Fellow-Redeemed
in Christ,
One cinematic device filmmakers use to
telescope a long period of time the film does not show is the printed
statement, “One year later,” or “Six years later.” The apostle Matthew employed
the same thing with the little world, “then.”
The former tax collector had written that
Joseph had brought his wife Mary, and Jesus back from
When you think about it, isn’t Jesus’ baptism
seemingly a most unusual thing? It is not too strong a statement to say that
John was flustered when the Savior approached him with the request. John told
Jesus. “I need to be baptized by you,
and do you come to me?” The one who had said of Jesus, “I am not worthy to
untie the thongs of his sandals,” could not think of a more startling turn of
events.
Our theme explains it. Jesus Seeks the Sinner’s Baptism. First, to show who the sinner’s
Savior is; second, to show how the sinner is saved.
Matthew’s use of the adverb “then” is more than the mere passage of
time. It indicates that the time had come for something. The time had come for
Jesus to move from his private life as our Substitute to his public ministry.
For thirty years, Jesus had been carrying out his active obedience of the
commandments. Jesus now would take his steps toward his passive obedience; his
suffering and death on the cross that led to the empty tomb.
The baptism of our Lord is the beginning.
Jesus seeks the sinner’s baptism to show who the sinner’s Savior is. John’s
baptism is our baptism. It is for sinners. Baptism is the washing of new birth
that saves us. Jesus did not need this washing since he is holy. This was the
opportunity for the Father to anoint his eternal Son in the flesh with the Holy
Spirit and power for his work.
Recall that in Old Testament days God,
through his servants, anointed all prophets, priests, and kings. This was the
sign that God had chosen that particular man for the office. It was also God’s
way of granting authority for that man to represent him.
The Father spoke from heaven about Jesus, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am
well pleased.” The Father anointed his Son with the Holy Spirit. God the
Father chose Jesus and gave him all authority to represent him. Jesus later
would claim this authority when his enemies confronted him, and questioned him
concerning by whose authority he taught and performed his miracles.
Jesus seeks the sinner’s baptism to show who
the sinner’s Savior is. The sinner knows this Jesus is the Savior. There is no
other. Heaven itself affirmed his office. John was eyewitness to that
affirmation.
God has loved you with an eternal love. He
appeared in time. Born in
We see that work already as Jesus seeks the
sinner’s baptism. He did so in order to show how the sinner is saved.
Jesus had been carrying out his active
obedience of the law. Now he would continue and complete his Father’s plan for
our salvation. Jesus would suffer under our sins, and receive the wages for our
sins, death. Jesus would passively allow all of this as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
When John was so perplexed by Jesus’ request for
sinner’s baptism, Jesus replied, “’Let
it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.’
Then John consented.”
Righteousness here is God’s entire gracious
plan of salvation. In that righteousness, God not only condemns and punishes
but also delivers and saves. God delivers and saves us through Christ’s
righteousness. By putting himself under sinner’s baptism, Jesus connects his
saving work with John’s and our baptism. Holy baptism is the way God connects
us to Jesus’ active and passive obedience that save us.
Jesus says by his baptism, “I have given this
gift to John and to the church “for the forgiveness of sins.” It is the
forgiveness of sins I earn by the power and authority my Father has given me.
It is the forgiveness that belongs to you. You have had it validated by the
Father and the Holy Spirit.
This Epiphany that Jesus’ words moved John
to consent to at his request, is a call to faith for all generations. The star
led the Magi to the baby Jesus, the Son of Mary. Jesus’ baptism leads us to the
man Jesus, the Son of God, at this transitional stage of his life’s work as our
Substitute. This Epiphany of the baptism of our Lord leads us to the assurance
of our holy baptism and its connecting us to Jesus’ work.
Does Jesus’ baptism still seem like an
unusual thing? Not at all. In the