmation recognize this. Acts 2:41 shows 3,000 baptized after hearing and accepting only one sermon. In churches where Christ’s commands in a Gospel text are taught weekly (Matthew 28:20) then every sermon is a catechism.
Baptism is the most important of all outward rites of divine grace. It is more important than marriage, ordination, anointing the sick or whether we take communion weekly, monthly or annually. It is the initiatory rite into our journey from the kingdoms of this world into the kingdom of God.
Readings
Isaiah 42:1-9
1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. 4 He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”
5 Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it: 6 “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, 7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house. 8 I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images. 9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.”
The word of our Lord.
In this description of Jesus from the Old Testament, we find the characteristics of true leadership. A true leader will not bruise people. He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.
Psalm 29
A Psalm of David. 1 Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, Give unto the Lord glory and strength. 2 Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The Lord is over many waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, Yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire. 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; The Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, And the Lord sits as King forever. 11 The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.
Thus ends the reading.
This Psalm is a reality check as to how powerful God truly is. The power we see in a thunderstorm testifies to God’s greatness.
Acts 10:34-43
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
Thus ends the reading from Acts
God is not partial to one nation, but wills that everyone who believes in Him, Jew and Gentile, receives remission of sins.
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Matthew 3:13-17 in Rhyme
Then Jesus came from Galilee
To John to be baptized you see
And John tried to stop Him, saying,
You, should baptize me, I’m stating
But Jesus said and answered him,
All righteousness I’m fulfilling.
He baptized Him. Then the Master
Came up away from the water
The heavens opened up above
The Spirit came down like a dove
On Him. Then a voice from above,
I’m pleased with My Son dearly loved.
