In this episode we discover three baptisms, John's baptism, Jesus baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. John's baptism was very revolutionary because it bypassed the temple and the control the church leaders had over the people to be forgiven. Now they could just go to John, confess their sins and be baptized. No wonder they didn't stand up for John and request his release from prison. Jesus is affirmed by the Father his baptism and receives the gift we all desire. Of ownership, affection and affirmation. The pdf document is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca
SHOW NOTES
The Baptism of the King Matthew 3
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
3 In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, 2 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
John is pioneering a new route to salvation. Up to this point in time the Israelites had gained forgiveness by bringing sin offerings to the temple and sacrificing them. John preached repentance and baptism results in the divine forgiveness of sin, This radical new process threatens the temple economy and is going to result in the death of both John and Jesus.
John is the forerunner of his cousin Jesus who announced forgiveness to people who had not repented or been baptised. Jesus does this, for instance, for the man let down through the roof (Luke 5:17-39). Other examples are the woman taken in adultery (John 8:1-11), the woman who anointed Jesus in public, the thief on the cross and the executioners of Jesus (Luke 23:34).
3 The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said (Isaiah 40:3 Greek),
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming!
Clear the road for him!’”
This passage in Isaiah is the introduction to the prediction of glory for the returning exiles in chapters 40 to 66 of Isaiah. Messiah will come and bring Judah to world domination and so issue in peace for the planet. This vision of the future did not include the resurrection of dead people or the destruction and remaking of the planet as predicted in the New Testament. Isaiah’s understanding of the New Earth was a place of peace and longevity (Isaiah 60; 65:17- 25) as a result of Messiah’s righteous rule. The Messiah was to be a better king than David or Solomon.
4 John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.
John’s appearance mirrors that of his prophetic predecessor, Elijah (2 Kings 1:8; Malachi 4:5). Jesus will later identify John the Baptist as the predicted return of Elijah (Mt 11:14). Elijah is the great reformer prophet of Israel and is an apt antecedent for John the Baptist.
5 People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. 6 And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
John the Baptist is equating repentance, confession and baptism with forgiveness (Luke 3:3). Notice that confession of sin was the condition for John’s baptism. This recognition is necessary because there are three baptisms: John’s, Jesus’ and the Spirit’s. John’s is about reformation (Acts 18:25). Jesus’ baptism is about becoming a citizen in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 3:16-17). The Spirit’s baptism is about empowerment for the Kingdom of Heaven (Acts 10:44- 48).
7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath?
Apparently John knows about the coming destruction of Jerusalem (wrath) and their false security in being descendants of Abraham. He is insistent that their hearts need to be renewed or reformed.
8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned toGod. 9 Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 10 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
The ax of God’s judgment is a complex metaphor. The Romans will literally destroy the nation in 70 AD. The cross, the rejection of the love Jesus showered on the nation, results in the loss of God’s protection and the Roman armies overcome the city. The tree, fruit, fire symbolism is warning of the finality of the inherent consequences of selfishness for humans.
11 “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and withfire. 12 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”
John the Baptist has a clear understanding of the superiority of his cousin, Jesus from Nazareth. His mother was close to Jesus’ mother and Mary would have told Elizabeth who her son was according to the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:39-79).
Fire is mentioned three times in verses 10-12 and is indicating the eventual, definite end of evil. When the Creator warns Adam not to eat of one tree in the garden he is being warned of the inherent consequences of eating from this tree. Adam is not being threatened with a punishment but warned of the consequence.
Baptism by water as opposed to baptism by the Spirit is comparing repentance and forgiveness with empowerment for loving others in tangible ways. Judas was baptised by the Spirit and was able to heal and cast out demons. He then turns on Jesus, the embodiment of love, goodness and mercy, and the inherent consequences of this choice result in his dreadful death.
The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” 15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.
Jesus was baptised by water and the Spirit. The first was not necessary for Jesus but he needed the power of the Spirit for his ministry. We are baptized to acknowledge that we are a new person since we have been born again. Baptism is also a commitment to the Kingdom of God/Heaven. It was this second reason that Jesus was baptised. His identity did not need changing but he was ready to make his commitment. As a consequence a voice from heaven which responds.
16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
This affirmation includes three facets. It establishes the relationship between Jesus and his Father as the most intimate relationship possible. It confirms what Mary had told him all his life.
The voice also asserts that the Father loves him. This means the Father has his back and accepts him unconditionally.
The Father is also proud of him or is pleased with him. The Father gives Jesus what we all long for, intimate relationship, love and appreciation. All this before Jesus had done any serious ministry that is recorded and which is about to start.
Ian Hartley June 2024
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