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Intermediate Sunday School Lesson 13 : he Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ I

Text: Matthew 3:13-17
27 March 2022

INTRODUCTION

1. The Baptism offered by John the Baptiser

a) It was offered to all
i) Who sincerely repented of their sins
ii) Who have borne fruits of repentance
b) It was preparatory Baptism
i) It was to prepare people for the coming of the Messiah
ii) It helped people to find hope
iii) It readied people to meet with the Messiah when He came

2. The Ministry of John

a) It was highly successful
b) Many came to John to be baptised
i) Judea
ii) Jerusalem
iii) All the region around Jordan Matthew 3:5

THE LORD JESUS CAME TO JOHN

1. The Lord Jesus came to be “baptised” by John Matthew 3:13

2. This was a great surprise to John!

a) He had proclaimed that the Messiah was far greater
b) And here was the Messiah asking John to “baptise” Him!
c) How would John dare to do that?

THE TEXT DESCRIBING THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”
15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:13-17

1. The Protestation of John

a) “I need to be baptised by You”
i) John was conscious of the fact that he too was a sinner
ii) He would need to be baptised by the Lord Jesus!
b) “And are You coming to me?”
i) The Lord Jesus certainly did not need to be baptised
ii) He had no sin to repent of

2. The Reply of the Lord Jesus

a) “Permit it to be so now”
i) John was to allow the Baptism to be performed
ii) The meaning of the Baptism of the Lord Jesus held a different meaning altogether
b) “For thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.”
i) It is fitting to all righteous requirements
ii) What was this requirement?

ANOINTED FOR MINISTRY

1. The Baptism of the Lord Jesus was not the Baptism of Repentance

2. The Baptism of the Lord Jesus was called His “anointing”

3. This was prophesied by Isaiah

17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” Luke 4:17-19

a) The Spirit of the Lord Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit
b) He was anointed for His public ministry:
i) To preach the gospel to the poor;
ii) He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted,
iii) To proclaim liberty to the captives
iv) And recovery of sight to the blind,
v) To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
vi) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE LORD’S ANOINTING?

1. It is Recognition

a) By John the Baptiser
b) The Forerunner of the Messiah
c) Authority of John the Baptiser

2. It is Confirmation and Proclamation

a) John would declare the Lord Jesus as the Lamb of God John 1:29
b) He would affirm that He was the One sent by God

HOW DOES IT FULFIL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS?

1. The Lord Jesus had come as the Son of Man

2. And as Man

a) He would have to submit Himself to John the Baptiser
b) John would officially declare the identity of the Lord Jesus

THE ANOINTING BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. He came:

a) From Heaven
b) As a Dove
c) He alighted on the Lord Jesus

2. He would empower the Lord Jesus

1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,
And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD

Isaiah 11:1-2

THE VOICE OF GOD

“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17

1. Acknowledgment from God

a) The Lord Jesus was indeed “The Son of God”
b) God was well-pleased with Him

2. Authorisation

a) Endorsement
b) Empowering

CONCLUSION

1. The Scriptures

a) They are deep and wonderful
b) They offer significant insights

2. Appreciation of the Lord Jesus

a) His humanity
b) His humility

3. Adoration of the Lord Jesus

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:5-8