The Commissioning Of The Anointed One

It is the Sunday after Epiphany, or the Gentile Christmas.  Today we celebrate the blessings that were graciously give to us through our Savior, Jesus Christ.  It is also the beginning of the season when we talk about the important things Jesus did from his baptism to his resurrection.  List up important things Jesus did while living on this earth.  His sermons were so amazing.  He explained God’s law.  Not just the letter of the law, but also the spiritual significance of the law so,

“the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹ because he taught them as one who had authority, and not like their experts in the law”

Matthew 7:28

Here’s an example.  When Jesus talked about the 5th Commandment he didn’t just talk about no murdering anyone, but he went on to say,

“²² But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be subject to judgment”

Matthew 5:22  

When Jesus talked his focus was to declare the grace and truth of his Father in heaven. 

“For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life. And I will raise him up on the Last Day”

John 6:40

We all love this sermon from Jesus,

“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”

Matthew 11:28

Oh, how amazing Jesus’ preaching is!  But, there is more!  What about his miracles!  Jesus changed water into wine, stilled the storm, raised up Jairus’ dead daughter, called Lazarus from the grave, and with one word threw his enemies to the ground in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus’ preaching and miracles show us he is from God and that he is God!

Along with his words and miracles, Jesus’ suffering was also amazing.  What grief came from his enemies who mocked him, accused him of being possessed by the devil, and captured him as all his disciples ran away.  Then came the crown of thorns, flogging, nailed to a cross to endure the suffering of hell.  It is impossible for me to exaggerate the importance of his Passion!  He suffered for you.  He redeemed you, lost and condemned creatures, purchased and won us from all sins, from death and from the power of the devil!  That we might be his own and live under him in his kingdom and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness, even as he is risen from the dead and live and reign for all eternity!  This is most certainly true!  Amazing!

So, what about his baptism?  This too, is an amazing part of Jesus’ work.  Jesus’ identity was revealed at

The Commissioning Of The Anointed One

Baptized In Regard To His Work

God sent John the Baptist to get the people ready for his amazing day in the life of Jesus.  John was a powerful preacher! 

“² “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near!”, “Prepare the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight,” “¹¹ I baptize you with water for repentance. But the one who comes after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”

Matthew 3  

And the Word of God before us today starts with an amazing word,

“Then.”

“¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to be baptized by John at the Jordan.”

We might think it is a little strange at first.  After all Jesus is the holy, blameless Son of God.   Why would Jesus seek baptism?  Even John was a little confused,

“¹⁴ But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”  

Jesus tells John,

“¹⁵ But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, because it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness.” 

First, it was proper because God had appointed John to be the baptizer, to also baptized Jesus.  It was his duty.  God had already revealed to John who Jesus was,

“The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

John 1:29

Second, we can understand John’s confusion because Jesus was not guilty of any inherited sin, nor had he committed any sins.  Jesus was not being baptized for his own sins.  But, God sent his only-begotten Son to lay our sins on him.  Strange as it may appear, in God the Father’s sight and in Jesus’ own eyes, he was representing every sinner.  Jesus knew he came atone for and give satisfactory payment for all the sins that were laid on him. Jesus was Baptized In Regard To His Work!  Jesus would suffer the penalty of sin to reconcile us to God by recovering the perfect life that Adam lost in The Fall.  Jesus’ work would close the gate of hell and open the gate of heaven for all people.  This was his Father’s will and Jesus was about his Father’s business.  

This is Jesus’ identity!  By the baptism that John was about to administer, Jesus would attest before heaven and earth and before his Father who sent him, that he would do everything the Father asked him to do.  Jesus was Baptized In Regard To His Work. Jesus was clear,

“Let it be so now, because it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

By this baptism Jesus was consecrated, anointed and strengthened for the work of his office as Prophet, Priest and King!  He would clearly proclaimed God’s Word, sacrifice himself for all people on the cross, then rule all things for the good of God’s people.  Jesus was beginning to drink the cup which his Father gave him. 

“He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross”

Philippians 2:8

It was time to be baptized!

“Then John let him.” Amazing!  Jesus humbled himself under the authority of John the Baptist that was given to him by God as the baptizer!  John says, “OK, you may be baptized!” They got into the water and the Bible doesn’t record for us if the water was sprinkled, poured, or if Jesus was immersed.  That didn’t matter.  What mattered was that John used water to baptize Jesus.  Then all heaven broke open!

“¹⁶ After Jesus was baptized, he immediately went up out of the water. Suddenly, the heavens were opened for him! He saw the Spirit of God, descending like a dove and landing on him,”

Jesus is clearly identified as God’s Chosen One.  The prophesy of Isaiah was fulfilled,

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me”

Isaiah 61:1

Jesus was filled with wisdom, grace, strength and the fear of God,

“to preach good news to the afflicted. He sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release for those who are bound”

Isaiah 61:1b

The Father was also at Jesus’ baptism.

“ ¹⁷ and a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my Son, whom I love. I am well pleased with him.”

The Father spoke as if all the work Jesus came to do had already been accomplished.  At his baptism the Father washed Jesus in advance for all the sins he was bearing as our Substitute.  Jesus was successfully Baptized In Regard To His Work and Commissioned As The Anointed One!  

Praise God that Jesus’ baptism was not just symbolic, but it actually commissioned Christ to be our Redeemer, because he was also

Baptized In Regard To Our Worth

It was a glorious day when Jesus was baptized.  It was also a glorious day on November 22, 1962, when I was baptized.  It was also a glorious day on the day you were baptized!  On that day no one heard or saw anything happen but water being applied to you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  But we know what heaven saw!  “a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my Son, whom I love. I am well pleased with him.”  Because of Jesus’ work that began at his baptism, he showed you your worth!  The Father sent his Son to Redeem you.  The Holy Spirit worked faith in your heart to receive God’s gracious gifts of forgiveness, eternal life, and deliverance from the devil.  St. Paul wrote about your baptism, too.

“Indeed, as many of you as were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ”

Galatians 3:27

“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, by cleansing her with the washing of water in connection with the Word”

Ephesians 5:25

Jesus himself gave us his promise,

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned”

Mark 16:16

These are just a few of the many passages that speak about your worth to God in your Baptism. Believe it!

Jesus Christ filled the heavenly treasure chest with God’s blessings at his baptism.  Through your baptism Christ shows Your Worth as he makes these blessings your very own.  The water connected to the Word delivers us from the Prince of Darkness.  Your baptism washes away all your sins because it is permeated with the blood of Jesus who died for you.  This is NOT some magical event, but it is a miracle that God chose to use ordinary water, connect his powerful Name to it, and bring us all these blessings of his grace.   In your baptism your inherited sin was washed away, the power of death was splashed, the flames of hell were extinguished.  You were clothed in Christ.  You were given the identity of God’s own dear child and heir of heaven.

You may be able to find your baptism certificate at home somewhere.  That would be great to look at.  But, even if you can’t find that certificate, no worries, because God wrote your name in the Book of Life in heaven as your baptism.  This is God’s covenant with you.  This covenant stands even when we become unfaithful, for

“If we are faithless, he remains faithful, because he cannot deny himself”

2 Timothy 2:3

This is not to say that we can go and sin all we want because we have our sins washed away.  That isn’t cherishing the worth of our baptism, but mocking it!  St. Paul also wrote to Timothy,

“If we deny him, he will also deny us”

2 Timothy 2:2

Paul also wrote to the Romans,

“What shall we say then? Shall we keep on sinning so that grace may increase? ² Absolutely not! We died to sin. How can we go on living in it any longer?”

Romans 6

Be clear on your worth to God in your baptism!  If a person leaves God through unbelief, God will honor his covenant of grace in our baptisms and wait for our return to faith with open arms.  This is the invaluable worth of our baptism!

The devil also knows your worth to God in your baptism.  Just like a thief looks to steal the valuable things in your home, he is working to steal away your gifts in baptism.  He will come with his doubts.  He will use false teachers to fill your ears with unholy teachings about baptism.  He will tempt you to put your trust in your personality, your personal value, and even your own good works to establish your relationship with God.  Stop listening to the false teachings.  Return to the truth of God’s Word and remember the same words Jesus heard at his baptism,

“This is my Son, whom I love. I am well pleased with him.”

As we begin our Epiphany season together on this Sunday, we will enjoy reviewing the wonderful and amazing works of Jesus.  His teachings and miracles were amazing.  Today we have learned his baptism is also amazing.  At his baptism we see The Commissioning Of The Anointed One as he was Baptized In Regard To His Work, and Baptized In Regard To Our Worth.  Rejoice that you are a baptized child of God.  Hold on to your baptism.  It is your security in life and in death.  Your baptism identifies you as a child of God!  Amen!