The Coronation of the King

Matthew 3:13-17

· Introduction

¨ Many of you may have never experienced a coronation

Ø I have not seen one

§ We mostly tie any designations of royalty with the Windsor family in England

§ And the last coronation was of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953

· A coronation is a ceremony marking the investment of a monarch through symbolic acts like crowning or anointing the head

Ø But it doesn’t necessarily happen without flaws

§ The next in line for the succession to the throne is Prince Charles, her eldest son

· His life has been marred by tabloid stories of his love for another woman, married woman while he was still married to Princess Diana

¨ He eventually married this woman after the death of Diana

¨ So the crown is to be passed to his son- Prince William of Wales

· For succession to be a success, it must be done with public support, political backing for now they are mere figure heads

Ø But back in the day, royalty represented power, supreme power

§ With such power, you need not support nor recognition from others such as the Pope to recognize your divine right

· Coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte

¨ Seized the crown from Pope Pius VII and crowned himself emperor of France

¨ Passage today is not a coronation that needs public support nor political backing

Ø Nor is it a tale of one usurping a crown which he does not deserve

§ It is definitely one of divine right and it comes with a blessing

· It is not any ordinary king and it is not the beginning of any ordinary kingdom

¨ He is the king of kings and the kingdom is the Kingdom of God

Reading of the Passage

Opening Prayer

· Baptism of the Son

¨ The time frame- “then”

Ø We are not too sure when “then” is- it may just be a term for sequence of events

Ø We do know that this is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and he began when he was about 30

¨ Why 30?

Ø Some speculate because this was the typical age for Jewish leaders to enter ministry

§ Number 4:30- priest entered into the priesthood at that age

· It was a public affair

¨ Not in this passage but the parallel passage in Luke 3:21

¨ “Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened,”

Ø Just as Jesus’ crucifixion was public, for God wanted all to see

Ø So was His coronation

¨ If Christ had come to be the perfect sacrifice for all of mankind’s sins, why would it be private?

Ø Did Christ come in shame? Was His purpose shameful? Was He embarrassed? Was He shy?

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. – Romans 5:8-9

¨ Therefore our baptism must also be private

Ø Our baptism is finalizing our public profession of faith

Ø And it is shameful that so many Christians are embarrassed about their profession of faith

§ I want to ask you, in your own hearts examine yourselves

· How many of you ever made a public confession of faith?

· How many of you publicly have been baptized?

¨ If the answer to any of these is no, then I say do it

¨ If you have not yet been baptized get baptized, our next baptismal date is Sept. 30th

¨ Baptism is a very proud moment- it is a second birth

Ø And as we celebrate the physical births should we not equally or even more so celebrate our spiritual births

i. But often when we ask people to come to make public their confession of faith, maybe an altar call, to stand before believers mind you, we are too shy, too hesitant

1. Our baptism is a celebration- for the entire body of Christ to celebrate- it is a powerful testimony of God how He transformed another lost soul of darkness and brought it into the light

"Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 10:32-33

i. If Christ incarnate willing surrendered the glory of His divinity so that He could come to die for you and me- the least we could do is stand publically to say we love him too

b. Secondly, the reason why Jesus came to John specifically was to be baptized by him

i. Which was unthinkable to John

ii. He not only knew Jesus’ human identity, being his cousin but also His divine identity

1. Remember when Mary went to stay with her cousin Elizabeth

a. It was john the Baptist in the womb that leaped with joy when hearing the news of Mary’s pregnancy of the Son of God

2. Apostle John

a. “saw Jesus coming to him, ‘Behold the Lamb of God!” – John 1:29

iii. When john realized why Jesus came, he tried to prevent him and said,

1. “I need to be baptized by you.”

a. All the pronouns in this particular exchange is emphatic in the Greek

i. It is intensified

ii. “I have need to be baptized by You, and do you come to me?”

b. You are the savior and I am the sinner, if anyone here needs to be baptized it was JTB

c. And JTB’s baptisms were for sinners, those who have repented of their sins

2. It was in his reluctance that john was fulfilling his purpose as herald and true prophet by proclaiming the perfection of our Savior

iv. Here poses the first question- Why would the Savior, the sinless King need to be baptized?

1. Reasons

a. Some believe it was an initiatory rite before His royal priesthood, reflecting the OT ceremony for priests

b. Others in the Catholic church who may have read the Gospel According to the Hebrews says he was baptized on behest of his mother and brothers who all desired to be baptized

v. None of these fit the context of the passage

1. Here was the first words recorded of Jesus since he was twelve

a. “Permit it at this time, for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

i. These are the words of humility and royal dignity

2. “Permit it at this time”

a. Even though it was the most inappropriate thing to do, it was appropriate for this one special time

b. He assure JTB “it was fitting”

i. If he didn’t, they both would not fulfill their own ministry to the fullest

vi. What was the reason?- It was to give an example to all his followers

1. How do you know you have a true military leader, he is right there with you in the front lines- leading his men, showing them by example to be courageous, not asking men to stand in the line of fire w/o him first standing there with them

a. Rule of leadership- never ask anyone to do something you are not willing to do yourself

i. Movie We Were Soldiers- Lt. Col. Harold Moore

1. I will be the first to step on the battle field and I will be the last to step off and I will not leave any of you behind

2. Jesus, the king of heaven and earth did not have to pay taxes but remember when Peter was so confident in his refusal to pay taxes

"What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?" When Peter said, "From strangers," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are exempt. "However, so that we do not offend them.” - Matthew 17:25-27

a. Brother was sharing last Friday night in his study group they were running out of time for their projects fundraiser so he suggested a fundraiser from KCCC, campus ministry. And one particular person what seemed to always find some reason to hold things us, who happened to be an atheist objected. What should I do?

vii. Scripture makes certain that we are not citizens of this world but children of heaven but we are also called to submit to all human authority while we are still here- and by our good deeds, they will glorify God who is in heaven – 1 Peter 2:12

viii. Jesus came into the world to identify with men and to identify with men is to identify with sin

1. He could not purchase us from sin if he could not identify with sin

2. He could not qualify as our High Priest w/o identifying with sin

a. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. – Hebrews 4:15

3. It was his baptism that represented his willing identification with sinful people that He was sent to save

a. Opposite of the story of the founder of Buddhism- Siddhartha Gautama

i. When he was born a sage said he was either going to be a great ruler or a great sage, a teacher

1. His father went to extremes to protect him from all pain in life

2. Being out of touch of reality, he abandoned his family to become a Buddha, in search of enlightenment

b. That is not our Christ- He knew the truth, he identified with the problem, Deidrich Bonhoffer says in his book, The Cost of Discipleship, “Jesus was not only concerned with the problems of man, but He was concerned with man himself.”

c. In this one act He took His place right beside His sinful friends

4. This was His first step in the redemptive plan in which he was sent

a. He received instruction from his Father and He trusted and obeyed

b. Anointing of the Spirit, v. 16

a. John baptism as with all others represents the cleansing or washing of sin

b. A Christian’s baptism represents a believer’s identification with Christ’s death and resurrection

i. In both cases, it is lost w/o immersion

1. This goes against our denomination

2. Mere sprinkling or pouring water on the head won’t cut it

ii. The Greek word, baptizo

1. Means to literally dip the object into water, not have the liquid poured onto the object

c. In the history of the church this was never an issue

i. Until the catholic church introduced sprinkling in 1311 at the Council of Ravenna

1. Thomas Aquinas “in immersion the setting forth of the burial of Christ is more plainly expressed in which this manner of baptizing is more commendable.”

a. What is sprinkling?

b. That is not the example set by Christ

i. “went up immediately from the water”

1. Indicating that he went under the water

d. At the moment that he came out of the water

i. “behold the heavens were opened”

1. We have many sightings of heaven

a. Ezekiel saw four living creatures, the chariot and wheels

b. Stephen before he died saw Christ standing on the right hand of the father

c. Paul said he was elevated to the third heavens and it was indescribable

ii. JTB saw “the spirit of God descending as a dove and coming upon Him”

e. Here poses the next question… If Jesus is God, why does he need the Holy Spirit to descend upon Him?

i. When Jesus became man He did not surrender His divinity- He is still 100% God

ii. But being flesh, being human form, He experienced the weakness of His humanity

1. Therefore the Spirit was descending to anoint Him for service and granting Him strength for ministry

a. The more you dig into the Scriptures the more you are blown away

i. As a pastor, I am weak, as a man I am weak

ii. Here is our Christ, perfect in every way

1. Scriptures says it is through Christ that I can do all things Phil. 4:13

2. It is God will supply all your needs through Christ Phil. 4:19

2. But in His humanity He needs the HS to empower Him to do what he was called to do- we see the purpose of the Holy Spirit within our Lord

a. Conclusion- if the Spirit enabled Christ to do all, will He not also help me finish the race? Is He not our counselor, our comforter, our intercessorary, does He not empower me to fulfill and speak with boldness the Gospel of peace?

c. Confirmation of the Father, v. 17

a. If ever there is doubt of the trinity, those doubts should be erased with this passage

i. It is the coronation of Jesus that all person of the trinity shows up

1. It is the party for God the Son,

a. He even confirms His own kingship by saying “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

2. He is anointed by God the Spirit

a. Confirming His right of messiahship by resting upon Him

3. Enters into the picture God the Father

a. As he gives the confirmation- the blessing, the commissioning

ii. The one who was sent to earth, incarnate in human form, who stepped in the Jordan to identify with sinful man, trusted and submitted to the authority of the Father is

1. My beloved Son whom I am well pleased

b. You know in life, there is nothing that is perfect

i. If you look close enough you will always find a flaw

1. Sara Evens Perfect

Baby every little piece
Of the puzzle doesn't always fit
Perfectly
Love can be rough around the edges
tattered at the seams
But honey if it's good enough for you
It's good enough for me

ii. Unfortunately, it’s never good enough for God

1. In all of the OT, there has never been a perfect sacrifice

a. But in any case, they were only symbolic- they were powerless to take away sins of men

i. “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” -Hebrews 10:4

2. But it was the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary that would be the satisfactory atonement

a. “with the precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” – 1 Peter 1:19

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also )loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. – Eph. 5:1-2

3. It was this perfect sacrifice that God could say He was well pleased

c. This is why Jesus is the central character of God’s gospel

i. Hebrews 1:1-8

1. Jesus is the fullest expression of God, superior to and exalted above all things

2. He is the beginning of all things, all things were created by Him through Him and for Him, He is the sustainer, the purifier, he is the Alpha and Omega, He is the Great I AM

a. The Son is the perfect radiance of God the Father

i. You want to know God, you just look at Christ

ii. When Jesus is calling God, Father, it is not to express submission to express his equality in deity

1. John 5:23 “so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

2. You cannot worship God unless you worship Him who was with Jesus at his coronation as Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

d. Questions for you, do you know God?

e. Do you know His Son?

i. Do you trust in His perfection, He being the perfect sacrifice for your sins?

1. “I am the way, the truth and life and no one can go to the Father except through Me.”

2. Do you believe that or do you have a plan B?