"who Is In The Water?"

In Jesus Holy Name January 12, 2025

Luke 3:21-22

“Who is in the Water”

Who is in the water? Is just a carpenter from Nazareth who has joined the local farmers and merchants who have come to the Jordan? Or is He the Messiah who in baptism identifies with all of humanity taking on their sis as the sin bearer??

First, this is not a Christian baptism. Remember Christian baptism

a. It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.

b. Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

c. Peter said “Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit . The promise is for you and your children.

Personal note: I love baptisms1 In my many years of ministry the Lord has blessed me with the privilege to baptize many.

Permit me to name a few:

1. 95 Hmong in my previous church in Merced.

2. Several babies in critical care units in local hospitals who were near death were baptized. God worked miracles both recovered and are living today.

3. Three Watney grandchildren were baptized in the Pacific Ocean.

4. My great grand nephew was baptized on the day of his grandfather’s funeral.

5. I can not count the number of Gross family baptisms but most recently Matt and Janet’s two grandchildren.

Back to the baptism of Jesus and it’s significance for us. Martin Luther said that the baptism of Jesus is a pivotal moment for when Jesus steps into the water he takes upon his shoulders the sins of humanity. The sinless Son of God receives the baptism meant for sinners which he carries to the cross to leave then there.

What about Jesus? What sin did Jesus have to be cleansed of? What sins did He need to confess? What in His life needed to be buried? The answer is nothing. Jesus does not need to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.

For He never sinned. Jesus said: “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?” John 8:46

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

The 1st century writer Luke tells us that John was standing in the middle of the Jordan River baptizing people, calling them to repent of their broken commandments. Suddenly John sees his cousin standing in line waiting for His turn to be baptized. He was surprised. Luke tells us that Jesus was around thirty years old. This was the age when the priests of Israel could begin to be ordained.

John is asking people to step into the Jordan and be buried under the water. Why the Jordan River? The Jordan stands for the death of the old world and the new promises of God. Every one knew that it was at the Jordan that the ancient Israelites passed from the “death” in the wilderness to a new beginning in the promised land. (Joshua 3)

This past fall the movement “Unite Us” held numerous events on various college

campuses: Auburn, Southern Mississippi, Arkansas, Florida & South Carolina. Over 70,000 students attended these events at more than 400 Universities. This evangelistic movement was marked by worship, preaching the Word followed by commitments to Jesus and over 2000 baptisms.

But when Jesus, the perfect Son of God, came forward and asked to be baptized, John hesitated and expressed his reluctance to take Jesus down into the water. Jesus walks right into the river Jordan with John, not because He needed “forgiveness” but because it was God’s initiation into the final episode in His plan to defeat Satan. What is the baptism of Jesus about?

Remember Jesus is like us He is been a regular human being who was working as a carpenter for 20 plus years. He probably had the Psalms memorized, because they were used as Jewish prayers. He certainly knew the old testament, stories and theology.

But now, at the baptism God reconnects Jesus with the arrival of the Holy Spirit.

With water dripping from His body, the heaven opened and the Spirit of God descended on Jesus in the form of a dove. Both John and Jesus heard the Voice of God from Heaven. “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” John saw the Son being baptized, the Spirit anointing and the Father speaking. John then said: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”