Water Miracle
Preaching
Preaching the Miracles
Cycle C
As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ. 16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire...."
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased."
It was an extraordinary event on an ordinary Sunday amidst very ordinary surroundings. At the annual Bible conference on a Sunday afternoon in July, 1989, at Lake Findley, New York, a group met on the shore of the lake for a baptismal service. The people stood on the shore overlooking the lake. Now and then a boat pulling a skier roared by. Several jet skis made thundering noise and waves. In the distance one could see a small sailboat or two. A brief service of Scripture and prayer preceded the baptism. A pastor then took his 12-year-old son into the water. The boy was immersed at the words, "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." After a brief closing prayer, congratulations were expressed and the people gradually returned to their rooms.
Would you call this a miracle? It all seemed so very ordinary and commonplace: words, water, people, swimmers, boats. It was all over in 30 minutes! In all of the ordinary there was the extraordinary which we call a "miracle." The voice of God was heard in the Scripture lesson. A soul was saved. The Holy Spirit came into the heart of a child. There was a re-birth of the Spirit. The kingdom was opened to a believer. The church gained a new member. Sin was washed away, and now there was a new creation in Christ!
This is the miracle of baptism, a water miracle. It all began with the baptism of our Lord performed by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Then, too, it must have been an ordinary day with an ordinary preacher with an ordinary crowd, in an ordinary river, which was more like a creek than a river. In these ordinary circumstances the extraordinary occurred: the audible voice of God, the coming of the Spirit like a dove, the anointing of the Messiah, the beginning of a ministry that resulted in the salvation of humankind! All this and more - in the miracle of Jesus' baptism when he was 30 years old!
Does the average congregation realize that they witness a miracle when a person (child or adult) is baptized? No dove flies from the ceiling. No strange voice comes from above. Is a baptism considered by some only a prolongation of the worship service or a chance to show off the baby by carrying it up and down the aisles of the nave? Is it really a baptism, or just a dedication of a child? Does the baptizing minister realize he is a miracle-worker? Baptism was a miracle for Jesus and is still a miracle for the church today.
Acclimation
The Situation.
We are in a wilderness or a desert to hear an independent, fiery preacher call people to drop their sinful ways and repent. His personal appearance was in keeping with his fire and brimstone preaching: camel's hair garment with a leather belt around his waist. He went for natural foods: locusts and wild honey. He was a living protest against the luxury and culture of his day.
Multitudes from all over the country came to hear him preach. His popularity and powerful preaching made some ask if he could be the promised Messiah. He preached the Law of God, which convicted people of their sins. In token of their repentance he called upon them to be baptized in the Jordan River.
On a particular day when Jesus waited until all were baptized, he went forth to ask to be baptized. At first John objected to baptizing Jesus, probably because he felt unworthy to do so and because he felt Jesus did not need to repent of any sin. After all, John recognized Jesus as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." At length John was persuaded to baptize Jesus. They went into the water and Jesus was baptized. How much water and what method of applying the water was used, we do not know.
But we do know that while Jesus was praying, the Holy Spirit came upon him like a dove descending from heaven. Jesus heard God's voice: "You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you." It was a voice of acceptance and approval. Now Jesus was sure who he was and what his mission was. Now he knew the meaning of life. He found his reason for living. He faced a herculean task: the salvation of humanity.
The Setting
1. The Church Year. In the church year the first Sunday after Epiphany (January 6) is observed as the Baptism of our Lord Sunday. Since many churches do not observe the festival of the Epiphany because it usually falls on a weekday, the Baptism of our Lord is the first Sunday of the Epiphany season to be observed.
In the early church both the birth and baptism were observed on Epiphany Day. In 325 A.D. the western church moved the nativity to December 25. The visit of the wise men was observed on Epiphany. The eastern church, however, continued to observe Epiphany as a unitive festival, both the birth and baptism of Jesus. Since the church in the West remembered the magi on Epiphany, the baptism of Jesus was moved to the first Sunday after the Epiphany. Because the church in recent years has re-discovered the importance of baptism, many churches have begun to observe the first Sunday after Epiphany as the Baptism of our Lord Sunday. It is an extremely important event in the life and work of Jesus because his baptism marks the beginning of his ministry as the Messiah. It was his ordination experience.
2. Parallel Passages - (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:4-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:28-34). All four gospels tell us about Jesus' baptism. This indicates how important the event was to the apostolic church. Because Luke does not give all the details of the baptism, we need the other accounts to get the full story.
A. Objection. Only Matthew reports that John the Baptist objected to baptizing Jesus because he felt unworthy to do so.
B. Prayer. Luke only describes Jesus' baptism as a prayer experience (v. 21). The inference is that after the act of baptism, Jesus prayed. During the prayer, the heavens opened, the voice of God was heard, and the Spirit descended.
C. Voice. According to Mark and Luke, the baptism was a personal religious experience. The voice of God said, "Thou art my beloved Son; with Thee I am well pleased." In Matthew the voice spoke to the crowd: "This is my beloved Son (3:17)."
D. Dove. Matthew and Mark say that only Jesus was the Holy Spirit coming like a dove to him. John reports that John the Baptist saw the dove and thereby knew that Jesus was the Son of God. Luke indicates that the coming of the Spirit was objective, not a myth or an hallucination.
E. Unanimity. All four evangelists agree: (1) John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the River Jordan. (2) Water was used as a sign of washing away sins. (3) The heavens were opened. (4) The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus like a dove. (5) God's voice of acceptance and approval of Jesus was heard.
3. Related Passages - Matthew 28:19 - "Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Mark 10:38 - "Are you able ... to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"
Mark 16:16 - "He who believes and is baptized will be saved."
John 3:5 - "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
Acts 2:38 - "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Romans 6:4 - "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death."
Galatians 3:27 - "As many of you as were baptized in Christ have put on Christ."
Ephesians 4:5 - "One Lord, one faith, one baptism."
1 Peter 3:21 - "Baptism ... now saves you ..."
4. The Lectionary - Lesson 1 (Isaiah 61:1-4). The Spirit filled the Messiah to proclaim God's good news. There is a close relationship between this pericope and our Lord's baptism. Like a dove the Spirit came upon Jesus. It was his anointing as the Messiah. Jesus' first sermon in the synagogue at Nazareth was based on this text from Isaiah.
Lesson 2 (Acts 8:14-17). Samaritans received the Holy Spirit when Peter and John laid their hands upon them. As in the case of Jesus' baptism, the Spirit came upon the Samaritans. Though they were baptized, they did not receive the Holy Spirit until the laying on of hands. In today's baptisms, the minister usually lays his hands on the one baptized for the reception of the Spirit.
Gospel (Luke 3:15-17, 21-22) - John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. If we had only verses 21-22, the above statement could not have been made. Verses 15-17 give the setting for Jesus' baptism. Verses 18-20 are omitted in the pericope because they are irrelevant to the baptism.
Prayer of the Day - "Father in heaven, at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized into Christ faithful in their calling to be your children and inheritors with him of everlasting life."
Psalm of the Day (Psalm 45:7-9). "Therefore God, your God, has anointed you."
Hymn of the Day: "To Jordan came the Christ, our Lord." The hymn repeats the story of Jesus' baptism.
Explanation
You (v. 16) - "I baptize you with water." Who was included in "you?" "You" did not include the religious leaders of John the Baptist's day, the pharisees and scribes. Later Luke reports that they refused to be baptized by John (7:29). "You" included the Jews who came to hear John preach. To baptize Jews was not unusual, for baptism was the rite of entry from paganism to the Jewish religion. Male converts had to be circumcised. Pagan women and men also had to be baptized. The Jews who were called upon to be baptized by John were considered by John as pagans in need of repentance and of moral improvement. It would be the same as re-baptizing Christians!
Baptize (v. 16) - The Greek word baptizo means "to wash" or "to cleanse." For some it means immersion. To others it means pouring the water to cleanse. Churches are divided as to the mode of baptism: sprinkling, pouring and immersion. Some churches accept all three methods of applying the water because water is considered to be only the outward symbol of an inner spiritual experience. It is not the quality nor quantity of water that saves, but rather the grace of God received by faith.
Water (v. 15) - John the Baptist baptized with water, in contrast to Jesus' baptism of the Spirit. It was not special water, only common water that flowed in a river. The water from the Jordan was no holier than any other water. The water symbolized the cleansing a sinner needs to wash away sin. Hence, John's baptism was a baptism of repentance, a turning from wickedness to holy living.
Holy Spirit (v. 16) - John the Baptist promised that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. The promise was fulfilled on Pentecost. Water is earthly and material. The Spirit is spiritual and heavenly. The Holy Spirit is none other than God. The Holy Spirit is God within you. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. God the Father is above us; God the Son is beside us; God the Spirit is in us. Only Christ can baptize with the Spirit, because he is God who is Spirit. At his baptism, Jesus received the Spirit as the empowering agent to be the Messiah.
Fire (v. 16) - On Pentecost the Spirit came as cloven tongues of fire. Fire means life, light, energy and zeal. "Fire" may also mean judgment, for fire burns up and destroys. In verse 17 John describes the judgment Jesus will bring. Paul writes that the quality of a person's work will be revealed by fire (1 Corinthians 3:13).
Jesus (v. 21) - Of all people, why would Jesus have asked for baptism? Matthew points out that John at first refused to baptize him, for he felt that Jesus ought to baptize him instead. When Jesus insisted, John baptized him in the Jordan. Since Jesus was sinless and therefore did not need the baptism of repentance, why did Jesus insist upon it? Jesus explained that it was appropriate for him "to fulfill all righteouness." By being baptized, Jesus identified with sinful humanity, for, as Paul says, he became sin for us. Moreover, he set an example for us, not only in his day but for all time. His last command was for us to baptize. He was the first "Christian" to be baptized, and since that time every Christian has been baptized. If Jesus had asked to be baptized, who are we not to seek baptism if we repent and believe? This does not mean that a believer who has had no opportunity to be baptized is lost, but to reject baptism is to be lost, because it proves a lack of faith in terms of obedience.
Praying (v. 21) - Luke alone describes Jesus' baptism as a prayer experience. This means that his baptism was a personal religious experience. Prayer is communion with God, a conversation. In prayer, God and a person speak to each other. During his prayer, the heavens opened. That is, God the Father revealed himself, spoke to Jesus, and blessed him with himself, the Spirit. This experience indicates that prayer is more than petition, for Jesus did not ask his Father for anything. It was pure fellowship and oneness.
Dove (v. 22) - The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove. The Spirit descended from the Father above and came in "bodily form." This emphasizes that the coming of the Spirit was not an hallucination, a dream or a fantasy. The Spirit is real. He is both subjective and objective. Like the landing of a dove, the Spirit came calmly, quietly and peacefully. There was no roar or convulsions or rolling on the ground or foaming at the mouth as some do when they claim the reception of the Spirit. The Spirit of God came to anoint Jesus as the Messiah and to give him the power to fulfill his God-given mission.
Voice (v. 22) - The voice of God was heard by Jesus only, according to Luke. The voice said, "Thou" and "with Thee," addressed to Jesus. This was one of the three times when the voice of God was heard. The other times were at the transfiguration (Luke 9:35) and John 12:28 - "I have glorified it and will glorify it again." The content of the voice is a composite quotation from Psalm 2:7 and Isaiah 42:1. God's voice at the baptism assured Jesus who he was - "beloved Son." As "Son," he was the Christ, the promised Messiah who was to bring the world back to God. This is not to say that at this time Jesus became the Son of God. He always was, even before he came to earth, and through the conception by the Holy Spirit, he was God's Son from infancy. This word from God gave Jesus an assurance that as God's Son he was approved. God the Father was pleased with the life and work of his Son. Now, Jesus knew who he was and why he was on earth. His baptism launched the ministry that ended on a cross. He came to die that humankind might life.
Application
Relevance of Revelation. The relevance of baptism in our day is demonstrated by people's questions, which are often controversial:
1. If Jesus was sinless, why did he want to be baptized?
2. If an infant is too young to respond to baptism, why do most churches baptize babies?
3. Is there only one correct way of applying water in baptism?
4. If a person is baptized when an infant and later does not make a personal confession of Christ as Lord and Savior at the time of confirmation, is that person still a child of God?
5. Is baptism a private or public service?
6. May a lay Christian ever baptize a person?
7. Is there anything wrong in being baptized more than once?
8. Is there a difference between water baptism and spirit baptism?
9. Can baptism result in a false spiritual security of once saved, always saved, regardless of holy living?
10. Is baptism necessary for salvation?
11. Does one's baptism need to be repeatedly re-affirmed?
12. Is the water from the Jordan River any more appropriate for baptism than any other source of water?
13. What are the responsibilities of the sponsors (godparents) in infant baptism?
14. Is anyone qualified to be a sponsor (godparent) in infant baptism?
Sermon Suggestions
1. Your Questions about Baptism. A sermon or series of sermons could be built on one or more of the above 14 questions under the heading, "Relevance of Revelation."
2. The Miracle of Meaning. The subject of baptism lends itself to doctrinal sermons. A sermon or series of sermons could be built on any one or more of the following "meanings" of baptism.
A. Baptism is a sacrament. As such it is a means of grace. This makes baptism a miracle of grace. In and through baptism God's grace comes personally, concretely and individually to the person baptized.
B. Baptism is the seal of the sacrament. The water of baptism acts as a signature or seal that makes the sacrament a reality. It makes the divine-human relationship official and binding.
C. Baptism is a covenant. A covenant is an agreement or contract made between God and the person baptized. The covenant is based upon promises made by God and the individual. This baptismal covenant is a part of the new covenant brought to us by Christ through his atoning sacrifice on Calvary.
4. Baptism is a rebirth. As the Holy Spirit came to Jesus at his baptism, he also comes to the person baptized. The Spirit creates a new person as that person is born anew of the Spirit. In baptism, a person dies with Christ to his old self and rises with Christ to newness of life.
5. Baptism is initiation. Baptism is the entrance into the kingdom of God. It is an induction into Christ, an engraftment into Christ, the Vine. By baptism, a person enters and becomes a member of the body of Christ, the church. To be in Christ through baptism is to be in the church.
6. Baptism is an adoption. By nature we are creatures of God. Jesus taught that we need to be born spiritually as children of God. If God is our Father, we are his children. But we are his children, not by physical, but my spiritual birth. By his grace, we are adopted as his children.
7. Baptism is an ordination. Adults may be ordained by the church to preach the word and administer the sacraments. At baptism every person is ordained to serve Christ according to one's calling. Because of this, every Christian is a "minister." Baptism is a call to serve God through the ministry of reconciliation.
8. Baptism is a confession. Baptism is based not only on God's Word, but on a human's confession of sin and faith. This calls for repentance and belief in Christ as redeemer. Baptism places a person under the lordship of Christ. Baptism, therefore, is not a once-in-a-lifetime affair, but is a continual experience throughout life of re-affirming one's baptism by the renewal of one's baptismal promises. This renewal may take place in the reception of the sacrament of the altar.
Sermon Structures
1. The Miracle of a Baptismal Experience (3:21-22). In baptism a candidate has a miraculous experience. In the text we see the nature of that experience:
A. Public experience - "Now when all the people were baptized" - v. 21
B. Private experience - "Thou art ..." v. 22
C. Prayer experience - "And was praying" - v. 22
D. Present experience - "Thou art ..." v. 22
2. The Miracle of the Spirit's Coming (3 :21-22). The three lessons in the lectionary for this Sunday deal with the Spirit. At Jesus' baptism, as at ours, the Holy Spirit came to him. This sermon deals with how the Spirit comes to us today.
A. Prayer - Jesus "was praying" - v. 21
B. Dove - v. 22 (The Spirit is real and objective.)
C. Voice - v. 22 (The Spirit comes one with the Word of God.)
D. Baptism - v. 21 (See Acts 2:38)
It Takes Three to Make a Miracle (3 :21-22; Matthew 28:19). It is not likely that John the Baptist used the baptismal formula ("In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit") when he baptized Jesus. In the Great Commission Jesus commanded the church to baptize in the name of the Trinity.
A. God the Father's voice - v. 22
B. God the Son's prayer - v. 21
C. God the Spirit's descent - v. 22
4. A Miracle of Grace (3 :21-22). Baptism as a sacrament is a means of grace. Baptism is more than a sign that a relationship with God has taken place. In the very act of baptism grace is received. Just what is this grace?
A. The grace of regeneration - being born of the Spirit - v. 22
B. The grace of acceptance - "Thou art my beloved Son" - v. 22.
C. The grace of approval - "With whom I am well pleased" - v. 22
D. The grace of empowerment - "The Holy Spirit descended" - v. 22
5. From Ordinary to Extraordinary (3:21-22). A baptismal service on the surface is an ordinary event. There are ordinary people, ordinary baptismal candidates, ordinary ministers and ordinary vessels. God performs a miracle by turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.
A. Water - seals the covenant - vv. 16, 21
B. Dove - the gift of the Spirit - v. 22
C. Voice - acceptance as a child of God - v. 22
6. The Miracle of Baptismal Prayer (3:21-22). According to Luke, Jesus' baptism was a prayer experience. While he was praying he heard the voice of God, saw the dove and received the Spirit. For a renewed baptismal experience, we need to pray.
A. Through prayer we ask for the Spirit - v. 22
B. Through prayer we see the heavens open - v. 21
C. Through prayer we hear the voice of God - v. 22
D. Through prayer we receive the Spirit - v. 22.
Illustration
Are You Worth It? In baptism God adopts the sinner into his kingdom and makes the sinner a member of his family. This person can be the worst possible sinner who repents. Is such a person worth it? On the front cover of Time magazine in August, 1989, was a picture of Diane Sawyer with the caption, "Is she worth it?" At age 43 she is "the hottest woman in TV." The ABC network hired her away from CBS For $1,600,000 per year. She became a co-anchor with Sam Donaldson on a new show, "Prime Time Live." Is a newscaster worth one-and-a-half million dollars each year? Is the price paid on the cross worth the saving of a sinner's soul?
A Second Baptism? An active couple were baptized as infants. When they were "born again," they asked their pastor to baptize them again by immersion. They asked their pastor, "Will you baptize us?" Would you?
Baptism or Dedication? A pastor visited one of his families who recently had a new baby. He came to discuss the possibility of baptizing the infant. They said they did not want the little one baptized, but dedicated to the Lord. The dedication was held at a morning worship service. After the service a member of the congregation asked the pastor, "Why didn't you use water when you baptized the baby?"
Holy Spirit - Coming or Going? When the new Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta was built, I was assigned the task of working out the iconography. When everything was in place, I was asked to check out the symbolism before the bills were paid. I could find only one mistake. In the baptismal font cover, there were symbols of the Father, Son and Spirit. However, the dove for the Spirit was ascending rather than descending. The truth is that the Spirit can leave us as well as come to us.
Unbaptized Babies. It is reported that before Haiti's ousted president and his wife left for France, they arranged for a voodoo blood sacrifice in the palace. The voodoo priest paid $400 to a hospital nursery for babies. Then the voodoo priest conducted the ritual murders of unbaptized babies. It was explained that the reason for using unbaptized babies was that so long as they were not baptized, God would not mind!
Barth on Baptism. "Baptism confers on a man the seal of belonging to the church, for his life begins not with his birth but with his baptism. To be baptized means that a relationship between the revelation and the man has been established and is made actual in a specific situation." (Quoted by Lischer in Theories of Preaching, p. 343.)
Approval. At his baptism God assured Jesus of his approval: "in whom I am well pleased." Some have a fear of not being approved. A pastor once called on a family which had not been to church for a long time. He asked them why they had stopped coming. The lady explained, "If you really knew us, Pastor, I don't know how you could love us."
No Repentance. In May, 1989, a group of six teenagers, ages 14-17, raped and brutally beat a 28-year-old girl who was jogging in Central Park, New York City. She was left for dead. Upon their arrest the youth joked, rapped and sang. Why did you beat her head with a lead pipe? Because "It was fun." They were bored and wanted something to do.
Repent! A local bus company was under fire for the lack of passengers. One lady walked to work because she wanted the exercise. One morning the almost empty bus which passed her every morning stopped while she walked, the bus door opened, and the driver called out, "Repent! Repent!"
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased."
It was an extraordinary event on an ordinary Sunday amidst very ordinary surroundings. At the annual Bible conference on a Sunday afternoon in July, 1989, at Lake Findley, New York, a group met on the shore of the lake for a baptismal service. The people stood on the shore overlooking the lake. Now and then a boat pulling a skier roared by. Several jet skis made thundering noise and waves. In the distance one could see a small sailboat or two. A brief service of Scripture and prayer preceded the baptism. A pastor then took his 12-year-old son into the water. The boy was immersed at the words, "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." After a brief closing prayer, congratulations were expressed and the people gradually returned to their rooms.
Would you call this a miracle? It all seemed so very ordinary and commonplace: words, water, people, swimmers, boats. It was all over in 30 minutes! In all of the ordinary there was the extraordinary which we call a "miracle." The voice of God was heard in the Scripture lesson. A soul was saved. The Holy Spirit came into the heart of a child. There was a re-birth of the Spirit. The kingdom was opened to a believer. The church gained a new member. Sin was washed away, and now there was a new creation in Christ!
This is the miracle of baptism, a water miracle. It all began with the baptism of our Lord performed by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Then, too, it must have been an ordinary day with an ordinary preacher with an ordinary crowd, in an ordinary river, which was more like a creek than a river. In these ordinary circumstances the extraordinary occurred: the audible voice of God, the coming of the Spirit like a dove, the anointing of the Messiah, the beginning of a ministry that resulted in the salvation of humankind! All this and more - in the miracle of Jesus' baptism when he was 30 years old!
Does the average congregation realize that they witness a miracle when a person (child or adult) is baptized? No dove flies from the ceiling. No strange voice comes from above. Is a baptism considered by some only a prolongation of the worship service or a chance to show off the baby by carrying it up and down the aisles of the nave? Is it really a baptism, or just a dedication of a child? Does the baptizing minister realize he is a miracle-worker? Baptism was a miracle for Jesus and is still a miracle for the church today.
Acclimation
The Situation.
We are in a wilderness or a desert to hear an independent, fiery preacher call people to drop their sinful ways and repent. His personal appearance was in keeping with his fire and brimstone preaching: camel's hair garment with a leather belt around his waist. He went for natural foods: locusts and wild honey. He was a living protest against the luxury and culture of his day.
Multitudes from all over the country came to hear him preach. His popularity and powerful preaching made some ask if he could be the promised Messiah. He preached the Law of God, which convicted people of their sins. In token of their repentance he called upon them to be baptized in the Jordan River.
On a particular day when Jesus waited until all were baptized, he went forth to ask to be baptized. At first John objected to baptizing Jesus, probably because he felt unworthy to do so and because he felt Jesus did not need to repent of any sin. After all, John recognized Jesus as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." At length John was persuaded to baptize Jesus. They went into the water and Jesus was baptized. How much water and what method of applying the water was used, we do not know.
But we do know that while Jesus was praying, the Holy Spirit came upon him like a dove descending from heaven. Jesus heard God's voice: "You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you." It was a voice of acceptance and approval. Now Jesus was sure who he was and what his mission was. Now he knew the meaning of life. He found his reason for living. He faced a herculean task: the salvation of humanity.
The Setting
1. The Church Year. In the church year the first Sunday after Epiphany (January 6) is observed as the Baptism of our Lord Sunday. Since many churches do not observe the festival of the Epiphany because it usually falls on a weekday, the Baptism of our Lord is the first Sunday of the Epiphany season to be observed.
In the early church both the birth and baptism were observed on Epiphany Day. In 325 A.D. the western church moved the nativity to December 25. The visit of the wise men was observed on Epiphany. The eastern church, however, continued to observe Epiphany as a unitive festival, both the birth and baptism of Jesus. Since the church in the West remembered the magi on Epiphany, the baptism of Jesus was moved to the first Sunday after the Epiphany. Because the church in recent years has re-discovered the importance of baptism, many churches have begun to observe the first Sunday after Epiphany as the Baptism of our Lord Sunday. It is an extremely important event in the life and work of Jesus because his baptism marks the beginning of his ministry as the Messiah. It was his ordination experience.
2. Parallel Passages - (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:4-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:28-34). All four gospels tell us about Jesus' baptism. This indicates how important the event was to the apostolic church. Because Luke does not give all the details of the baptism, we need the other accounts to get the full story.
A. Objection. Only Matthew reports that John the Baptist objected to baptizing Jesus because he felt unworthy to do so.
B. Prayer. Luke only describes Jesus' baptism as a prayer experience (v. 21). The inference is that after the act of baptism, Jesus prayed. During the prayer, the heavens opened, the voice of God was heard, and the Spirit descended.
C. Voice. According to Mark and Luke, the baptism was a personal religious experience. The voice of God said, "Thou art my beloved Son; with Thee I am well pleased." In Matthew the voice spoke to the crowd: "This is my beloved Son (3:17)."
D. Dove. Matthew and Mark say that only Jesus was the Holy Spirit coming like a dove to him. John reports that John the Baptist saw the dove and thereby knew that Jesus was the Son of God. Luke indicates that the coming of the Spirit was objective, not a myth or an hallucination.
E. Unanimity. All four evangelists agree: (1) John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the River Jordan. (2) Water was used as a sign of washing away sins. (3) The heavens were opened. (4) The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus like a dove. (5) God's voice of acceptance and approval of Jesus was heard.
3. Related Passages - Matthew 28:19 - "Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Mark 10:38 - "Are you able ... to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"
Mark 16:16 - "He who believes and is baptized will be saved."
John 3:5 - "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
Acts 2:38 - "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Romans 6:4 - "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death."
Galatians 3:27 - "As many of you as were baptized in Christ have put on Christ."
Ephesians 4:5 - "One Lord, one faith, one baptism."
1 Peter 3:21 - "Baptism ... now saves you ..."
4. The Lectionary - Lesson 1 (Isaiah 61:1-4). The Spirit filled the Messiah to proclaim God's good news. There is a close relationship between this pericope and our Lord's baptism. Like a dove the Spirit came upon Jesus. It was his anointing as the Messiah. Jesus' first sermon in the synagogue at Nazareth was based on this text from Isaiah.
Lesson 2 (Acts 8:14-17). Samaritans received the Holy Spirit when Peter and John laid their hands upon them. As in the case of Jesus' baptism, the Spirit came upon the Samaritans. Though they were baptized, they did not receive the Holy Spirit until the laying on of hands. In today's baptisms, the minister usually lays his hands on the one baptized for the reception of the Spirit.
Gospel (Luke 3:15-17, 21-22) - John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. If we had only verses 21-22, the above statement could not have been made. Verses 15-17 give the setting for Jesus' baptism. Verses 18-20 are omitted in the pericope because they are irrelevant to the baptism.
Prayer of the Day - "Father in heaven, at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized into Christ faithful in their calling to be your children and inheritors with him of everlasting life."
Psalm of the Day (Psalm 45:7-9). "Therefore God, your God, has anointed you."
Hymn of the Day: "To Jordan came the Christ, our Lord." The hymn repeats the story of Jesus' baptism.
Explanation
You (v. 16) - "I baptize you with water." Who was included in "you?" "You" did not include the religious leaders of John the Baptist's day, the pharisees and scribes. Later Luke reports that they refused to be baptized by John (7:29). "You" included the Jews who came to hear John preach. To baptize Jews was not unusual, for baptism was the rite of entry from paganism to the Jewish religion. Male converts had to be circumcised. Pagan women and men also had to be baptized. The Jews who were called upon to be baptized by John were considered by John as pagans in need of repentance and of moral improvement. It would be the same as re-baptizing Christians!
Baptize (v. 16) - The Greek word baptizo means "to wash" or "to cleanse." For some it means immersion. To others it means pouring the water to cleanse. Churches are divided as to the mode of baptism: sprinkling, pouring and immersion. Some churches accept all three methods of applying the water because water is considered to be only the outward symbol of an inner spiritual experience. It is not the quality nor quantity of water that saves, but rather the grace of God received by faith.
Water (v. 15) - John the Baptist baptized with water, in contrast to Jesus' baptism of the Spirit. It was not special water, only common water that flowed in a river. The water from the Jordan was no holier than any other water. The water symbolized the cleansing a sinner needs to wash away sin. Hence, John's baptism was a baptism of repentance, a turning from wickedness to holy living.
Holy Spirit (v. 16) - John the Baptist promised that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. The promise was fulfilled on Pentecost. Water is earthly and material. The Spirit is spiritual and heavenly. The Holy Spirit is none other than God. The Holy Spirit is God within you. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. God the Father is above us; God the Son is beside us; God the Spirit is in us. Only Christ can baptize with the Spirit, because he is God who is Spirit. At his baptism, Jesus received the Spirit as the empowering agent to be the Messiah.
Fire (v. 16) - On Pentecost the Spirit came as cloven tongues of fire. Fire means life, light, energy and zeal. "Fire" may also mean judgment, for fire burns up and destroys. In verse 17 John describes the judgment Jesus will bring. Paul writes that the quality of a person's work will be revealed by fire (1 Corinthians 3:13).
Jesus (v. 21) - Of all people, why would Jesus have asked for baptism? Matthew points out that John at first refused to baptize him, for he felt that Jesus ought to baptize him instead. When Jesus insisted, John baptized him in the Jordan. Since Jesus was sinless and therefore did not need the baptism of repentance, why did Jesus insist upon it? Jesus explained that it was appropriate for him "to fulfill all righteouness." By being baptized, Jesus identified with sinful humanity, for, as Paul says, he became sin for us. Moreover, he set an example for us, not only in his day but for all time. His last command was for us to baptize. He was the first "Christian" to be baptized, and since that time every Christian has been baptized. If Jesus had asked to be baptized, who are we not to seek baptism if we repent and believe? This does not mean that a believer who has had no opportunity to be baptized is lost, but to reject baptism is to be lost, because it proves a lack of faith in terms of obedience.
Praying (v. 21) - Luke alone describes Jesus' baptism as a prayer experience. This means that his baptism was a personal religious experience. Prayer is communion with God, a conversation. In prayer, God and a person speak to each other. During his prayer, the heavens opened. That is, God the Father revealed himself, spoke to Jesus, and blessed him with himself, the Spirit. This experience indicates that prayer is more than petition, for Jesus did not ask his Father for anything. It was pure fellowship and oneness.
Dove (v. 22) - The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove. The Spirit descended from the Father above and came in "bodily form." This emphasizes that the coming of the Spirit was not an hallucination, a dream or a fantasy. The Spirit is real. He is both subjective and objective. Like the landing of a dove, the Spirit came calmly, quietly and peacefully. There was no roar or convulsions or rolling on the ground or foaming at the mouth as some do when they claim the reception of the Spirit. The Spirit of God came to anoint Jesus as the Messiah and to give him the power to fulfill his God-given mission.
Voice (v. 22) - The voice of God was heard by Jesus only, according to Luke. The voice said, "Thou" and "with Thee," addressed to Jesus. This was one of the three times when the voice of God was heard. The other times were at the transfiguration (Luke 9:35) and John 12:28 - "I have glorified it and will glorify it again." The content of the voice is a composite quotation from Psalm 2:7 and Isaiah 42:1. God's voice at the baptism assured Jesus who he was - "beloved Son." As "Son," he was the Christ, the promised Messiah who was to bring the world back to God. This is not to say that at this time Jesus became the Son of God. He always was, even before he came to earth, and through the conception by the Holy Spirit, he was God's Son from infancy. This word from God gave Jesus an assurance that as God's Son he was approved. God the Father was pleased with the life and work of his Son. Now, Jesus knew who he was and why he was on earth. His baptism launched the ministry that ended on a cross. He came to die that humankind might life.
Application
Relevance of Revelation. The relevance of baptism in our day is demonstrated by people's questions, which are often controversial:
1. If Jesus was sinless, why did he want to be baptized?
2. If an infant is too young to respond to baptism, why do most churches baptize babies?
3. Is there only one correct way of applying water in baptism?
4. If a person is baptized when an infant and later does not make a personal confession of Christ as Lord and Savior at the time of confirmation, is that person still a child of God?
5. Is baptism a private or public service?
6. May a lay Christian ever baptize a person?
7. Is there anything wrong in being baptized more than once?
8. Is there a difference between water baptism and spirit baptism?
9. Can baptism result in a false spiritual security of once saved, always saved, regardless of holy living?
10. Is baptism necessary for salvation?
11. Does one's baptism need to be repeatedly re-affirmed?
12. Is the water from the Jordan River any more appropriate for baptism than any other source of water?
13. What are the responsibilities of the sponsors (godparents) in infant baptism?
14. Is anyone qualified to be a sponsor (godparent) in infant baptism?
Sermon Suggestions
1. Your Questions about Baptism. A sermon or series of sermons could be built on one or more of the above 14 questions under the heading, "Relevance of Revelation."
2. The Miracle of Meaning. The subject of baptism lends itself to doctrinal sermons. A sermon or series of sermons could be built on any one or more of the following "meanings" of baptism.
A. Baptism is a sacrament. As such it is a means of grace. This makes baptism a miracle of grace. In and through baptism God's grace comes personally, concretely and individually to the person baptized.
B. Baptism is the seal of the sacrament. The water of baptism acts as a signature or seal that makes the sacrament a reality. It makes the divine-human relationship official and binding.
C. Baptism is a covenant. A covenant is an agreement or contract made between God and the person baptized. The covenant is based upon promises made by God and the individual. This baptismal covenant is a part of the new covenant brought to us by Christ through his atoning sacrifice on Calvary.
4. Baptism is a rebirth. As the Holy Spirit came to Jesus at his baptism, he also comes to the person baptized. The Spirit creates a new person as that person is born anew of the Spirit. In baptism, a person dies with Christ to his old self and rises with Christ to newness of life.
5. Baptism is initiation. Baptism is the entrance into the kingdom of God. It is an induction into Christ, an engraftment into Christ, the Vine. By baptism, a person enters and becomes a member of the body of Christ, the church. To be in Christ through baptism is to be in the church.
6. Baptism is an adoption. By nature we are creatures of God. Jesus taught that we need to be born spiritually as children of God. If God is our Father, we are his children. But we are his children, not by physical, but my spiritual birth. By his grace, we are adopted as his children.
7. Baptism is an ordination. Adults may be ordained by the church to preach the word and administer the sacraments. At baptism every person is ordained to serve Christ according to one's calling. Because of this, every Christian is a "minister." Baptism is a call to serve God through the ministry of reconciliation.
8. Baptism is a confession. Baptism is based not only on God's Word, but on a human's confession of sin and faith. This calls for repentance and belief in Christ as redeemer. Baptism places a person under the lordship of Christ. Baptism, therefore, is not a once-in-a-lifetime affair, but is a continual experience throughout life of re-affirming one's baptism by the renewal of one's baptismal promises. This renewal may take place in the reception of the sacrament of the altar.
Sermon Structures
1. The Miracle of a Baptismal Experience (3:21-22). In baptism a candidate has a miraculous experience. In the text we see the nature of that experience:
A. Public experience - "Now when all the people were baptized" - v. 21
B. Private experience - "Thou art ..." v. 22
C. Prayer experience - "And was praying" - v. 22
D. Present experience - "Thou art ..." v. 22
2. The Miracle of the Spirit's Coming (3 :21-22). The three lessons in the lectionary for this Sunday deal with the Spirit. At Jesus' baptism, as at ours, the Holy Spirit came to him. This sermon deals with how the Spirit comes to us today.
A. Prayer - Jesus "was praying" - v. 21
B. Dove - v. 22 (The Spirit is real and objective.)
C. Voice - v. 22 (The Spirit comes one with the Word of God.)
D. Baptism - v. 21 (See Acts 2:38)
It Takes Three to Make a Miracle (3 :21-22; Matthew 28:19). It is not likely that John the Baptist used the baptismal formula ("In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit") when he baptized Jesus. In the Great Commission Jesus commanded the church to baptize in the name of the Trinity.
A. God the Father's voice - v. 22
B. God the Son's prayer - v. 21
C. God the Spirit's descent - v. 22
4. A Miracle of Grace (3 :21-22). Baptism as a sacrament is a means of grace. Baptism is more than a sign that a relationship with God has taken place. In the very act of baptism grace is received. Just what is this grace?
A. The grace of regeneration - being born of the Spirit - v. 22
B. The grace of acceptance - "Thou art my beloved Son" - v. 22.
C. The grace of approval - "With whom I am well pleased" - v. 22
D. The grace of empowerment - "The Holy Spirit descended" - v. 22
5. From Ordinary to Extraordinary (3:21-22). A baptismal service on the surface is an ordinary event. There are ordinary people, ordinary baptismal candidates, ordinary ministers and ordinary vessels. God performs a miracle by turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.
A. Water - seals the covenant - vv. 16, 21
B. Dove - the gift of the Spirit - v. 22
C. Voice - acceptance as a child of God - v. 22
6. The Miracle of Baptismal Prayer (3:21-22). According to Luke, Jesus' baptism was a prayer experience. While he was praying he heard the voice of God, saw the dove and received the Spirit. For a renewed baptismal experience, we need to pray.
A. Through prayer we ask for the Spirit - v. 22
B. Through prayer we see the heavens open - v. 21
C. Through prayer we hear the voice of God - v. 22
D. Through prayer we receive the Spirit - v. 22.
Illustration
Are You Worth It? In baptism God adopts the sinner into his kingdom and makes the sinner a member of his family. This person can be the worst possible sinner who repents. Is such a person worth it? On the front cover of Time magazine in August, 1989, was a picture of Diane Sawyer with the caption, "Is she worth it?" At age 43 she is "the hottest woman in TV." The ABC network hired her away from CBS For $1,600,000 per year. She became a co-anchor with Sam Donaldson on a new show, "Prime Time Live." Is a newscaster worth one-and-a-half million dollars each year? Is the price paid on the cross worth the saving of a sinner's soul?
A Second Baptism? An active couple were baptized as infants. When they were "born again," they asked their pastor to baptize them again by immersion. They asked their pastor, "Will you baptize us?" Would you?
Baptism or Dedication? A pastor visited one of his families who recently had a new baby. He came to discuss the possibility of baptizing the infant. They said they did not want the little one baptized, but dedicated to the Lord. The dedication was held at a morning worship service. After the service a member of the congregation asked the pastor, "Why didn't you use water when you baptized the baby?"
Holy Spirit - Coming or Going? When the new Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta was built, I was assigned the task of working out the iconography. When everything was in place, I was asked to check out the symbolism before the bills were paid. I could find only one mistake. In the baptismal font cover, there were symbols of the Father, Son and Spirit. However, the dove for the Spirit was ascending rather than descending. The truth is that the Spirit can leave us as well as come to us.
Unbaptized Babies. It is reported that before Haiti's ousted president and his wife left for France, they arranged for a voodoo blood sacrifice in the palace. The voodoo priest paid $400 to a hospital nursery for babies. Then the voodoo priest conducted the ritual murders of unbaptized babies. It was explained that the reason for using unbaptized babies was that so long as they were not baptized, God would not mind!
Barth on Baptism. "Baptism confers on a man the seal of belonging to the church, for his life begins not with his birth but with his baptism. To be baptized means that a relationship between the revelation and the man has been established and is made actual in a specific situation." (Quoted by Lischer in Theories of Preaching, p. 343.)
Approval. At his baptism God assured Jesus of his approval: "in whom I am well pleased." Some have a fear of not being approved. A pastor once called on a family which had not been to church for a long time. He asked them why they had stopped coming. The lady explained, "If you really knew us, Pastor, I don't know how you could love us."
No Repentance. In May, 1989, a group of six teenagers, ages 14-17, raped and brutally beat a 28-year-old girl who was jogging in Central Park, New York City. She was left for dead. Upon their arrest the youth joked, rapped and sang. Why did you beat her head with a lead pipe? Because "It was fun." They were bored and wanted something to do.
Repent! A local bus company was under fire for the lack of passengers. One lady walked to work because she wanted the exercise. One morning the almost empty bus which passed her every morning stopped while she walked, the bus door opened, and the driver called out, "Repent! Repent!"
