Scripture Lesson: Matthew 3:11-12
January 2017
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” ~ Matthew 3:11
This third chapter in Matthew makes it clear that John attempted to reject Jesus as a candidate for baptism because of his super-worthiness. Further, Luke chapter 1 makes it clear that John knows that Jesus is the Son of God, and that John knew this even before the two of them were born. John preached a baptism of repentance, and thus persons being baptized by John were to confess their sins. John the Baptist felt it was wrong for him to baptize Jesus for two reasons: 1) Jesus’ divinity made him superior to John – should the junior baptize the superior? And 2) Jesus had no sins to confess, nothing to repent of. John had good reasons for wanting to reject Jesus as a candidate for baptism but John’s reasons were based on human criteria, Jesus’ baptism however, was designed by a divine architect. John came to understand divine authority always supersedes human authority. It is this not so simple maneuver that explains why Christians have for centuries been under the arc of safety. In God’s expansion of His ministry to include Gentiles, you were placed under the arc of safety. Because of this magnificent act over 2000 years ago, you may call yourselves Christians knowing that you, too, are the sons and daughters of the Most High God. It matters not that you are God’s sons and daughter by adoption, the method through which we gained entry into the family of God does not matter. What matters, in fact, the only thing that matters is that you are God’s sons and daughters.
Jesus responds to John’s question of whether it was proper for the spiritually, superior, to be baptized by the spiritually, junior, by saying "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness” in v. 15. In other words, Jesus was saying to John that it is not normally done this way but there’s was a special case. Jesus was saying the circumstances of their special case warranted the unusual act of the spiritually, junior, person baptizing the spiritually, superior, person. What does Jesus mean by "to fulfill all righteousness"? In this Gospel, as is the case throughout scripture, righteousness is doing the will of God. While that entails observing Torah laws as found in the Old Testament, Jesus makes it clear in the Sermon on the Mount that true righteousness involves more than mindless observance. It requires moving beyond the letter of the law, to honor the spirit behind the law (Matt. 5:21-48). Jesus is fulfilling all righteousness by faithful obedience to his role in God's plan of salvation.
John the Baptist is uncomfortable with this role reversal – the spiritually, junior, baptizing the spiritually, superior, but his part in "fulfilling all righteousness" is to do as Jesus says do. Therefore, in spite of John’s discomfort, he does what Jesus says do. There is a lesson in this for you. Sometimes you will be uncomfortable with what Jesus says do, but as that Nike commercial says, Just Do It. But I digress; let me return to the text. People act as though the gift of their adoption into the family of God makes God a cosmic Santa Claus, who gives, gives, and gives – humans expect God’s mercy, God’s grace, God’s peace, and God’s prosperity, but they don’t expect to give anything to God in return.
Sometimes people act as though the gift of their adoption into the family of God is a one sided deal in which God does all the giving and they do all the receiving.
Sometimes people act as though the gift of their adoption into the family of God was an isolated occurrence which happened when they accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives and not a continuous act to be lived out on a daily basis.
Sometimes people act as though the gift of their adoption into the family of God does not obligate them to serve God, being God’s hands, God’s feet, and God’s heart in the world.
Sometimes people act as though the gift of their adoption into the family of God is an act of their pass, and never an act of their future. They act as though they can be as mean and hateful as they want to be in the present, as long as they were compassionate 20 years ago. But that just isn’t so. God’s gift of your adoption into the family of God is an everyday occurrence, and comes with an everyday obligation. An obligation that you make yourself available to God, to be used of God in whatever situation, whatever capacity that God wants to use you.
Children, the above may mean that God wants to use you at home among your family, or on the playground, or at school. God may want to use you to do something that makes someone else’s life a bit happier or easier. Remember, just because religious words aren’t used, doesn’t mean you aren’t being used religiously. Adults, you may be used at home among your family, at work, and while running errands or doing ‘fix it’ jobs. The same thing is true for you as is for children; you may be used by God to make someone else’s life a bit easier or happier. Remember, just because religious words aren’t used, doesn’t mean you aren’t being used religiously. In fact, when we look at Jesus’ earthly ministry, one of things that made it so powerful is that it rarely looked religious when Jesus was being the most effective, and being the greatest change agent. Consider this truth, change agents don’t always have to be called change agents or even recognized as such.
John the Baptist was a towering figure and prophet in the first 10 verses of chapter 3 but he is reduced to being a subordinate figure in the presence of Jesus. But that in no way diminished who John the Baptist was, nor diminished his ministry. John was clear about his part in God’s plan of salvation for the world, and John was content to carry out his part. How many of you can say that? Do you want to be a main character in the drama of salvation when God gave you a supporting role to play? Jesus' baptism was the first act of his ministry, the first step in the redemptive plan that He came to fulfill though many think the first act of his ministry came much later at the Wedding. One theologian, John MacArthur, Jr. in his New Testament Commentary put it this way, “He who had no sin took His place among those who had no righteousness. He who was without sin submitted to a baptism for sinners. In this act the Savior of the world took His place among the sinners of the world."
All four Gospels report the descent of the Spirit, which you have to know empowered Jesus throughout his ministry. This is significant because it lets you know that Jesus was never on His own to work out God’s redemptive plan of salvation for the world. Please understand that there was always a connection between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God said in verse 17, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." They validate the person of Jesus and the ministry that begins with his baptism. Mark reports the voice as speaking to Jesus, "You are my Son," presumably to encourage Jesus’ human side. Matthew's wording, "This is my Son," suggests a public proclamation to the people. The voice makes it clear that Jesus is the one who was promised, and therefore, the One to be followed.
Because Jesus was baptized; you have a newer, stronger, more powerful relationship with the members of the Trinity. On your own, life is not worth living. On your own, life presents too many challenges. On your own, life has too few ups, and too many downs. But with Jesus on your side, life has meaning and is worth living. With Jesus on your side, the challenges of life present new opportunities to grow and to show who you are in Christ Jesus. For some, baptism is an empty ritual, void of any real meaning, but to others, baptism symbolizes their connection to Jesus. I implore you to be in the latter group and remember that the power in your baptism was never in the water.