Journey Through Matthew: Be Baptized

If you have been keeping up, you will know that we started this journey last week and we primarily looked at the time right before Jesus’ birth and then the first few years after his birth.

And the main focus last week was really to establish Jesus’ divinity as the Messiah by looking at the early events and how they coincided with many of the prophecies about the coming Messiah.

And we saw how every single one of them were fulfilled.

And when I say they were fulfilled, I am not talking about some loose fulfillment that is sort of ambiguous in that it could have or could have not been the Messiah.

No, these were very specific prophecies and Jesus fulfilled them in a very specific way.

There really is no question as to whether or not Jesus is who he later claimed to be.

This morning though we are going to move forward and chapter three serves somewhat as a transitional point in the Scripture.

Now, that does not mean that the prophecies about Jesus ended in chapter two, but rather the focus is now going to shift to Jesus’ earthy ministry.

In fact, right off the bat in chapter three we see the fulfillment of another prophecy with the coming of John the Baptist . . .

Matthew 3:1-

Matthew 3:1–3 NIV - Anglicised

1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”

Further evidence that John was the one that Isaiah spoke of is actually John’s appearance in addition to his message . . .

Matthew 3:4-

Matthew 3:4 NIV - Anglicised

4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt round his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

His appearance was important because he bore a very striking resemblance to Elijah, who was the one that for centuries the Jews had thought would return to announce the coming of the Messiah.

2 Kings 1:8 NIV - Anglicised

8 They replied, “He was a man with a garment of hair and with a leather belt round his waist.” The king said, “That was Elijah the Tishbite.”

And another thing that John did that was very similar to Elijah, was the tone of his message.

Remember in the opening verses it says . . .

Matthew 3:1-

Matthew 3:1–2 NIV - Anglicised

1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

And when we think back to Elijah, and all the other prophets what was their central message?

It was always for Israel to repent because God’s judgment is imminent.

This is really no different from what John is saying.

John’s primary audience was the Jews but the reality is that all people need to repent because God’s kingdom is imminent.

They did not know when or how but John knew things were close and that the only way to avoid God’s judgment was repentance.

And God’s kingdom is even closer now.

So he preached it loud and clear and we should do the same thing.

And people responded . . .

Matthew 3:

Matthew 3:5–6 NIV - Anglicised

5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the Jordan River.

And John’s actions here set the entire tone for what would become the central practice of Christianity.

And we sometimes miss the actual significance of what baptism is.

In John’s day, the Jews would use baptism as a way to accept Gentiles into the Jewish religion.

Baptism itself means “to dip” or “to plunge” and also means to “be drowned” or “to sink” and was often used to describe when a ship sank.

Josephus also used it to mean “to be flooded.”

So the term was a term that symbolized violence and death in one sense.

However, when Gentiles were baptized into the Jewish religion what it symbolized was their dedication to putting death their entire way of life when they went under the water but coming back up again, they were saying they had been raised to life in this new way of life, Judaism.

And it SHOULD mean the same thing for us as well.

People have this notion that baptism in itself saves a person.

It does not save us but only symbolizes our dedication that when Jesus saves us through the confession of our sins and repentance that Christ has put to death our old selves, our old way of life and we have been raised to a new life in Jesus Christ.

We have “put off the old man and put on the new.”

We have offered ourselves fully to God as the “living sacrifice.”

So, while baptism does not save us, it is a very significant confession to the world of who we now are.

It is our sign to the world that we are now part of God’s kingdom.

But here is the catch here.

The people coming to be baptized by John were not Gentiles wanting to enter the Jewish religion.

The Jews had a very long and drawn out process for someone to be baptized into Judaism.

These people were hearing John’s message and were coming to be baptized based on that message.

And his message was this . . .

Matthew 3:11-

Matthew 3:11–12 NIV - Anglicised

11 “I baptise you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

John’s message was about Jesus.

John’s message was about the coming Messiah, who would save the world from its sins.

These people who were listening were Jews who were coming and repenting as a sign that they believed in the one who was to come.

As a sign that they were putting to death their old life and wanted to be part of this new life in the one to come.

The one who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and fire.

The one who would endue them with power from on high.

And the reality was, they were saying that “our Jewish traditions are not enough.”

The Law and traditions could not save them, only the Messiah who was to come.

But not everyone was happy.

Not everyone thought what John was doing was proper.

Which should be no surprise. Think about how they treated all the other prophets.

And apparently there had been some back and forth between the Pharisees, Sadducees, and John over his actions.

Because . . .

Matthew 3:

Matthew 3:7 NIV - Anglicised

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptising, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Not the most welcoming thing John could say. He is basically calling them “snakes sprung from snakes” or “offspring of serpent.”

They were snakes and so were their fathers.

And of course the reference to serpents is a reference to the devil. They were children of the devil in John’s mind.

He calls them out because they were not coming to repent, but rather they were coming to cause trouble.

And we see this in the church today as well.

From time to time there are people who wander in every church for no other reason than to cause trouble.

At first you try and give them the benefit of the doubt but there is something, a discerning that you know to be careful.

And sooner or later they reveal themselves and if their goal is to do nothing but cause trouble, you do just like John did, tell them to repent and call them out for what they are.

John goes on to tell them . . .

Matthew 3:8-

Matthew 3:8–10 NIV - Anglicised

8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

In other words he is saying, repent and bear fruit.

Let there be some evidence that you are following God.

Remember, Jesus tells us that “you will know them by their fruit.”

Which is another point for us.

Are we bearing any fruit?

The answer to that question is, we are. But is the fruit good or is it rotten?

If we are not bearing good fruit for God then there is something wrong with our relationship with God.

So, ask yourself this morning what type of fruit you are bearing.

Also, listen to what John says here.

Your family heritage cannot save you.

Only Jesus can save you and only when you put your entire faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

Listen to what John says here.

Matthew 3:9 NIV - Anglicised

9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

Because the reality is, your traditions cannot save you.

Your family heritage cannot save you.

Only Jesus can save you and only when you put your entire faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

The Jews thought they had some special place with God and they got a pass on their sin because of it.

The reality is God is the creator of the universe and he could create people out of rocks if he wanted to.

Yes, God loves the children of Isreal.

Yes, God loves all creation.

But the reality is SIN separates us from God.

God wants a relationship with each and every one of us, but if we have unrepented sin WE ARE NOT GOD’S CHILD and we are doomed.

God’s children are those that belong to God’s kingdom.

And the only way into God’s kingdom is through Jesus and through repentance.

So don’t think that because you come to church, God’s going to give you a pass.

Don’t think that because your mom or dad were good Christians God’s going to give you a pass.

Don’t think that because you are involved in the church that God’s going to give you a pass.

Have you confessed your sins?

Have you given your life to Jesus?

The answer to those questions is what determines whether or not you are God’s child.

And this is the message that John is trying to get across to these people.

In the middle of all of this though, something else happens.

Matthew 3:13 NIV - Anglicised

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John.

And this has somewhat baffled people for generations.

Why would Jesus, the one without sin come to be baptized?

Remember that baptism to them symbolized the death of one way of life and the birth of another.

Why would Jesus do this?

It baffled John because John knew who Jesus was . . .

Matthew 3:14 NIV - Anglicised

14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?”

John was sort of like Isaiah . . .

Isaiah 6:4-

Isaiah 6:4–5 NIV - Anglicised

4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

Here is the thing....Just like Isaiah, just like John, just like baptism, God uses people and symbols to help us understand His will.

We do not have the mind of God and we cannot begin to comprehend how everything works together.

But God is using this for a specific purpose, which Jesus explains to John . . .

Matthew 3:15 NIV - Anglicised

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

There are two things that Jesus’ baptism does.

First, it does mark the death of one way of life for Jesus and the birth of another.

Jesus, from this day forward would no longer be Jesus, the son of a carpenter, but rather Jesus, the suffering servant, the Messiah, God with us, which was prophesied in Isaiah.

Second, Jesus sets the example of what each and every person should do.

Each and every person, who confesses their sins and accepts Jesus Christ is saying, “Lord, forgive my old way of life, forgive my sin, I give you myself, raise me up into a new way of life, a new kingdom, a new home.”

And every single one of us should follow this confession, with baptism, to every extent that is possible.

Our Great Commission tells us . . .

Matthew 28:19–20 NIV - Anglicised

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Colossians also explains . . .

Colossians 2:11–12 NIV - Anglicised

11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

And finally, confirmation from the other two members of the Holy Trinity . . .

1 Peter 3:21 NIV - Anglicised

21 and this water symbolises baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience towards God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Matthew 3:

Matthew 3:16–17 NIV - Anglicised

16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, 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.”

The Father not only puts the seal on Jesus’ ministry and Jesus as the Messiah, but also in the practice of baptism.

Altar Call

So, this morning, I want to ask you, do you need to be baptized?

If the answer is yes, then we need to first back up a bit.

Have you ever confessed your sins and accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior?

If not, that must come first.

Baptism follows repentance.

But sometimes we get the cart before the horse.

Maybe you are here and you have accepted Christ, you have been baptized, but you have fallen away.

You have slipped back into your old lifestyle.

You can still repent.

You can still return to God.

But you have to come and repent and willingly give yourself to Jesus again.

He’s not went anywhere, he is in the same place you left him.

The question is, will you return to him?

Maybe you have another need and you need to come and pray.

Whatever the Lord has laid on your heart this morning, I would encourage you to come and place it on the altar.