1-8-23 Sermon Notes “Remembering Our Baptism”

Throughout the season of Advent, we looked at different titles given to Jesus. Jesus is Emmanuel, Son of Man, Lord, Savior… In the opening chapters of the Gospel of Matthew, we see several different titles. Jesus is “son of David/son of Abraham” (genealogically speaking - 1: 1); Jesus is “Savior” (angelically speaking - 1:20-21); He is “Emmanuel/Ruler/Nazorean” (prophetically speaking - 1:23, 2:6); Jesus is “king of the Jews” (according to the Magi - 2:2), and “the one more powerful who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire” (according to John the Baptist - 3:3).

There is a declaration of title that comes from One whose authority is above all the ones I just mentioned…God. Listen to what God declares about Jesus in this week’s gospel:

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3: 13-17. NRSV)

God declares Jesus to be “My son, the Beloved…the one in whom I am well pleased.” (3:17) While all those other names and titles are correct, it is God who completes the picture of who Jesus really is!

Maybe you have wondered why Jesus, son of David, Savior, Messiah, king of the Jews, son of God, etc… would come to John the Baptist to be baptized in the first place. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? (that’s what John asked). Maybe you have wondered how this baptism is connected to our own baptisms today. Join us this Sunday to learn more about this, and to remember your baptism.

See you Sunday,

Pastor Sam