The Baptism Of Jesus

The Baptism of Jesus

Matthew 3:13-17

February 1, 2004

Introduction

Last week I told you that I was having a hard time with coming up with a message for the passage in Matthew describing the baptism of Jesus.

I said that it was tough because I wanted to make sure I wasn¡¦t just trying to throw something together for the sake of having a message, which was sure to be shallow and unapplicable.

So we scrapped it for another message.

Well, we¡¦re going to do the same thing today. Just kidding!

I think we¡¦re ready to dive into this passage, and I think you¡¦ll find something you can take home and make a part of your life, okay?

So please turn with me in your Bible to Matthew 3:13-17. If you¡¦re using the Bibles in the seats, this is on page 682.

Please follow along as I read.

MT 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"

15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.

16 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 lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

This baptism of Jesus accomplished a couple things, and it also teaches us a couple lessons and even gives us some direction for our lives today.

My intention today is to go through these things, and by the time we leave, I¡¦m convinced that most, if not all of us will find something we can make a part of our own individual lives.

So in anticipation of that, let¡¦s pray.

(Pray)

Let¡¦s take a look at this very important episode of Jesus¡¦ life and what we can learn, okay?

First¡K

1. The baptism validates the ministry of John.

When Jesus came to John for baptism, he was basically saying, ¡§John, you have been faithful to the task given you and the message that was given you to preach.

¡§Now I want to show everyone here that I appreciate you and your ministry.¡¨

And so, even when John tries to reverse the roles, Jesus insisted.

I wonder what went through John¡¦s mind as he consented to baptize Jesus.

I don¡¦t know. But my guess is that even John couldn¡¦t grasp the significance of what was happening here.

And when the Spirit came, and the Father spoke, it must have blown him away.

Jesus¡¦ baptism served to validate the ministry of John.

Next¡K

2. The baptism validates the ministry of Jesus.

Many people were baptized by John.

But John knew who Jesus was, and he proclaimed his need to be baptized by Jesus.

In the other gospels, we see John proclaiming loudly, ¡§Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!¡¨

For the people who took John seriously, this might have been enough.

But for some reason, the Father thought it would be good if He put His own stamp of approval on Jesus.

Look back at verses 16-17:

16 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 lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Now how¡¦s that for an endorsement?

You know, we¡¦re in an election year, obviously, and one of the tasks of politicians is to seek the endorsements of large groups of people, like certain unions, or civic groups, or business people, or celebrities.

I can think of a few celebrities that I would rather NOT have their endorsement, but that¡¦s beside the point!

And as much as some of them would like it, none of them have the endorsement of God, in my opinion.

Jesus, the Son of God, had the endorsement of God the Father. And we need to take that seriously.

God is well pleased with Jesus. Are you? Do you love Jesus? Do you live a life that reflects a mindset that says, ¡§With Jesus I am well pleased?¡¨

Now don¡¦t get me wrong. Jesus doesn¡¦t need OUR endorsement, okay?

He¡¦s the Savior, whether we think He is or not. And one day He¡¦ll be crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords whether we think He should be or not.

He will triumph over evil and save His people, whether we agree with Him or not.