Today’s Scripture:

Psalm 45:7-9    Isaiah 42:1-7    Acts 10:34-38  Matthew 3:13-17

 

            In these last two weeks we have been reminded again of the power of water.  The magnitude of the tsunamis in south Asia is beyond comprehension.  The snowfall of this week brought local traffic patterns to a severe slow-down.  A dry seed, when soaked, sprouts through a tough outer shell and becomes a viable plant from simple bean sprouts to magnificent oak and sequoia trees. 

 

            Water cleanses all things and can even purify itself as it tumbles and aerates as it goes down stream, as it evaporates and returns as pure rain.   One thing that water in its natural state cannot cleanse is the human soul, your sinful nature and your sinfulness and all of your sins.  And that is what today is all about, water and the unspeakable, your sins.

 

            Jesus came to John to be baptized.  John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance for those who were sorrowful for their sins.  That baptism was a humbling thing.  You had to say, “I have sinned and I have sinned grievously,” for this baptism.  Now who wants to stand up and openly blurt out all of your sins here?  In this world, we do not.

 

            John knows who Jesus is.  John has proclaimed that Jesus is the one whose “sandals I am unworthy to untie.”  John has announced that Jesus is the one “who comes after me is greater than I.”  But John also states that Jesus is “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  John knows that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, even months before his birth as we read the account when Mary visits Elizabeth.  So John rightfully asks Jesus, “What are you doing here?  I should not be baptizing you.

 

            And Jesus’ response is, “It is proper.”  This is the right thing to do.  Jesus is now beginning to demonstrate to the world what he is all about.  Jesus has no sin to confess.  Why should he undergo a baptism of repentance?  Jesus is repenting for all sins of all people of all times.  When Jesus humbled himself to take on his shoulders each and every one of your sins for you, God spoke, “This is my son whom I love, with him I am well pleased.” 

 

            Two weeks ago, when we celebrated Jesus’ birth, we heard the message God sent through angels (that we sang a few moments ago in the hymn of praise), “Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people…”  Now, when Jesus takes the next step, taking your sins on his own shoulders, God himself speaks.  The appearance of the Holy Spirit tells us that all of God’s gifts that he gives through the Spirit are now bestowed on Jesus to give to all in return for his taking your sins on him.  That in itself seems backward in this world.  We go to great lengths and great expense to pay someone to get us off of the hook.  Instead, God gives you gifts when he foots all of the blame and hangs on the hook for you.

 

            At the beginning of his teaching and preaching ministry, Jesus starts by taking your sins on him.  He repents, he makes the perfect and complete repentance for all of your sins at the Jordan River that day.  That is something you and I cannot do as our sins are so greatly disguised, covered over, or conveniently put out of memory.  Jesus comes forth, in your place, and takes those sins, even now three years before he wears them on the cross. 

 

            Three years later as he is physically is departing from this earth, he commands commands to baptize his baptism.  When those waters are applied to you by the power of Jesus’ simple command, those waters become the most powerful waters the world has ever known.  Those waters remove every sin from your record not just at that moment, but throughout your earthly life.  Those waters pour out on you nothing less than the Holy Spirit who makes you clean, holy again as God first made you in his image. 

 

            As a baptized infant you grow up knowing that God’s forgiveness in Christ is for you.  If baptized later in life, you know that very moment you are changed by God’s most miraculous powers.  Jesus takes your sins so that in return you will receive his righteousness.  Baptized in faith in Jesus, God adopts you as his dear child, a sibling and co-heir of his glory with Jesus. 

 

            Paul writes that you are now clothed with Christ.  [Galatians 3:27]  Look at the clothes you have on now.  As good as they are, you can still find spots, lint, crumbs, strands of hair, stains, wrinkles, etc.  Yet, when washed in the waters Christ commands, you are clothed in the radiance of heaven, “…without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”  [Eph. 5:27]

 

            We are always looking for approval.  It is evident as we succumb to advertising, lean on the next opinion poll, strive for an excellent job performance or prepare our properties in hopes of the neighbors’ approval.  We get frustrated because all of this is subjective judgment, and the standards keep changing. 

 

            But call up God and say, “Hey, how am I doing?”   He gives you his commands as the standard for your actions, your words, and your most hidden thoughts, what you have done and what you have left undone. How have you been doing? 

 

            Note that Jesus does not ask for a poll today at the banks of the Jordan River.  He does not even ask for John’s opinion.  He merely states that this is what is to be done.  Jesus knows how you have been doing.  Jesus knows he alone can save you, and he does.

 

 

            On your behalf, Jesus is:

• All goodness and righteousness
• God from eternity to eternity
• Present in the bread and wine
• For all people
• The Lamb of God, the complete sacrifice that pays for all sins
• For you

 

            One your behalf, Jesus:

• Lives for you
• Dies for you
• Rises from the dead for you
• Ascends into heaven for you
• Prepares a place in his father’s house for you
• Will come again to take you to be where he is.

 

            What does this mean for your life?

• Your baptism is valid, it does what God says it does, washes away your sins
• You are now God’s child, born again of water and spirit
• Your desire now is to follow God’s commands and not your Old Adam, your original sinful nature
• Jesus, your brother, fulfilled on your behalf what you cannot do on your own.
• As Jesus’ brother, you are to bring others to know the same joys you have in him.

 

            How do you do this?

• Living a Christian lifestyle – witnessing God’s love and commands and goodness in your day-to-day living
• Avoiding sinful lusts and temptations
• Doing good to others as Christ has already done to you
• Generous with your gifts to promote his kingdom
• Acts of service that promote his kingdom
• Prayer
• Regular worship
• Bible study and fellowship with other Christians

 

            All of this is because you have something that no one but God can give, and God can give only in Jesus Christ, his son, our Lord and Savior.  You have all of God, the gifts of creation, the gifts of salvation, and the gift being made holy, like him again in the waters of your baptism.  You have the record in Scripture and the promises of God, promises rooted in Christ, who takes your confession, makes it perfect as only he can, and gives you his righteousness in return.  You have a Savior who completely satisfies what is needed for your eternal life in heaven, and as fulfilled all things perfectly on your behalf as God declared, “…in whom I am well pleased.”  Amen.