A Magnificent Manifestation
Luke • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsThis is a sermon concerning the baptism of Jesus, and the manifestation of the Triune God: Three Persons in One God.
Notes
Transcript
15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison. 21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” 23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,
Last week, our study took us through a section of verses which I just read. That being verses 15-18. The focus of todays sermon will be primarily verse 21 and 22. We will return to discuss Herod’s imprisonment of John the Baptist in greater detail but I will save that for a time later on in this Sermon series. Today I want to primarily focus the discussion on the Magnificent Manifestation, that takes place as after Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist. The verses we just read in the Gospel of Luke do not specifically state that John the Baptist performed Christ’s baptism but we have other accounts, which give additional details of the circumstances we will be talking about today. They are spoken of in the other Gospels.
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
John the Baptist had just informed the people that the Lord has a winnowing fork, in His hand, and will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with Fire and then he tells of an immediate end to John’s ministry.
19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.
Then immediately Luke moves on to describes this Magnificent Manifestation of the Three Persons of the Trinity.
There is without a doubt something significant that is taking place here. We see throughout the Old Testament, a number of God sightings, a number of manifestations, which occurred at various times. Each time the voice of God is heard, or He appears in some veiled form, something significant it about to take place. He is going to call someone to perform a miracle, go through a major life altering event, or be the recipient of an incredible blessing.
Adam & Eve walked with God
The Burning Bush
Abraham & Sarah, entertain angels/ messengers
Here in this circumstance, we have each person of the Trinity active in this event.
There is something significant, magnificent in this occurrence. This is not the kind of thing that happens everyday.
This is far more incredible than a major league baseball pitcher, pitching a perfect game. or a MLB slugger hitting a record breaking homerun.
What is happening is far more incredible and magnificent than any feat a human could ever accomplish.
WE are reading of a rare, and amazing occurence, which is the beginning of the coming of the Kingdom of God. This is where God reveals that the Old Covenant, was merely a picture of what would now take place under the New Covenant, that being the Perfect Lamb of God would
22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
The Spirit Descends
Upon the Son
The voice of the Father, proclaims, Jesus is the Beloved Son, with whom He is well pleased.
It is no little thing that each of the 3 Persons of the Trinity
One God, Three Persons is coming together actively involved and manifested in this way. As if One Person of the Trinity isn’t incredible enough. Each One has its specific part, and is showing the importance and the significance of what is now taking place. The beginning of the ministry of the Chosen Seed of Israel.
Talk about an amazing “Magnificent Manifestation”
Think about this! The power, the presence, the holiness, the confirmation, the awe, the celebration, the joy, the comfort, the peace,
How often do we enter into the “Manifest Presence of God”?
I hope you have the joy of doing this on a regular basis, through the reading of the Word and Prayer, and in the fellowship and worship of this body of believers we call Calvary Baptist Church.
There is something special that takes place when God shows up in a “manifest way”.
This morning I have 4 main points, 4 main observations for us, as we look closely at Luke 3:21-22 and the surrounding verses.
Transition- Old to New
Transition- Old to New
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened,
Notice Luke’s description here. “When all the people were baptized.” This is a statement that signifies that John has baptized all those who he would baptize. The transition that is taking place, the idea that something new is about to happen is noticeable in the fact that Luke speaks of the end of John the Baptist’s ministry in verse 20 and in verse 23 he mentions the beginning of Christ’s ministry
23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,
33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” 36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’ ”
Jesus is causing a major shake up in Judaism. He is not operating under the modus operandi of the religious leaders of that time period. We are going to see this repeatedly on our journey into the Kingdom.
Communication- A pattern of prayer
Communication- A pattern of prayer
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened,
Jesus was praying. This is a topic that we will be looking at more closely in the weeks to come, as Luke repeatedly makes note of Jesus’ prayer life.
It should not surprise us, that Jesus spoke with the Father frequently and at length, though here in Luke 3 it would be easy to overlook the fact that Jesus was praying. So much is happening, in this chapter.
John has just baptized this man, named Jesus. Remember people were not aware of who He was. As we saw in the details of the other accounts in Matthew and Mark, as Jesus was coming up out of the water, immediately the Heavens opened up, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him.
I was thinking about this earlier. If I was coming up out of the water, I’d be worried about getting dried off, putting my outer tunic back on. Jesus however, was praying. He was speaking to the Father. We aren’t told what He was saying, but that obviously isn’t the point. We don’t need to know what He was praying about. We are given examples of the way to pray and what to pray about in other passages. Here, at least part of Luke’s objective is to let us know, as Jesus was coming up out of the water, He was praying. Pure Conjecture-
Praising the Father for what was happening in the lives of the others who had been baptized. Praising God, that He was about to begin His active earthly ministry , after 30 plus years.
Praising God for the boldness of John the Baptist- preaching repentance, for the forgiveness of sins. (not a popular message then or now).
Praying for John the Baptist, as he was going to be thrown in prison and his ministry was about to end.
Maybe He was asking the Father for strength and help to be able to endure what He was about to go through for 40 days in the wilderness or praying for those whom the Father would give Him, for those whom He would in the very near future, give His life. We don’t know, but He exemplified for us the importance of prayer and it is interesting, that prayer was happening and then the Heavens opened, and the Spirit descended.
Identification-
Identification-
A Sinless Savior identifies with those who are saved
Why was Christ baptized? Why would the perfect sinless lamb of God stoop yet again, into the waters of baptism, to be baptized by John the Baptist, the one who by his own admission was unworthy to untie the Lord’s sandals? The one who was preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, would be the one to immerse the Lord God in the waters of the Jordan River. Why is this? The answer is given at least partly in Matthew’s account.
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
“It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
There is no admission of guilt on the part of Jesus, there is not confession of repentance or a need for Him to change His ways.
He simply states, it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.
In other words, it is fitting that I should do all that the Father has commanded and requires. This may be true if for no other reason then Christ wished to set an example for us, but I believe it goes a step further, it was Christ’s way of identifying with us, as we also identify with Him, in His death burial and resurrection.
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
The context in 2 Cor. expresses the incredible blessing of us being in Christ and identifying with Him. We are crushed but not destroyed, as we suffer this momentary affliction, knowing that is just that, momentary! He who raised Jesus from the dead, will also raise us to new life!!! One day we will be with Him in the New Heaven and the New Earth, a time when He will set up His Kingdom with power and might, casting Satan and his followers into the pit of hell for eternity.
Inauguration- Beloved Son
Inauguration- Beloved Son
Son/Priest/King
Son/Priest/King
The Father’s Words indicate the specific nature of the transition that Christ will accomplish.
God the Father clearly identifies Jesus Christ, as His Beloved Son! There is no question now. He is the Messiah, the Chosen One, who by the way, is also a son of David, a son of Abraham, and a son of Adam. Luke makes sure we understand that in the following verses.
23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,
38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Jesus Christ is the NEW Adam. The Second Adam. The Anointed, Chosen Savior of God’s people. He will save His people from their sins as the Beloved Son, Perfect Priest, and Heir to the Throne of God.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
So we may ask, Why was Jesus Baptized? The religious leaders of that day had difficulty figuring out
4 was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” 5 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from.
It was a signifying event. It preceded the Magnificent Manifestation
Luke seems to communicate that this was a time of transition. The Old Covenant, The Prophets of Old, were being replaced with The New Covenant and The messengers were being replace with THE SON.
The importance of communication is taught, as Christ prayed on this occasion. Both the Oneness and “Triuneness” of God is represented by Christ’s prayer, and is confirmed by the descending & staying of the Spiritth, and the proclamation/ inauguration by the Father.
What an incredible God has been revealed to us throughout this passage.
The Lord Jesus Christ was baptized in order that He might identify with us, in our baptism that all righteousness might be fulfilled, and as a symbolic representation of His impending suffering and death on the cross and His joyous resurrection to Life three days later.
This is real folks! This is an event that took place in the wilderness along the banks of the Jordan River. We have the blessing of walking with Jesus in this moment, seeing the Spirit descend upon Him, signifying the hidden but effectual power of God, and to hear the Words of GOD the Father,
“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
I don’t want to make too much of that statement. Too much emphasis may cause us to get a sense that God is not ONE God. Yet, here in this passage, we see the Three Persons manifested, presented as each having their specific role, if you will.
What an incredible example for us. Jesus dependently praying, and faithfully obeying, while the Spirit is descending, guiding, and comforting and then the Father, confirming, inaugurating the Son.
What a wonderful example of LOVE and UNITY.
I recall early in my life, my earthly father, teaching me to pray, and I also remember the joy that came when I was able to pray for him as he taught and preached, and also the joy, that I had, when my father would say, this is my son, in whom I am happy with today. I wasn’t deserving of a “in whom I am well pleased”. But Jesus, was and the Father expressed it.
May we find ourselves learning from Christ’s example, and also find encouragement, in the Oneness of the Triune God, who has poured out His Spirit upon us, and is able to say, He is well-pleased with us. He is able to say that, not because of our identity and behavior, but because we are IN CHRIST! We are in the One with whom He is well pleased!