“The Baptism of Jesus”

    In the first ten Chapters, Matthew is recording the REVELATION OF THE KING to the nation of Israel. In chapters 1 and 2 he gives the ancestry and birth of the King, showing from the Old Testament prophets that Jesus Christ is the King of Israel.

    In chapter 3 he introduces Jesus through His “forerunner”, John the Baptist. This chapter also divides into three parts: John the Baptist came (1-6), The Sadducees and Pharisees came (7-12), and Jesus came (13-17). You see here the forerunner of the King, the enemies of the King, and the King Himself.


I. John the Baptist Came 3:1-6

1. His Message
       Keep in mind that the kingdom is being offered to the Jews. As the forerunner of the King, John is asking the people to repent and prepare for the king. In 4:17, Jesus preaches this message and so did the disciples in 10:7. When the nation rejected the King, the kingdom was taken from them (Matt. 21:42-43).
2. His Authority
       John fulfilled the promise in Isaiah 40:3. He was the last Old Testament prophet (Luke 16:16). The nation had not heard the voice of God for 400 years.
3. His Person
       He was humble in manner and dress. His dress reminds one of Elijah (2 Kings 1:18). In Mal. 4:5-6, God promised that Elijah would come before the dreaded day of the Lord. The Jews asked John if he were Elijah (John 1:21) and he denied it. Yet, if the Jews had received their King, John would have been that Elijah to come (Mt. 17:9-13 and 11:14)
4. His Baptism
       His baptism was from heaven (21:25-32) for two purposes: to introduce Christ to the nation (John 1:31), and to prepare their hearts for the coming of the King.

II The Pharisees and Sadducees Came 3:7-12

1. Their Character
       The Pharisees turned the law into a burden; the Sadducees were “liberals” who denied much of the Old Testament (Acts 23:8). On three occasions the Pharisees were called “generation of vipers”: by John the Baptist, and by Jesus (12:34 and 23:33). Satan is a serpent, and these men were children of Satan (John 8:44). The Pharisees were Christ’s enemies and often in Matthew. You will find them united again in 16:1 and 22:23 and 34.
2. Their Need
       They depended on their HUMAN relationships to Abraham to save them (Romans 9:6 and Gal. 3:7). Like Nicodemus in John 3, they stumbled at the truth that they needed to be born again! Note how John points at them to Jesus and magnifies Him alone!! Two “baptisms” are mentioned in verse 11—WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT (fulfilled at Pentecost, Acts 1:5; and to the Gentiles in Acts 11:16); and WITH FIRE, to be fulfilled at His second coming (Mal. 3:1-2 with Luke 7:27).
   

III. Jesus Came 3:13-17

1. Jesus and John
    It is stated that He came to be baptized. Why was the sinless Son of God baptized?? I suggest six reasons:

• OBLIGATION
      “to fulfill all righteousness” John 8:29
• CONSECRATION
      Jesus submitted to water baptism, then received the Holy Spirit.
• COMMENDATION
      Jesus approved of John’s ministry and thus obligated the people to listen to John and obey him. Instead they would have refused him.
• PROCLAMATION
      This was John’s official introduction of Jesus to the Jewish nation. John 1:31
• ANTICIPATION
      This water baptism looked forward to His baptism of suffering for us on the cross. Luke 12:50
• IDENTIFICATION
      Jesus identified Himself with the sinful men. Immediately after, the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.
  There is no question that Jesus was immersed. The Greek word BAPTISM means to dip, plunge, or immerse. John required “much water” for His baptism (John 3:23), which would not be necessary if he had sprinkled or poured.

2. Jesus and the Spirit
    This was the sign that God had proclaimed to give John to identify Christ (John 1:31-34). Though Jesus and John were related in the flesh, it is likely they had not seen each other for years. Even if John did know Jesus in the flesh, he would want the divine assurance from Heaven. The symbol of the Spirit as a dove is important: the dove is a clean bird; it is faithful to it’s mate in love; it is peaceful and gentle. Christ was through the power of the Spirit (Luke 1:34-35), and He was also empowered by the Spirit for His life and ministry.

3. Jesus and the Father
    This is the first of three occasions when the Father spoke to the Son from Heaven (see Mt. 17:5 and John 12:28). We have the trinity revealed here: the Son baptized, the Spirit descending, and the Father speaking from Heaven; and as He approached the cross (Mt. 17:5), He received that commendation again.

A PRACTICAL LESSON:

1. We must heed God’s messenger. The Jews did not obey John and judgment came.
2. There is a vast difference between outward morality and religion (as the Pharisees had) and true righteousness through Christ. We dare not depend on religion or human relationships. John 1:12-13
3. Jesus points the way and sets the example in obedience. He commands us to baptize and be baptized (Mt 28:19) and we must obey.
4. Jesus Christ IS God. Modern false cults deny this, but the Bible affirms it. John the Baptist, the Spirit, and the Father all witness in this chapter to the deity of Jesus Christ.