MATTHEW 3  v 13-17

   

 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.^[f]” So John agreed to baptize him.

¹⁶ After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened^[g] 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.”

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These verses are the Gospel reading for Sunday, and tell the story of the Baptism of Jesus. John the Baptist did not want to baptize Jesus for he considered it was not necessary.

He began to prepare the baptism,  but we do not know the exact location, other than in the Jordan river.  Various places have been suggested, but without conclusion.  The baptism was to be made as prophesied in the Old Testament,  witch  authenticates the human side of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit anoints Jesus as King of Israel A voice from heaven was said to be heard  saying the voice of one crying in the wilderness,  prepare the way of the Lord.

John was dressed only in a coat made of camel hairs. When a group of Sadducees  and Pharisees came to see the baptism on the banks of the river. John rebuked them  Jesus, guided by the Holy Spirit with John still feeling it was wrong for him to baptize Jesus, but Jesus insisted and was baptized with a voice from heaven stating ‘this is my beloved son

We have the account of our Lord Jesus’s  baptism, the first step in His Ministry. When the Jewish leaders took their first step in their ministry, they were washed with water.   The verses spell out that the sacrament of baptism should be performed with care; it is an ordinance which Jesus Himself performed.

There are few subjects in Christianity in which are treated casually as baptism.  Looking at that, we    need such caution, we find young mothers anxious to have their babies quickly baptized, as relatives  frighten her that the child will die if not baptized.  Water has no charm or danger.

We dishonor what it is, when baptism is not understood, and clergy so often just arrange a date and time for a baptism.  It should be told every time a baptism is requested, to point out that it is a sacred act admitting a child or person into the Christian Church and faith. When Jesus Himself  treated it so sacred, He expected that such should always be treated in the manner of Himself. We have people who never appear in or near a Church, making promises which it is known they will not honor.   A sacrament ordained by Jesus should never be treated in the way it is.  We should never take any action which can dishonor the sacrament of baptism

The admission of every member of the Church, young or old, is an event which should encourage the people involved to have a positive interest in the Christian faith.  The more we commend that baptism and grace are inseparable, the more we should pray for those baptized.  The baptism of Jesus was attended in an unusual solemnity , and reverence should prevail at every baptism, rather than the hilarity we so often see.

The baptism of Jesus involved the God head Trinity; God the Son in the flesh; God the Holy Spirit flying down like a dove; God the Father spoke from heaven  Surely we can should see the need for reverence, given the whole Trinity to been present at the baptism of the Lord.

For all Who have committed their souls to the Lord Jesus Christ, may you find peace,  comfort and  rejoice that in this sinful world, yet in God’s sight you are counted as righteous,  God will regard you as members of His beloved Son, who for His sake is well pleased.

 

Give thanks to God for His Holy Gospel, and praise The Lord Jesus our Savior