Video preaching

The baptism of Christ

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

 

 Sermon notes

This event occurs just as Christ’s public ministry is about to begin. It is a private meeting between the Saviour and John the Baptist. It is an episode that has the most profound implications as it is the first public act of Christ as the mediator.

Cp John 1:29-34. The public announcement John made is given in the light of what John learns of Christ in this passage, v16. Matt 3:13-17 is a record of an event that was the moment that John’s faith gave way to sight. Everything he knew of the Messiah is crystalized in this sublime event that identifies unmistakably that the Saviour has come. Here in a moment with Christ is the confirmation and validation of all he has preached.

These actions by the Saviour are critical to an understanding of His ministry and saving purpose. His baptism is a highly symbolic action, His words of explanation are vital.

I A STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

  1. To fulfill all righteousness, v15. The purpose of Christ is summarized in these words: He has come to fulfill the law, Matt 5:17-18. Cp Is 42:21. The regulative force of Christ’s life and ministry was the law of God as the standard of righteousness. Cp Ps 40:7-8. It was the Saviour’s purpose to fully discharge the claims of the Law against His people.
  2. It becometh us…, v15. The Saviour saw this conformity to the Law of God as right, fitting, necessary. It was a duty that was compatible with His very existence and nature and loomed large over His life. Cp John 4:34, 8:29, 9:4.
  3. This is clearly the purpose of God for His servants too! It becometh us… This was John’s duty too. He must join with the Saviour in this work. The Moral Law of God is as binding on all Christ’s servants as it was on Christ the mediator. In this context John must not stand in the way of the Saviour’s conformity to the demands of the Law. He must rather act as required to advance that purpose even when it appeared incomprehensible to him. The demands of the Law still were made of John even in the context of the Saviour undertaking to fulfill them! Cp 1 Pet 2:21-24, 1 John 2:6.

II A DOUBLE IMPLICATION IN THE SYMBOLISM OF HIS BAPTISM. 

A. Sin and Divine wrath.

  1. Christ is identified with the filthiness of sin. Cp Acts 13:24. This is the very first aspect of His life and ministry that is drawn to our attention here. John’s baptism was a modified Levitical rite of cleansing that referenced the uncleanness of sin. The Lord Jesus submits to take His place among the filthy needing to be cleansed! Cp Is 53:6, Rom 8:3 (a legal likeness to sinners), 2 Cor 5:21, The Law pronounces mankind unclean. Cp Ps 14:3.
  2. His personal sinlessness is maintained, v16. The Saviour made no confession of sin as in v6. While acting as a sinner He was not a sinner! Cp Heb 7:26.
  3. Consternation, v14. There is that about this episode that even God’s people find hard to grasp. Yet the Saviour presses John to see this truth and act upon it as commanded. I must learn to deal with Christ as the One who made Himself as a vile sinner for my sake. That is the secret to serving Him! There is a sense in which a consciousness of our own unworthiness is a hindrance to obedience—as John’s was here. What he says is true but is answered by the Saviour’s identity as a sinner.
  4. Baptism as a symbolic of wrath against sin. The water of baptism symbolized the wrath of God on sin. They picture death as the sentence of God on sin. Cp Rom 6:4-6. While the mode of water baptism is not in view here, the use of the term baptism indicates something of the spiritual significance of that rite. Cp Luke 12:50, 1 Peter 2:20-21. Here a parallel between the waters of Noah’s flood and baptism is made. The Spirit’s saving work saves those who are the antitype of Noah from wrath on sin.

B. Cleanness and positive righteousness.

The Saviour in this symbolism assumes publicly the responsibility to provide law-satisfying righteousness for His people. He emerges to live a clean and pure life, acceptable to God. This is what the gospel describes as the righteousness of God, i.e. a righteousness God accepts. Cp Rom 1:17

C. Close relationship.

There is a close connection between these two aspects of Christ’s ministry. Cp 2 Cor 5:21. The one is necessary to the other. He must act for sinful men in the likeness of sinful flesh and in that role perfectly keep the Law. He is both sacrifice and High Priest offering that sacrifice.

III THE IMPRIMATUR OF HEAVEN.

  1. Heaven opened, v16. Heaven is opened to the Saviour at this point. Here is a glorious foreshadowing of the success of His work as Mediator. The pure sinner’s substitute would open Heaven for sinful men. The man who, like John, sees and embraces Christ as He is revealed in His baptism, has the prospect of an open heaven for Jesus’ sake! Heaven is closed to all who refuse Christ as their substitute—the one who became vile before the Law to deliver sinners from their vileness and fit them for Heaven.
  2. Spirit descends, v16. The Holy Ghost comes upon the Son at this point to fill Him uniquely as a man to carry through His calling. Cp John 3:34. Through the Spirit He will live to provide righteousness; through the Spirit He will offer Himself as a sacrifice to satisfy Divine justice on sin. Cp Heb 9:14.
  3. The Father speaks His approval audibly. The Trinitarian witness to the nature and effect of Christ’s work. The voice that spoke the Law from Sinai, speaks again to confirm the Saviour’s satisfaction of that Law in the place of His people.

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