The Baptism Of The Lord

1. This Sunday is the Baptism of the Lord. Baptism gives us Identity Luke 3:15-22

• The people in our text want to know who is John 15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah

• John tells the people there “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with[e] the Holy Spirit and fire.

• Note After Jesus is Baptized we quickly learn the Identity of Jesus 21 Now when all the people were baptized, and Jesus He was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Belovedg with you I am well

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1. Baptism is the place or the beginning of a Journey

• Jesus’ baptism is the innocent in which Jesus began or we know about His Journey of Faith a suitable place for the church to begin our journey of Faith

• The Lords Baptism recounts the story of his life and ministry.

• It’s such an important story that all four gospels tell it in one way or another (Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–23; John 1:29–33).

• Before Jesus does anything as a teacher and healer, he walks humbly down the muddy riverbank and wades into the Jordan to be baptized by John.

2. We know why we should be baptized, but Why Jesus? Why does Jesus get baptized?

• Why must the sinless son of God go into the waters of Baptism? Baptism is the symbol of repentance and new life?

• Some theologians are quick to explain that “Jesus doesn’t need to be baptized, but he lets his cousin push him down under the muddy water purely for our sake.”

• He is modeling exhibiting an example we should follow.

3. Baptism is and was a religious Discipline It’s a discipline Prayer, Scripture Reading Fasting

• It’s what a follower or believer does get baptized in If we are serious about our devotion to God then we go through the waters

• Baptism is a sign of death to our old lives and resurrection into new lives in Christ

• In the waters of baptism we celebrate the grace of God as we are born a new and receive forgiveness.

• In the waters of baptism, we remember we are the children of God, loved by God and pleasing to God.

• In the waters of baptism we encounter affirmation as did Jesus in the Jordan the Spirit of God fell upon Jesus and God said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." God is just as proud of us

4. Baptism is a Public confession of a covenant we are making with God

• We do baptisms publically so the world will know

• Baptism means “I belong” recall John Wesley’s covenant Prayer I belong to God I am no longer my own but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you ,exalted for you, or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing: I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit ,you are mine and I am yours. So be it.?And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.'

• Baptism is a sign we are pledging an allegiance to the Kingdom of God

• Baptism calls us to be a different, peculiar and passionate people who are sent out to follow Jesus in changing the world. Martin Luther would often put his hand on his head to remind himself that he was baptized he was different that he could resist temptation because of his connection with Jesus. May be Jesus calls us to get muddy take the Mark or identity My jeep

• has the mud spray paint I am a telling all I am Muddier Baptism gives us a mark