The Start Of Jesus Ministry

START OF JESUS MINISTRY

Matthew 3 covers two major events: the "street preaching" of John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus. Think of this chapter as the official "Grand Opening" of Jesus’ public ministry.

The Wild Man in the Wilderness (3:1–6)

The scene opens with John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea. He wasn't your typical polished speaker; he wore clothes made of itchy camel hair, a leather belt, and ate locusts and wild honey.

His Message: Was "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!"

"Repent" basically means to do a U-turn—to change your mind and direction. He was telling people that God was about to do something big, and they needed to get their hearts ready.

Matthew points out that John Is the one that the prophet Isaiah talked about hundreds of years earlier—the "voice calling in the wilderness" to clear the way for the Lord.

We see that John Rebukes the Religious Leaders (3:7–12)

A bunch of Pharisees and Sadducees (the religious elite) came to see what John was doing. John didn’t roll out the red carpet; he called them a "brood of vipers."

He warned them that being "children of Abraham" (having the right family tree) wasn't enough to save them.

Then Matthew uses A Metaphor: He used farming imagery, saying that an axe is already at the root of the trees. If a tree doesn’t produce good fruit, it gets chopped down.

John clarifies that while he baptizes with water for repentance, someone much more powerful is coming. John says he isn’t even worthy to carry this person’s sandals. He predicts this New Leader will baptize with "the Holy Spirit and fire."

Jesus Gets Baptized (3:13–17)

Jesus travels from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. This creates a bit of an awkward moment.

John hesitates: John tries to talk Jesus out of it, saying, "I should be baptized by you, so why are you coming to me?" John knew Jesus didn't have sins to repent for.

The Reason: Jesus responds that it must be done to "fulfill all righteousness." Essentially, Jesus was identifying with humanity and setting the example for what was to come.

As soon as Jesus comes up out of the water, three things happen:

The heavens open up.

The Spirit of God descends like a dove and rests on Him.

A voice from heaven says: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Why Does this matters

This establishes Jesus’ credentials. It moves Him from being a carpenter's son in a small town to being publicly endorsed by both the greatest prophet of the time and God Himself.

While Matthew 3 doesn't use the specific title "High Priest" (that’s the focus of the Book of Hebrews), the events at the Jordan River are exactly where Jesus is "ordained" for that role.

In the Old Testament, a High Priest wasn't just hired; they had to be washed, anointed, and recognized. Here is how Matthew 3 functions as Jesus’ "installation ceremony" for His priesthood:

The Ritual Washing (The Baptism)

You see Under the Law of Moses (Exodus 29), before a priest could begin his service in the Tabernacle, he had to be washed with water. By insisting that John baptize Him, Jesus wasn't "washing away sin" (since He had none); He was undergoing the formal washing required to begin His priestly work.

2. The Anointing (The Holy Spirit)

Old Testament priests were anointed with oil to show they were set apart by God. In Matthew 3:16, we see the "New Testament" version of this:

Instead of olive oil poured by a human, the Holy Spirit descends from heaven.

This was Jesus "anointing" to act as the mediator between God and man.

The Public Validation (The Father's Voice)

A High Priest had to be called by God, not just self-appointed. When the voice from heaven says, "This is my Son," it is God the Father publicly "hiring" Jesus for the job in front of the crowd.

Why the "Last" High Priest?

The reason we call Him the last or ultimate High Priest is based on a few key differences from the old system:

The Old Priests Jesus (The Last High Priest)

Had to offer sacrifices for their own sins first. Had no sin; His sacrifice was pure.

Offered animal blood that had to be repeated yearly. Offered His own blood once and for all.

Eventually died, and a new priest took over. Lives forever to advocate for people.

By being baptized, Jesus was "filling the requirements." He had to be "made like His brothers" in every way so that He could represent us perfectly. He stepped into the water as a man to eventually step into the presence of God as our representative.