Baptism of our Lord Sunday 1/09/11
1st Sunday of Epiphany
1/9/10
Text: Matthew 3:13-17
Title: To fulfill all Righteousness
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ today is the day we remember Jesus’ baptism. You might be asking yourself, “Why is it that Jesus needed to be baptized?” I could safely say that this particular text is one of the most scrutinized verses in the Bible. I hope this morning to shed some light on why Jesus was baptized and its importance for us today.
Jesus is now 30 years old; the age where he could teach with authority in the temple and synagogues. Not a word about him since age 12 and then all of a sudden he appears on the scene demanding to be baptized by John.
That he appears where people are confessing their sins the very sins which he has come to save them is no accident. The people are being baptized in response to John’s message “Repent.” This is where it can get confusing. Did Jesus tell John to baptism him because he needed to be cleaned of sin before he starts his public ministry? Or was there an Old Testament Law that said that a person had to be baptized? Or was there another reason?
First of all you can discard right away the baptism was necessary to cleanse Jesus of sin. As a 100% human being, he had willingly laid aside his Godhood, so while he was capable of sinning he did not because he perfectly trusted and thus perfectly obeyed the will of the Father even unto death. There was no Old Testament Law either that said a person had to be baptized so that is not the reason he was baptized.
As we look at the text we see Jesus demanding that John baptize him. John objects to this because he knows who Jesus is. Remember this John is the same John, Jesus’ earthly cousin, who leapt in his mother’s womb when Mary who was pregnant with Jesus approached. Jesus is the Messiah and John knows that, that is why he tells Jesus that Jesus should be baptizing him, he is a sinner not Jesus.
We read that Jesus has to submit to John’s baptism, for in his doing so he performed, “all righteousness,” that is, he began God’s saving deeds for the people by literally standing with sinners, and in doing so he took the place of all sinners. By being baptized Jesus was enacting, thus participating in God’s plan of salvation.
The Orthodox Christian Church from the earliest time on taught and still teaches taught that when Jesus was baptized he consecrated the water for use in later Christian baptism. Jesus thus becomes the model for Christian baptism. His baptism points forward to his death and resurrection in the place of sinners. You could thus say it was the start of his public ministry which ultimately came to completion on the cross when he cried out, “It is finished.”
His baptism is thus our baptism, so let’s see the Bible teaches about Baptism. You might not even be aware that Luther’s Small Catechism is in our Lutheran Service Book. Please turn to page 325 of the hymnal. I will read the questions. You will respond with the answers as they are written.
"First: What is Baptism? Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God's command and combined with God's word.
"Which is that word of God? Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew: 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.' Matthew 28:19
"Second: What benefits does Baptism give? It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.
"Which are these words and promises of God? Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark: 'Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.' Mark 16:16
"Third: How can water do such great things? Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God's word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three: 'He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying.' Titus 3:5-8
"Fourth: What does such baptizing with water indicate? It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
"Where is this written? St. Paul writes in Romans, chapter six: 'We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.'" Romans 6:4
That my fellow baptized is precisely what Baptism is all about, as the Holy Spirit inspired St. Paul and others to write in Holy Scripture! In brief summary, it's the fact that "God Declares Us Dead To Sin and Alive To Himself In Our Baptism."
Oh, make no mistake about it your physical life will come to a close sometime unless our Savior returns before that happens. Your existence is only the beginning of your eternal existence that awaits you and all who by Spirit-given faith cling to Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.
Those vitally important gifts are none other than what Messiah gained by His holy life, innocent suffering, crucifixion death, and majestic bodily resurrection from the dead. His completed atoning work is the basis of and foundation for the mercy and grace that he generously and graciously gives you and me, poor undeserving sinners whom Jesus has rescued from God’s wrath and eternal punishment.
The new life that you now live in because of Christ is still plagued with trials, tribulations, and heartaches. You, all of us still struggle with physical, mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual troubles that seek to weigh us down and crush us.
We long and try to live lives pleasing to God and beneficial to others around us. but we often fail. We strive to shun and flee the temptations of Satan, the world, and our own sinful selves, but often fall victim to them. Left on our own we are indeed poor miserable sinners.
And so we have to depend upon the Holy Spirit to strengthen us through the reading and hearing of God's Holy Word, the freeing gift of Absolution, and the proper partaking of Jesus’ Holy Supper, all of which are ways that our Lord Immanuel (God with us) comes to us and abides with us until Jesus comes back in all his glory to welcome us into his new heaven and earth.
Your earthly parents gave you your earthly name at the time shortly after your birth. In your baptism you were given the name “Christian” by the Holy Spirit as the pastor poured water on you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Thus in your baptism Jesus’ heavenly Father became your heavenly Father and that announcement that he spoke to Jesus that day, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.” Now applies to you and me and all the baptized who cling to Jesus in faith for forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.
Jesus himself had no sin that needed to be washed away by baptism. But he submitted to baptism on your behalf. Because of this your baptism is not symbolic. It is meaningful, beneficial, and comforting because in your baptism you are joined to him in his death and resurrection.
Do not fear life or the unknown child of God, for you are his. Amen.
1/9/10
Text: Matthew 3:13-17
Title: To fulfill all Righteousness
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ today is the day we remember Jesus’ baptism. You might be asking yourself, “Why is it that Jesus needed to be baptized?” I could safely say that this particular text is one of the most scrutinized verses in the Bible. I hope this morning to shed some light on why Jesus was baptized and its importance for us today.
Jesus is now 30 years old; the age where he could teach with authority in the temple and synagogues. Not a word about him since age 12 and then all of a sudden he appears on the scene demanding to be baptized by John.
That he appears where people are confessing their sins the very sins which he has come to save them is no accident. The people are being baptized in response to John’s message “Repent.” This is where it can get confusing. Did Jesus tell John to baptism him because he needed to be cleaned of sin before he starts his public ministry? Or was there an Old Testament Law that said that a person had to be baptized? Or was there another reason?
First of all you can discard right away the baptism was necessary to cleanse Jesus of sin. As a 100% human being, he had willingly laid aside his Godhood, so while he was capable of sinning he did not because he perfectly trusted and thus perfectly obeyed the will of the Father even unto death. There was no Old Testament Law either that said a person had to be baptized so that is not the reason he was baptized.
As we look at the text we see Jesus demanding that John baptize him. John objects to this because he knows who Jesus is. Remember this John is the same John, Jesus’ earthly cousin, who leapt in his mother’s womb when Mary who was pregnant with Jesus approached. Jesus is the Messiah and John knows that, that is why he tells Jesus that Jesus should be baptizing him, he is a sinner not Jesus.
We read that Jesus has to submit to John’s baptism, for in his doing so he performed, “all righteousness,” that is, he began God’s saving deeds for the people by literally standing with sinners, and in doing so he took the place of all sinners. By being baptized Jesus was enacting, thus participating in God’s plan of salvation.
The Orthodox Christian Church from the earliest time on taught and still teaches taught that when Jesus was baptized he consecrated the water for use in later Christian baptism. Jesus thus becomes the model for Christian baptism. His baptism points forward to his death and resurrection in the place of sinners. You could thus say it was the start of his public ministry which ultimately came to completion on the cross when he cried out, “It is finished.”
His baptism is thus our baptism, so let’s see the Bible teaches about Baptism. You might not even be aware that Luther’s Small Catechism is in our Lutheran Service Book. Please turn to page 325 of the hymnal. I will read the questions. You will respond with the answers as they are written.
"First: What is Baptism? Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God's command and combined with God's word.
"Which is that word of God? Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew: 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.' Matthew 28:19
"Second: What benefits does Baptism give? It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.
"Which are these words and promises of God? Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark: 'Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.' Mark 16:16
"Third: How can water do such great things? Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God's word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three: 'He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying.' Titus 3:5-8
"Fourth: What does such baptizing with water indicate? It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
"Where is this written? St. Paul writes in Romans, chapter six: 'We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.'" Romans 6:4
That my fellow baptized is precisely what Baptism is all about, as the Holy Spirit inspired St. Paul and others to write in Holy Scripture! In brief summary, it's the fact that "God Declares Us Dead To Sin and Alive To Himself In Our Baptism."
Oh, make no mistake about it your physical life will come to a close sometime unless our Savior returns before that happens. Your existence is only the beginning of your eternal existence that awaits you and all who by Spirit-given faith cling to Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.
Those vitally important gifts are none other than what Messiah gained by His holy life, innocent suffering, crucifixion death, and majestic bodily resurrection from the dead. His completed atoning work is the basis of and foundation for the mercy and grace that he generously and graciously gives you and me, poor undeserving sinners whom Jesus has rescued from God’s wrath and eternal punishment.
The new life that you now live in because of Christ is still plagued with trials, tribulations, and heartaches. You, all of us still struggle with physical, mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual troubles that seek to weigh us down and crush us.
We long and try to live lives pleasing to God and beneficial to others around us. but we often fail. We strive to shun and flee the temptations of Satan, the world, and our own sinful selves, but often fall victim to them. Left on our own we are indeed poor miserable sinners.
And so we have to depend upon the Holy Spirit to strengthen us through the reading and hearing of God's Holy Word, the freeing gift of Absolution, and the proper partaking of Jesus’ Holy Supper, all of which are ways that our Lord Immanuel (God with us) comes to us and abides with us until Jesus comes back in all his glory to welcome us into his new heaven and earth.
Your earthly parents gave you your earthly name at the time shortly after your birth. In your baptism you were given the name “Christian” by the Holy Spirit as the pastor poured water on you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Thus in your baptism Jesus’ heavenly Father became your heavenly Father and that announcement that he spoke to Jesus that day, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.” Now applies to you and me and all the baptized who cling to Jesus in faith for forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.
Jesus himself had no sin that needed to be washed away by baptism. But he submitted to baptism on your behalf. Because of this your baptism is not symbolic. It is meaningful, beneficial, and comforting because in your baptism you are joined to him in his death and resurrection.
Do not fear life or the unknown child of God, for you are his. Amen.
posted by Pastor Rhoads | 5:21 PM
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