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INJ
Why Was Jesus Baptized?
St Mark 1:4-11
1st Sunday after Epiphany
January 8th, 2006
Hope Lutheran Church, Aurora, CO
Dear Saints,
It has become the custom in the church in these last days to hear, on the first Sunday after Epiphany, the text concerning the baptism of our Lord. So we heard today's Gospel reading from St Mark. The Evangelist, characteristically short and succinct, covers the whole blessed event in three verses.
“It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, 'You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'” [St Mark 1:9-11]
We want to ask, this morning, two questions: 1. What is baptism? And 2. Why was Jesus baptized?
First, what is baptism? We ask in this in the catechism:
What is baptism? Answer: Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God's command and combined with God's word.
What benefit does Baptism give? Answer: 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.
In these answers Dr Martin Luther is reflecting the pure teachings of the Scriptures concerning baptism, for the Lord has connected His promise of the forgiveness of sins to the water of Holy Baptism. St Peter preached after his first sermon on Pentecost, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” [Acts 2:38] Or, later in the book of Acts, Ananias preached to St Paul, “Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins.” [Acts 22:16] Later St Paul would write to the Ephesians, “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.” [Ephesians 5:25-26] To 'sanctify' and 'cleanse' is not to wash off dirt and grime, but it is to cleanse the conscience, washing away sin. [See 1 Peter 3:21]
So the greatest gift of baptism is the forgiveness of all of our sins. All of us who have had the gift of baptism, the Lord Jesus has given us His sure promise that our sins are forgiven, and with forgiveness comes life and salvation.
But this pushes us to the second question that we want to ask this morning: Why was Jesus baptized? Jesus, of course, was perfect in every way. He “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” [Hebrews 4:15] He “knew no sin,” [1 Corinthians 5:21] and “committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth,” [1 Peter 2:22, quoting Isaiah 53:9] and “in Him there is no sin.” [1 John 3:5] Jesus was the perfect Lamb of God, the only person to ever live who did not need the forgiveness that baptism gives. And so our question remains, why was Jesus baptized? The account from St Matthew helps; there the text reads, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, 'I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?' But Jesus answered and said to him, 'Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.' Then he allowed Him.” [St Matthew 2:13-15] “To fulfill all righteousness,” this is why Jesus says His baptism is necessary, and what it will accomplish, but what does this mean?
The best way I know to explain it is with this picture. Imagine, if you will, a huge flock of sheep. These are the people of Jerusalem coming to be baptized, and these are sinners, so imagine that their white wool is stained black with dirt and filth and shame, and red from the blood that they had shed. Now imagine, in the midst of this filthy flock, one lamb with not a spot, pure and white, shining with the brightness of the sun. Now, as the filthy sheep come to the Jordan and step into the water, all their dirt and filth and sin and shame is washed off and they walk out of the water pure and holy, gleaming white and spotless. Then comes Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, this Lamb steps into the water and all of the dirt and muck that is floating on the water, that had been washed off all the sinful sheep, is soaked up and absorbed by the pure white wool of this Lamb. Jesus climbs out of the water with all of our sins and imperfections; He climbs out of the water of the Jordan, not as forgiven, but as the forgiver. “He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” [1 Corinthians 5:21]
Jesus is pleased, in His great and boundless love for us, to take upon Himself our sins, and the punishment of our sins, and all of God's wrath, and death, and hell, all for us, so that we could be His own dear people and saints. And so Jesus is baptized, why? To fulfill all righteousness, to take our sins and give us His righteousness. “Behold,” preaches John at the Jordan, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” [St John 1:29] Your sins, washed away in this redeeming flood, and with the forgiveness of your sins comes life and salvation.
When Jesus was baptized, a voice came from heaven, saying, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” [St Mark 1:11] What beautiful words the Father says to His Son. Dear saints, because of what Jesus has done for you in the Jordan and on the cross, because of this the Father speaks the same way to us. In our baptism He says to us the same thing He said to Jesus. Listen to the Father's voice from heaven, speaking to you, all the baptized, “You are My beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.” You are God's children, for “you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” [Galatians 3:26-27]
And so, dear saints, rejoice. Jesus is in the Jordan and on the cross for you. You are baptized into His death, and He gives you His life. Jesus is your Brother, God is your Father, and your home is heaven. “All who believe and are baptized shall be saved.” [St Mark 16:16] Grant this, Lord, unto us all. Amen.
And now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.
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Pastor Wolfmueller
For more on baptism: What's the Big Deal About Baptism?