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WHAT DID JESUS DO?

PART 2--HE WAS OBEDIENT IN BEING BAPTIZED

MATTHEW 3:13-17

INTRODUCTION

This passage of scripture give us Matthew’s account of the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.

After years of silence in Nazareth, Jesus appeared among those listening to John’s preaching and    presented Himself as a candidate for baptism.

Only Matthew recorded John’s opposition to this act in verse 14.

John recognized Jesus did not fit the requirements for his baptism, since his baptism was for repentance from sin. Of what did Jesus have to repent? He had never sinned so He could not be officially entering into John’s baptism even though He was seeking to be baptized by John.

Some feel Jesus was confessing the sins of the nation as Moses, Ezra, and Daniel had done on previous occasions.

The only explanation that is offered as to why Jesus desired to be baptized comes from his own mouth in Matthew 3:15.

Jesus’ response to John was that it was fitting for Him to take part in John’s baptism at this time in order to fulfill all righteousness.

What did Jesus mean?

I.        IT MEANT THAT JESUS WAS FULFILLING THE REQUIREMENTS TO BEGIN HIS OFFICE AS PRIEST.

The Levitical law required all priests to be consecrated when they were 30 years of age. (Numbers 4:3)

Jesus was about 30 years of age according to Luke 3:23 when He was baptized and began His earthly ministry.

              The consecration was threefold: Exodus 29:4-9

              A.        The Washing With Water--Ceremonial Cleansing.

                          (Vs 4)

The Baptism of Jesus identified Him with this ceremonial cleansing as our Great High Priest.

              B.        The Clothing With Garments. (Vs 5-6)

The glorious garments of the Levitical priesthood spoke of the glorious clothing of the coming Messiah who would be clothed in Righteousness.

                          Jesus was clothed in Righteousness from His Birth.

              C.        The Anointing With Oil.

                          (Prophets, priests, & kings were all anointed)

The Oil was a symbol of the Holy Spirit who descended upon Jesus like a dove, and lighting upon Him.

This was the priestly anointing of the one who was not only a priest by divine appointment, but an eternal priest according to Psalm 110:4 which says,

“The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”

Thus He was divinely consecrated for the work of redemption.

Acts 10:38– “. . .God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power...”

IT MEANT THAT JESUS WAS FULFILLING THE REQUIREMENTS TO BEGIN HIS OFFICE AS PRIEST.

II.        IT MEANT THAT JESUS WAS IDENTIFYING WITH THE PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

              (Matthew 3:1-3; 5-12)

              A.        John The Baptist’s Message Was Repent.

Though Jesus had no need to repent, he identified himself with the message of John.

              B.        Jesus’ Message Was Repent.

Matthew 4:17–“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Luke 13:3-- “. . .except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

              C.        Jesus’ Disciples Message Was Repent!

Mark 6:12–“And they went out, and preached that men should repent.”

              D.        Peter’s Message On The Day Of Pentecost Was Repent!

Acts 2:38–“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

              E.        Peter’s Message Remained The Same!

Acts 3:19–“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out...”

              F.        Paul Called On Men To Repent!

Acts 17:30–“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:”

                          Acts 26:19-20

G.        The Angel Of The Church Called On Some Churches To Repent!

                          1.         The Church At Ephesus. Revelation 2:4-5

                                      The problem was that they had left their first love.

                          2.         The Church At Pergamos. Revelation 2:16

                                      The problem was that false doctrine had crept in.

                          3.         The Church At Sardis. Revelation 3:3

                                      It had a name that it lived, but was dead.

                          4.         The Church At Laodecia. Revelation 3:19

The lukewarm church--they weren’t hot, they weren’t cold.

They thought they were rich, increased with goods, and had need of nothing.

They didn’t know that they were wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

IT MEANT THAT JESUS WAS FULFILLING THE REQUIREMENTS TO BEGIN HIS OFFICE AS PRIEST.

IT MEANT THAT JESUS WAS IDENTIFYING WITH THE PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

III.        IT MEANT THAT JESUS WAS IDENTIFYING WITH SINNERS. (Matthew 9:10-13)

If Messiah were to provide righteousness for sinners, He must be identified with sinners.

It was therefore in the will of God for Him to be baptized by John in order to be identified (the real meaning of the word “baptized”) with sinners as the sin bearer.

              A.        He Did Not Identify With Our Sin.

Hebrews 7:26–“For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.”

              B.        He Did Identify With Our Humanity.

Hebrews 4:15–“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

IV.        IT WAS JOHN THE BAPTIST’S WAY OF IDENTIFYING THAT JESUS WAS THE SON OF GOD. (John 3:32-34)

The significant thing about the baptism of Jesus was the authentication from heaven.

It was unlike any time else that John the Baptist had baptized before.

As Jesus came up out of the water the Spirit of God came down on Him in the form of a dove. As One went up, the Other came down.

A voice from heaven—the voice of God the Father—said, “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

God repeated these words about Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:5).

All three Persons of the Godhead were present at this event: the Father who spoke of His Son, the Son who was being baptized, and the Spirit who descended on the Son as a dove.

              This verified for John that Jesus is the Son of God.

It was also in keepingwith Isaiah’s prophecy that the Spirit would rest on the Messiah .

Isaiah 11:2–“And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;”

The descent of the Holy Spirit empowered the Son, the Messiah, for His ministry among people.

CONCLUSION

Have you identified yourself with Christ? Are you saved?

He became our High Priest, He became our Sacrifice, He is now our Intercessor and our All in all.

He has issued a call to repentance;

He is looking for confession of sins;

Have you been baptized since you were saved? It is shows our identification with Him.

He is looking for those bearing fruits as evidence of changed lives.

Do you really love Him? Does your life show it? Are you living for Him?

Or have you left your first love and gone back to the ways of the world?

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!