Baptism - God’s Affirmation

Baptism of Jesus
courtesy free clip art

Matthew 3:16-17

 

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.  

And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Today is the day of Epiphany the star of regeneration.  It is a celebration of the wise men that followed the star and brought gifts to the Christ child.

Pastor Jerry read from Matthew 3:13-17 about Jesus coming to John requesting to be baptized. 

Baptism is signifying a change of direction in one’s life, a new beginning.  Jesus was about to change direction and begin his ministry. 

At first John refused, saying that he needed Jesus to baptize him, but Jesus said to John, “Permit it to be so.”

John declared to the crowd, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World.

Pastor said, we will not argue the modes of baptism, because the very act is a mountain top experience.  One’s heart must be ready for an experience with God and to understand all of the mysterious meaning of the Water baptism observance.

In life we have few mountain top experiences, but they are a time of extreme peace and presence of deity.  

Some would dispute the need of meeting God in a church and claim they find this peace and solitude in nature, in fishing, in music, or the arts such as painting and the dance.

Pastor said, he would not deny that God can be real in these places, but we must not neglect the gathering together in like precious faith to worship God.

The Jordan River was a mountain top experience for Jesus the sinless one.  He did not need his sins washed away as he had no sin.  This ceremony was a testimony that he was committed to finish the task set before Him.

As Jesus came out of the water, The Holy Spirit in the form of a dove came and rested upon him, and God the Father’s voice from heaven spoke and said, “This is my beloved Son, hear ye Him.” 

 

(Notice the trinity was evident here in visible and audible form.)

Our baptism may not be as dynamic as the baptism of Jesus, but it can be as meaningful.

Martin Luther said, “There is no greater comfort to the Christian than baptism, as it is an outward sign of an inward work of grace.”