Mark 1:9-11, Matthew 3:13-17, Luke 3:21-23
Reading 4
“9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Mark 1:9-11
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, 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 thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:13-17
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age
Luke 3:21-23
A few years ago I was privileged to baptize 15 persons outside in a very cold body of water. I have been in ministry now for over 8 years and this was one of those afternoons that was a high point for me in the ministry.
In our account today we read three accounts from the gospel authors of a singular event. John the Baptist baptizing Christ. As Matthew records, John the Baptist did not feel worthy of the honor yet Christ insisted. Notice that in all three accounts the significance of Christ rising from the water. Mark and Matthew write that when Christ rises “immediately” things of significance occur. God’s Spirit descends and rests on Christ. I could go on about the theological significance of this event but I will save that for another time and simply ask the question for those who will read this blog, have you truly accepted Christ and in obedience followed Him in being baptized?
I was baptized when I was 12. The year was 1992. Sebago’s and kaki pants were the essences of style on a Sunday morning and as a 12 year old I realized a massive deficit within my mind and heart. Having grown up in church and watched numerous others be baptized and become members of the church I felt some external pressure to proceed in the order of sequence as I became older and older. My peers whom I had grown up with in the church had long since been baptized and in my head I kept telling myself I needed to go ahead and get it done but I just could not.
In retrospect I am grateful for God’s impression upon me. My wife Laura might not agree with me but I feel God at times in His grace has given me wise stubbornness. A wisdom that if I don’t feel right about what to do, I wait.
I recall when I was baptized several others in the church were as well and all were a significant bit younger than I. At 12 I felt awkward in the sense of social normality as my peers had long sense been baptized but for me it was genuine. It is this genuineness I now look back on and would not trade for anything.
I have the opportunity to share the gospel of Christ and call others to respond each week. From our text today we learn and are called to believe and accept the provision for sin that Christ offers to us and to follow Him. Following Christ leads one to and then from the baptismal pool. My concern is that many have walked into a baptismal pool but have not followed Christ there.
What is your story? Does it include Christ? If so what is your baptismal experience?
