Jesus’ Baptism

Week 15 | Section 24

Today we begin the second phase of Jesus ministry, which we will study over the next two months. In history these events took place over a period of about 12-15 months.

Now Jesus’ baptism, the event in today’s story, occurs when he is about 30 years old. John had been baptizing folks for over six months and had prophesied that one day one greater than he would come. Well that was the day. Though without sin, Jesus modeled for those present and all humanity the imperative and principle attitude and action of salvation and ministry – humility and acceptance.

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Section 24
[one_third last=”no”]Mat 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.¹ 14 But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”² 15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.”³ Then he allowed him. 16 Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. 17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”⁴[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]Mark 1:9-11
9 In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

10 Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting,⁵ and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.⁶ 11 A voice came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”⁷¯⁸[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]Luke 3:21-23a

21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also had been baptized,⁹¯¹⁰ and was praying. The sky was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying “You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.” 23 And Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age.¹¹[/one_third]

Group Dialog:

What is the work of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in this section?
What does it take for Jesus to please God? What had he done?
Who am I in the eyes of God? How is this reflected in my actions, thoughts, and feelings?
What way can we pass on a blessing to others this week?

Learning Objectives:

Baptism, Trinity, Deity & Humanity of Christ, sin, humility, acceptance, prayer, discernment of God’s activity among us, grace, acts of righteousness, pleasing God,

Study Notes:

notice that Jesus made an effort to go experience this moment. It was a distance of about 60 miles (A full day’s journey). See relief map or this wall map. John’s baptism wasn’t necessary for sin sake, He had none and therefore had no need to repent. So then why did he want to be baptised? (see vs Mt 4:15)
John’s humility is not a denial of his own purpose, but an earnest recognition of his role, and the nature and purpose of Jesus as the Messiah.
It seems that Jesus, who was without sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), desired John’s baptism perhaps for a couple of reasons: 1) it was culturally appropriate that Jesus be blessed publicly by His forerunner. It is another sign of his humility in his humanity. 2) There is the tradition of a ritualistic cleansing, and so it is good of him to make such a stand and be counted among those who desire righteousness. 3) Jesus wanted to fulfill was the righteousness of humility that began in him through his incarnation. 4) perhaps also it was a means of being a model for the baptism that he said was necessary (John 3:3,5) and then commanded us to go do (Go therefore Baptize… Mt 28:19) 5) Jesus as God in flesh, is both divine and human. As a human he was made under the Law (Gal. 4:4) so his fulfillment of what is necessary for all humanity is his humble submission to the law. Read also Ex 29:1-7; 1Pet 2:24; 2Cor 5:21.
This is one passage where we see the Trinity in action together (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). We will address this topic in another broadcast. For now, the following passages should be studied to gain a better understanding of the trinity: Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; 1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:1,14, 15, 3:16, 10:30-36, 14:26, 15:26; Luke 1:35; Genesis 1:26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Philippians 2:5-8; James 1:13; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Acts 5:3-4; 1 John 5:7-8; Isaiah 43:10; Psalms 2:7; Exodus 7:1; Genesis 1:1, 3:22, 11:7
The Greek word is Schitzo – just like the moment that the temple curtain was torn from top to bottom, this moment alters the world’s experience forevermore.
why a dove (not a sparrow, butterfly, eagle, rainbow)? Luke says it was in bodily form… but in any event it is highly symbolic that the Holy Spirit came in the form of a dove, as it is the animal that the Jewish priests used a “peace offering”, and that in the near future Jesus would be the eternal peace offering. It also reminds us of the dove that came back with the olive branch signifying that the new world is near. Mt 10:16 also speaks about the Holy Spirit presence in our lives “as innocent as doves”.
Such affirmation from the father in his belonging, and value (belovedness) even before he had done any miracles or completed the sacrifice. (Note to parents: love and affirm your child just because of who they are). God does not value us because of what we have done, but because of whose we are. Break free of shame by receiving God’s love. Also note that this is not the point in time when Jesus became God or was “adopted” as the son of God, no, he is the eternal and incarnate son of God, God the Son, (John 1:1-18; Mt 16:16; Mk 1:1; John 20:31)
Those who have received the grace of God are also beloved children of God 1John 3:1-3
In fact, the very word “Christian” was a public word. Contrary to what we might normally think, “follower of the man Christus” (the word’s original meaning) was not first used as an internal self-designation. It was instead a term coined by outsiders, by those who could see a thriving community and needed a word with which to describe them (see Acts 11:26 and 26:28; also 1 Peter 4:16). To be a follower of Christ was to belong to an assembly whose common life was publicly visible. (source: C. Kavin Rowe)
Baptism provided today is “in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”. This is a different baptism than John’s, in that it is not only a baptism of repentance but also of discipleship, strengthening, forgiveness, and entrance (recognition that we are) in the body/family of Christ. (Acts 1:21-22; 10:37-38). Believer Baptism vs Infant Baptism – In this week we would like to say only that we affirm both. This important truth can be contemplated in both the preveening and prevailing grace of God that endures our delay, our failures as “followers”.
Jesus was about 30 years old, this probably happened in April as he soon went to the Passover in Jerusalem.

By Greg Troxell