1. Jesus enters his public ministry

It is pretty hard to follow behind something great. Sequels usually don’t measure up to the originals. Sure there have been some, but more often than not, it is just not the same. Do you remember when Coca-cola came out with New Coke? It was not nearly as good as the original. The movie “Rocky” was great. However, by the time that Rocky V was over, the magic was gone.

Today in God’s Word we sort of have a sequel. But I don’t want you to think of it like New Coke or Rocky V. It is just as good as the original. We just celebrated an incredible event – the birth of God’s Son. This event was filled joy and mystery. It brought peace to our hearts and comfort to the nations. How would God ever follow up Christmas?

Jesus’ baptism, that’s how. This too was an incredible event – full of God’s awesome splendor and love. As we examine this sequel to Christmas, Jesus baptism will give us the same amazing peace and comfort in our lives. It is a sequel that matches the original.

In this Gospel lesson, Jesus was embarking on the last leg of his journey. The journey began in Bethlehem, in a stable. It continued to Egypt, where Joseph and Mary hid the Christ child from King Herod. From Egypt the journey went to Nazareth, where Jesus grew up in the family of the carpenter. During this part of his journey, Jesus was fulfilling His Father’s will. He lived without sin the entire time. Now the Last leg of this journey would come.

The Scripture lesson begins with the word “then.” This little word can be easily overlooked in the reading, but it is loaded with meaning. It is a time word that is saying, now that this first part is over, it is time for something else to happen. What would happen now? Jesus would enter his public ministry.

Jesus was beginning the preordained work that would lead him to the cross and eventually out of the tomb. It was not as if He did nothing before this time for our salvation. As I said before, he was obeying His Father’s will perfectly because we could not. Now he was actively going forward to start his public ministry.

Jesus came to John the Baptist for one purpose that day – to be baptized. He made the trip from Galilee south to Judea. Mary and Joseph had made that trip about thirty years before so that the Son of God might enter the world in Bethlehem. Jesus now made the trip to enter his public ministry with his baptism.

Why though did the Son of God have to be baptized? Many people have asked that question. John the Baptist was the first. He said, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” As John protested to Jesus he was making his confession. He was a sinner and needed Christ’s forgiveness. Jesus was perfect and did not need to repent and receive baptism for his forgiveness.

John was shocked that this was happening. He had proclaimed that the one who would come after him would be more important than him. John had told the people that he would not even be worthy to tie the sandals of the Christ. So why was Jesus asking John to baptize him?

This was part of God’s plan. At that moment Jesus was to be baptized by John. It was the anointing of the Christ. Peter revealed this in the second lesson today from the book of Acts. God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power and then Jesus carried on His public ministry, the last leg of his journey. The Christ was being sent forth to fulfill our righteousness.

2. Jesus states his intent to complete salvation

When John was shocked at the Savior’s desire to be baptized by him, Jesus spoke. He stated his intent to complete salvation. Christ was already working out our salvation with his birth and life up to this point. Now he was expressing his resolve to complete the mission.

Jesus told John, “Let it be so now.” Now was when God wanted this happen. Jesus and John were there. It was time.

Jesus said it was proper for him and John to do this. What an amazing event! Christ Jesus was going to stand besides mankind, as one of its own, in the Jordan River. He chose to do this willingly. The sinless Son of God became one of us for us.

And boy did we need it. Christ’s mission was for us. We, all human beings, are sinners. Not one of us has kept the will of God perfectly. The guilt is ours and we deserve it for all the sins we commit against God and one another. We were lost and condemned creatures with the punishment of hell looming over us like pitch black cloud that takes away any ray of hope. It is terrible just to think about it.

Christ Jesus was resolute though. He stated his intent to save us. He said, “It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” This was part of the journey. We don’t always understand God’s plan. But it is enough for us to thank God and believe him.

Jesus chose to put himself with mankind. He then lived perfectly as a man as our substitute. This was not the end though. The Gospel lesson tells us that he intended to fulfill all righteousness. The word “all” includes the sacrifice that God demanded. Jesus death on the cross was part of this last leg of the journey. On Jesus’ cross the sins of all mankind would be upon him. That is why John the Baptist had announced, “Behold the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” How awesome is our savior who gave up everything so that our guilt would be removed from us. Through that perfect sacrifice, we have been set free.

That journey which Jesus was on would be completed with the empty tomb. All righteous would be fulfilled when Christ rose from the dead. We were not right with God because of sin. Christ made us right again by his mission of righteousness. He completed the journey. Through faith in him, we have eternal life in heaven.

3. Jesus receives God’s blessings on his plans

The spectacular nature of this sequel could easily be missed. But I don’t want it to escape anyone here. Christ Jesus placed himself on the same level with man at his baptism, not because he was sinless, but because he was following the plan laid out for him by the Father. At one moment his humanity was obvious, but then something just as amazing took place.

Jesus left the water and heaven opened. It wasn’t just a bright light or ray of sunshine. Heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove. Then a voice from heaven spoke. There is no better place in the Bible to witness the Trinity. God the Father was speaking in a voice from heaven. The Son was standing on the banks of the Jordan River. The Holy Spirit descended on the Son of God. The magnificent Trinity had appeared.

Just previous to this Christ’s humanity was clear as he was in the Jordan. Then the sequel immediately revealed his divine nature. Jesus, true God and true man, standing at the Jordan, present with Father and Holy Spirit. This was absolutely amazing just like Christmas was to those who witnessed and pondered the events.

During Holy Week, the chief priests asked Jesus who gave him this authority. Jesus made reference to John’s baptism. Would this strike a chord with those haughty priests? Would they remember the voice of the Father at Jesus’ baptism? Another time the Pharisees wanted to know where Jesus authority came from. Jesus replied very clearly that it was from the Father.

Jesus received God’s blessing on his plans. The voice from heaven said, “This is my Son.” God the Father was giving authority to Jesus. This was important as Christ would enter his public ministry.

The Father continued, “This is my Son, whom I love.” The word here expresses the absolute highest form of love. That is what makes this so amazing. God the Father loved His Son very dearly and yet he loved us also. So he sent the Son, whom he loved, on this journey to redeem us. This journey would lead him to the desert to be tempted by the devil, and would put Jesus at the end of a Roman whip, and under a crown of thorns, and that journey would ultimately place the Son of God on the cross.

The Father would bless this journey of Christ. He said, “With him I am well-pleased.” The world was to know that Jesus had divine authority to complete His saving work.

Jesus’ journey began in a manger in Bethlehem. The sequel to the miraculous Christmas events was Jesus’ Baptism in the Jordan River. God the Father was then authorizing the last leg of Jesus’ journey. The Holy Spirit would strengthen him along the way. It would take three years to finish, but the miracles of love and deeds of redemption would be just as amazing.

Take comfort in Jesus’ baptism. It was done for you as was his entire life, his death, and his resurrection. All of it was for you, and me, and the world. Take comfort. Your sins are forgiven. Jesus finished the journey. AMEN.