THE GREATEST EXAMPLE
Luke 3:15-22
Introduction
In Luke 2 we studied about Jesus’ statement that he must be about his Father’s Business. Today we will see him inaugurating his public ministry.
Dr. Luke moved quickly from the infancy of Jesus to his 12th year, and today to his 30th year. Most of what we know about Jesus is from last 3 years of life. He is about to begin his public ministry, a new beginning. What can we learn about following Jesus as disciples? Whether you are ready to become a new Christians. Whether you are ready to rededicate yourself to Him.
John had a stirring message about Jesus in the wilderness (Luke 3:15-20). Jesus is greater than me! (Luke 3:16a “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” It reminds me of John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease" (NKJV).
Jesus will not only baptize with water! “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (LK 3:16b). Various interpretations of this include the coming day of Pentecost in Acts 2, The judgment, or a fire refines and purifies the people.
Jesus will both gather and burn (Lk 3:17 “His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.’). A warning to those who reject Christ. A promise to those who follow Christ. Because of his message of repentance and truth, Herod was convicted and threw John into prison (Luke 3:19-20).
John pointed to Jesus and we want to do that too - the greatest example of all! This is where Luke tells us about the baptism of Jesus.
1. Jesus- the Greatest Example of Humility
Luke 3:21a “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too.”
Jesus shows humble spirit when being baptized by John. All of the Gospels record the baptism of Jesus, but only Matthew reveals the discussion between John and Jesus about his baptism. John felt he should be baptized by Jesus! Jesus, however, has a bigger picture in mind.
-Jesus is not baptized to have sin removed!
-He is baptized to identify with sinners.
-He is submitting to the will of the Father.
-He is embracing the mission of God on Earth.
-He did it for us … to teach us … and to point us to the gift of eternal life He offers!
Discipleship requires a humble spirit - not only at baptism but for the rest of our lives. We are submitting ourselves - yielding ourselves to Jesus Christ as followers, learners, apprentices. Humility admits the reality that we are all sinners without the ability to remove even one sin on our own. If we are going to follow Jesus we will have to humble ourselves and submit to His Lordship. Admitting that we need God’s help requires humility.
Jesus got down into the muddy river to show us how to be clean.
2. Jesus - The Greatest Example of Prayer
Luke 3:21b “And as he was praying, heaven was opened…”
Luke mentions the prayer life of Jesus more than any. Jesus was a man of prayer - we should be also. In all of the most pressurized moments of his ministry, we see Jesus in prayer.
When we pray, heaven opens and God hears.
Nehemiah 9:27 “But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them.…”
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
1 Kings 8:30 “Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.”
There is no greater power in the universe than a praying person. (Prayer gives us peace, hope, connection, strength.)
James 5:13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
3. Jesus - The Greatest Example of Living in the Spirit
Luke 3:22 “and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove…”
Paul encouraged us to “Keep in step with the Spirit” and Jesus demonstrated this principle in his life.
When we are baptized the Spirit comes to live within us! Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
The Spirit-Led Life is empowered by the work of the Spirit.
-Regenerated - we are born again. John 3:5 “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.”
-Sealed - marked, tagged as belonging to God! Ephesians 1:13-14 "…When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance…"
Prayed For. Romans 8:27 “… the Spirit himself intercedes for us…”
1 Corinthians 12:13 “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
4. Jesus - The Greatest Example of Pleasing the Father
Luke 3:22b And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Jesus received this heavenly recognition and it reminds us of the truth that disciples of Jesus are children of God.
This is what we want to do in our everyday life - Please Father and keep communication open!
Conclusion
1 Peter 2:21 “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”
As disciples of Jesus we watch his every move and recognize that in his actions we find the course of our life to be set.
In her famous book and film, “The Hiding Place” Corrie ten Boom tells the story of a Dutch Christian family, her family, who had a heart for the Jewish people. Her grandfather Wilhelm ten Boon started a weekly prayer group in 1844 in the city of Haarlem, near Amsterdam for the salvation of the Jews. This weekly prayer meeting amazingly continued uninterrupted until 1944 when the ten Boon family were sent to a concentration camp for helping
Jews to flee from the Nazi persecution in Holland. When the Jews were forced to wear the “Star of David,” ten Boom’s lined up for one. He wore it because he wanted to identify himself with the people for whom he and his family had been praying for all those years. He was prepared to be so completely identified with the Jews that he was willing to wear a sign of shame and suffer persecution for the sake of the people he loved. He didn’t have to wear the Star but chose to. (via Elvery)
“When the line of downtrodden and sin-sick people formed in hopes of new beginnings through a return to God, Jesus joined them. At his baptism , he identified with the damaged and broken people who needed God.” - Robert M. Brearley.
Jesus was the greatest example of Humility, Prayer, Living in the Spirit and Pleasing the Father. Will you follow His example today?
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Through Your Tears: Sorrow From Loss, Hope For Healing
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Lord, Hear My Prayer
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Lord, Hear My Prayer Journal
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Merry Christmas to a Broken Heart
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Discussion Questions For January 12
1. Why do you think Jesus, the Son of God, chose to be baptized? What are some of the questions that come to mind when you think about Jesus being baptized?
2. If you have been baptized, share with the group the story of your baptism. Who has been a John the Baptist in your life and has encouraged you to follow Jesus?
3. Luke emphasizes prayer, and in our text today he tells us what no other Gospel writer reveals: after his baptism, Jesus prayed. What has helped you to grow in your prayer life?
4. Luke records John the Baptist as proclaiming the judgment of Christ and then says it is good news. How is judgment good news (Vs. 18)?
5. Repentance is a message we all need to hear. How would you explain what repentance is? How do we demonstrate repentance? Notice Luke 3:10-14.
6. The Holy Spirit comes upon Jesus as he is baptized. When you think about the Holy Spirit being a part of your Christian walk, what aspect of his work do you first think about?
7. How does the public nature of this event (in front of all the people) impact the way we think about our own faith and calling? What can we learn from Jesus’ public affirmation and the visibility of His baptism in relation to our own public witness and the beginning of our spiritual journeys?
8. What else did you want to talk about?
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Resource:
Elvery, David. The Significance of Jesus’ Baptism.
https://sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-significance-of-jesus-baptism-david-elvery-sermon-on-jesus-life-85542
