Jesus’ Baptism

Text: ESV Mark 1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Goal: That we more fully understand our Baptism into Jesus Christ.

ESV 1 Timothy 1:2 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

“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” (Luther’s Small Catechism – The Sacrament of Holy Baptism). When Jesus performed miracles He usually took something common and made it, or changed it into something extraordinary. He took ordinary water and changed it into extraordinary wine. He took a small amount of food and used it to feed an extraordinary number of people. He found everyday sick people and made them extraordinarily well. Jesus continues to perform miracles. He takes ordinary, sinful people and makes them into extraordinary children of God. Through plain water, included in God’s command and combined with God’s word, a sinful person is washed completely clean. Through this extraordinary miracle they receive the Holy Spirit, forgiveness, life, and eternal salvation. “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]” (Small Catechism). Matthew 28:19 is the place where Jesus commands and it’s the place where He provides. He commands His disciples . . . He commands us to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them” . . . and here’s where He provides . . . “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus isn’t concerned about how much water to use. He doesn’t bind Baptism with legalism and laws. He simply commands us to baptize in the name of the Triune God . . . the only God who can rescue us from sin, death, and the devil.

“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” (Small Catechism). What’s in it for me? That’s a question that gets asked a lot in our world today. What’s in it for me? Baptism gives you forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness of Sin that you inherited from your parents. Forgiveness of sins that you did in the past. Forgiveness of sins that you commit every day. Forgiveness of sins that, unfortunately, you will do in the future. Baptism rescues from death and the devil. Some say that death is a natural part of life, but it’s not. You weren’t created to die. Some say that everyone gives in to the devil’s temptations, so it’s ok, but it’s not. You weren’t created to follow the devil. Baptism rescues you from both death and the devil. Baptism also gives you eternal salvation. It’s a package deal and it comes to you at no cost . . . someone has already paid the bill.

“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]” (Small Catechism). It’s all or nothing. Baptism and faith. Faith and Baptism. They’re two sides of the same coin. You can’t have half of a quarter. If you have a quarter and one side is complete, but the other side is blank, you have nothing. It’s not worth twelve and a half cents, it’s worth nothing. Baptism creates faith and faith demands Baptism.

“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]” (Small Catechism). Baptism is God’s work and not ours. He’s provided the water. It’s everywhere. Baptism is God’s work and not ours. He’s provided His Word. The person performing the Baptism isn’t what makes the Baptism valid. The person receiving the Baptism isn’t what makes the Baptism valid. Water, with the word of God is a Baptism, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit. We are saved through this washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

“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” (Small Catechism). Physical birth is a messy ordeal. I’ll never forget the shock of watching my first child come into the world. He didn’t come out nice and clean and ready to be presented to the world. He came out looking . . . well honestly he came out looking like a mess. And just so that his brother and sister don’t feel left out, they came out looking like a mess as well. Every child enters the world needing a bath, needing to be cleaned. So they’re cleaned and washed and presented to the parents as cute, cuddly, clean babies. But clean doesn’t last for very long. Babies are disgusting. They require an incredible amount of maintenance and upkeep. Terrible things come out of both ends. Moms and dads spend hours each day attempting to maintain somewhat clean babies, but dirty is always only a few seconds away.

Babies give us a picture of our life as Baptized believers. We entered the world in critical need of a washing that God has called Baptism. We were disgusting and messy and God cleaned us and presented us to the world, as His wonderful children. But as we go through each day of our lives, dirty is always only a few seconds away. That’s where daily contrition and repentance comes into the picture. We are sorry for our sins and resolve to turn away from them. God cleans us up and sends us on our way. This cycle repeats itself over and over as we look forward to living for eternity in a place where the dirt of sin doesn’t even exist.

“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.’ [Rom. 6:4]” (Small Catechism). Mark 1:9 tells us, “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.” But Jesus Himself didn’t need a baptismal cleaning. He didn’t have any sins to wash away. He was born without the disgusting mess of Sin and He never committed a sin. He was perfect and yet He was baptized. Why? Jesus was baptized for you. He was baptized so that you and I could be baptized. Through the miracle of Baptism, through something ordinary God does the extraordinary. “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:5-11)

ESV Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.