“Jesus’ Baptism Fulfilled All Righteousness for All Sinners”
In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.
[Amen.]
Dear fellow righteous baptized sinners, grace, mercy, and peace
from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. [Amen.]
“The Savior came to be baptized—
The Son of God in flesh disguised—
To stand beneath the Father’s will
And all His righteousness fulfill.”
(Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO.
405:2)
Gospel
Reading........................................................................................
St. Matthew 3:15
But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to
fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.
Prologue: The rite of Holy Baptism in our Lutheran Service Book
hymnal has this significant item after the person has been baptized: “The
pastor may place a white garment on the newly baptized while saying: Receive
this white garment to show that you have been clothed with the robe of
Christ’s righteousness that covers all your sin. So shall you stand without
fear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the inheritance prepared
for you from the foundation of the world.” (Lutheran Service Book. Page
271.)
Hmmm. Now that’s very interesting. Although Pastor Marks and I
change the wording a bit to accommodate the fact that the baptized person is
already wearing a white garment, the visual symbolism is, nevertheless,
alive and well. You see, it’s simply connecting that baptism with the
baptism of our Savior. In so doing, it’s reminding us of the supremely
important fact that …
“Jesus’ Baptism Fulfilled All Righteousness for All Sinners.”
At the same time, it’s telling us that Holy Baptism is not something we’re
doing for or to God. Rather, it’s all about God doing something for and to
us.
With that absolute truth in mind, let’s review what Holy Baptism
is all about. Please turn to page 325 where you will find the catechetical
instruction about Holy Baptism “as the head of the family should teach it in
a simple way to his household.” Page 325. Please read together the answers
to the questions after I have asked them.
“First: What is Baptism? Baptism is not just plain water, but it is
the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s Word.
“Which is that word of God? Christ our Lord says in the last chapter
of Matthew: ‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’ Matthew
28:19
“Second: What benefits does Baptism give? It works forgiveness of
sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all
who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.
“Which are these words and promises of God? Christ our Lord says in
the last chapter of Mark: ‘Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,
but whoever does not believe will be condemned.’ Mark 16:16
“Third: How can water do such great things? Certainly not just water,
but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the
faith which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God’s word
the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a
Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the
new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three: ‘He
saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom
He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that,
having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of
eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying.’ Titus 3:5-8
“Fourth: What does such baptizing with water indicate? It indicates
that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned
and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily
emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
“Where is this written? St. Paul writes in Romans, chapter six: ‘We
were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that,
just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we
too may live a new life.’ Romans 6:4” (Lutheran Service Book. Prepared by
The Commission on Worship of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Copyright
© 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO. Page 325.)
Today’s Collect certainly provides an appropriate prayer of
response to reflection on our baptism: “Father in heaven, at the Baptism of
Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed
Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in
their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life.”
Now returning to today’s sermon text out of Holy Scripture we’re
immediately confronted with …
I. The Paradox of Reversed Roles. (13-14)
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
14John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and
do you come to me?”
Confrontations are nothing new or strange to us. We’re frequently
involved in confrontations about many different things with many different
people … spouse, child, parent, sibling, classmate, workmate, fellow
congregational member, teacher, pastor, and the like. Confrontations are
sometimes over minor and even meaningless things and other times over major
and most meaningful things.
Here’s a confrontation that appears minor or even meaningless at
first but turns out to be one that’s not only major but also most
meaningful. The Holy Spirit led Jesus to his cousin John, who was preaching
repentance for the forgiveness of sins accompanied by baptism. Jesus, who
was, is, and forever will be the sinless Son of God, presented Himself to
His cousin John the Baptizer (the New Testament “Elijah” about whom we heard
during Advent was the forerunner of the Messiah) to be baptized by him.
That indicated that He recognized about Himself that He was sinfully unclean
and needed the righteous cleansing that John’s baptism offered.
Cousin John, on the other hand, was fully aware that the exact
opposite was true. In reality, he himself was the sinful one who needed to
be baptized by his cousin Jesus, who was sinlessly holy. What he initially
failed to recognize (as do many people today) was that Jesus was the divine
substitute sent by His heavenly Father to stand in the place of all sinners
as their—our—atoning sacrifice. As such, Jesus presented Himself to His
Cousin John to be baptized by him as the second explicit indication of His
divine role as the substitutionary Lamb of God. Saint Paul stated that
truth this way: “For our sake he [God] made him [Jesus] to be sin who know
no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor
5:21 ESV) He was the One who would and indeed did take on and take away all
the sins of all sinners of all time, the first indication of such having
been His circumcision a mere eight days after His virgin birth, 30 years
prior to this encounter.
Having gained a divinely-inspired awareness of why Jesus sought to
be baptized by him, Cousin John agreed to do it … and he did it!
Immediately afterward the presence of all three persons of the Holy Trinity
was epiphanied, that is, revealed, made known, manifested. The Son was the
One having been baptized, the Holy Spirit was “descending like a dove and
came to rest on [Jesus]” (St Matt 3:16 ESV) and the Father’s attendance was
made known by …
II. A Forthright Declaration of Divine Favoritism. (16-17)
16And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and
behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17and behold, a voice from
heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
“Like father, like son” and “like mother, like daughter” are
phrases that communicate similarity between parents and their children. But
what was heard at Jesus’ baptism communicated far more than mere similarity
between Jesus and the Father. The relationship between the Father and Jesus
is one of divine essence as indicated at the beginning of the Letter to the
Hebrews: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers
by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son. He
is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature … .”
(Heb 1:1-3a ESV) Jesus Himself testified to that unity of the Father and
Himself when He declared: “I and the Father are one.” (St John 10:30 ESV)
In fact, today’s Old Testament Reading gave a prophetic indication of that
relationship: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul
delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the
nations. Thus says God, the Lord: ‘I am the Lord; I have called you in
righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as
a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that
are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison
those who sit in darkness.” (Isaiah 42:1, 5a, 6-7 ESV)
But just what was this divine favoritism that the Father
pronounced on Jesus? It was none other than confirmation of His call and
mission. (Donald Guthrie in Jesus the Messiah. Copyright © 1972 The
Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, MI. Page 41.) That is, “Christ was
anointed [at His baptism] to be our Prophet, Priest, and King. A. As
Prophet, Christ 1. preached personally during His life on earth, validating
His word with miracles, especially His own resurrection; [and] 2. through
the preached Gospel today still proclaims Himself to be the Son of God and
Redeemer of the world. B. As Priest, Christ 1. fulfilled the Law perfectly
in our stead (active obedience); 2. sacrificed Himself for our sins (passive
obedience); [and] 3. still pleads for us with His heavenly Father
(intercession). C. As King, Christ 1. rules with His almighty power over
all creation (the kingdom of power—all creatures); 2. governs and protects
especially His church (the kingdom of grace—the church on earth); [and] 3.
finally leads His church to glory in heaven (the kingdom of glory—the church
in heaven).” (Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation. Copyright © 1986,
1991 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO. Pages 127-130.)
What Jesus did for us that initiated by His circumcision and
baptism and was accomplished by Him with His Holy life, innocent suffering,
and crucifixion death, all of which was validated by His majestic
resurrection from the dead and ascension back to His heavenly throne. What
He gained for us poor miserable sinners who deserve God’s temporal wrath and
eternal punishment in the fiery pits of hell was forgiveness of all our
sins, healing of our sin-sick souls, and eternal life with Himself in
heaven. Today He communicates those comforting blessings to us through the
reading and hearing of His Holy Word, the Blessed Sacrament of Holy Baptism,
the declaration of Holy Absolution, and the Blessed Sacrament of Holy
Communion. In response today’s Epistle Reading reminded us: “[God] is the
source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our
righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is
written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” (1 Cor 1:30-31 ESV)
The Higher Things Daily Reflections devotion on January 11, 2015
stated: “The Baptism of Jesus is a mirror image of your Baptism. In [your]
Baptism, your sins [were] washed away. In Jesus’ Baptism, He [took] your
sins and [made] them His own. In your Baptism, the Holy Spirit descend[ed]
upon you to mark you as one saved by what Jesus has done in His death and
resurrection. At Jesus’ Baptism, the Spirit descend[ed] to show that He is
the Lamb of God who does the taking away of the sins. In your Baptism, the
Father declare[d] you are His beloved son and a part of His family. At His
Baptism, the Father declare[d] that Jesus is His beloved Son because He
[would] obey the Father and go and die for sinners.” That’s the summary
meaning of today’s sermon title, namely, that …
“Jesus’ Baptism Fulfilled All Righteousness for All Sinners.”
So, let’s daily joyfully and thankfully respond with today’s
Gradual, “Blessèd be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous
things. Blessèd be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled
with his glory! Amen and Amen!” (Ps 72:18-19 ESV) At the same time let’s
ponder that merciful and gracious truth, ever remembering the significance
of …
I. The Paradox of Reversed Roles. (13-14)
as well as the marvelous meaning and personal application of …
II. A Forthright Declaration of Divine Favoritism. (16-17) After all,
that divine favoritism was prophetically indicated in today’s Introit
regarding King David: “He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and
the Rock of my salvation.’ And I will make him the firstborn, the highest
of the kings of the earth. My steadfast love I will keep for him forever,
and my covenant will stand firm for him.” (Ps 89:26-28 ESV)
God grant it all for the sake of Jesus Christ, His humble Son, our
holy Savior. [Amen.]
In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.
[Amen.]
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