Sermon Tone Analysis

Heaven In The Jordan River

Matthew 3:13-17   |   Shaun LePage   |   January 29, 2006

 

 

I.

Introduction

A.   As a child, I had a teacher who taught me that Mary—the Mother of Jesus—was sinless.

Jesus, however—according to this source—committed one sin.

When He got angry and cleared out the temple and turned over the tables of the money-changers, He sinned His one sin.

In fact, one out of every four people who claim to be Christians believe Jesus was not sinless.

B.    We’re studying through the Gospel of Matthew—an excellent section of the Bible because I believe it speaks to the people of our time.

Matthew was writing to correct misconceptions about Jesus.

He was answering the question, “Who is this Jesus?”

Our culture knows the name, “Jesus,” but most people have misconceptions about Him.

C.   In these opening pages of the New Testament, it’s as if Matthew is pleading his case in court.

He brings witness after witness onto the witness stand to testify to the identity of Jesus of Nazareth.

The last time we were together, we looked at John the Baptist and that John fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy about a forerunner.

The “Elijah” who was to come before the Lord and make sure everyone recognized the true King of the Jews.

D.   As we come to the end of chapter 3, we find the most significant witnesses of all.

II.

Body

A.   Read Matthew 3:13-17.

B.    Explain Matthew 3:13-17.

*1.    *13-15 *Then Jesus arrived from **Galilee** at the **Jordan** coming to John, to be baptized by him.

But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

Then he permitted Him.*

a)    Jesus’ arrival

(i)   John’s purpose was to “make ready the way of the Lord” and now the Lord has arrived.

Jesus was the One whose way John was making ready.

(ii) So, when Jesus arrived, His first order of business was to be baptized by John.

b)    John’s objection

(i)   His baptism was for repentance of sin.

His message was, “Repent!” Turn from your sins.

Be baptized as a way of demonstrating that you have confessed your sins and God is washing you clean.

So, when Jesus arrived, wanting to be baptized, John didn’t get it.

John knew who this was.

They were cousins.

John was filled with the Spirit.

He knew Jesus did not need baptism of repentance and he tried to prevent it from happening.

(ii)  John’s testimony here is that Jesus was sinless.

He needed no repentance!

Jesus is the spotless Lamb of God.

The implication of John’s objection is clear: Jesus had no sins to confess!

This is foundational to understanding who Jesus is:

(a)  2 Corinthians 5:21: “*He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him*.”

(b) Hebrews 4:15: “*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*.”

(c)  Hebrews 7:26: “*For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens*.”

(d) 1 John 3:5: “*You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin*.”

(e)  So, when John the Baptist said—in John 1:29 “*Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!*” he was referring to the spotless sacrifice.

The Passover Lamb had to be without blemish and Jesus was without sin.

c)    Jesus’ permission

(i)   Jesus agreed.

He told John to “*permit it at this time*”.

In other words, John was right that Jesus did not need baptism of repentance, but something different was happening here.

Something special was about to take place.

“*At this time*” means that what seemed to be wrong was now right.

(ii) Why?

Why was Jesus baptized?

Jesus’ told John it was necessary “*to fulfill all righteousness*.”

What does this mean?

The Law had no requirements regarding baptism.

I believe there are at least two important reasons why Jesus was baptized.

(a)  Jesus’ baptism identified Him with John—His forerunner.

1.     John’s ministry had been pre-announced.

a.

As we have seen in previous passages, Matthew is connecting Jesus with the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah.

The Old Testament predicted that before the Messiah came, Elijah would come and prepare the way.

Matthew quoted Isaiah 40:3 and told us John fulfilled this prophecy.

b.    Malachi, in the final verses of the Old Testament, just before the 400 silent years, left the Jews with this prophecy: “*Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord*.”

(Malachi 4:5)

2.     When John finally came, he began talking about the One to come.

The One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

The One who was much greater than himself.

So great that John was not even worthy to touch his sandals.

John’s God-given ministry was to announce, “The King is coming!”

“The Kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 

3.

When the King arrived, his first order of business was to associate Himself with John—this herald and forerunner—in a spectacular way.

He linked Himself with John as if to say, “I am the One John has been talking about.”

Jesus identified Himself with John so that He could identify Himself as the One who sent John ahead of Him.

(b) Jesus’ baptism identified Him with sinners—His purpose.

1.

When Jesus arrived, a revival was going on.

John was preaching “Repent!” and many people were confessing their sins in anticipation of the arrival of their Lord.

As people confessed their sins, John baptized them.

So, when Jesus insisted that John baptize Him as well, Jesus was identifying Himself with those who recognized their need for cleansing of sin.

Those who recognized their need for a Savior.

In other words, Jesus was communicating His purpose.

a.     Matthew 1:21.

What did the angel of the Lord tell Joseph about his betrothed wife, Mary? “*She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.*”

b.    Luke 19:10: What did Jesus say when He was criticized by the religious hypocrites of His day for being a friend of sinners?

“*For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.*”

c.     Jesus came to save sinners and by being baptized by John, He identified Himself as our Savior.

2.     His baptism, like ours, is a demonstration of death, burial and resurrection.

For Jesus, it was a picture of what was yet to come.

For us, it is a picture of what He did for us.

a.     Second Corinthians 5:21 not only declares the sinlessness of Jesus, but it also highlights the purpose of His coming: “*He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him*.”

b.

The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus served the purpose of making the unrighteous righteous in the sight of God.

Through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, sinners are given forgiveness and eternal life.

This is what baptism pictures.

c.     Baptism means to identify with.

The word literally means “dip.”