THE BAPTISM
OF OUR LORD
(The First Sunday after the Epiphany)
8 January
2017
Isaiah 42:1–9
Romans 6:1–11
Matthew 3:13–17
The Holy Triune God Is Manifested and Reveals
Himself to Us in Holy Baptism
Hymn of the
Day: LSB #466 To Jordan Came the
Christ our Lord
Collect for the Day: Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You
pro claimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make
all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and
inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our
Lord, who lives, and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever. Amen.
The Baptism of our Lord is an “epiphany” of the one true God in the flesh and blood of Jesus. He
is the chosen servant of the Lord, anointed with the Spirit for the rescue of
God’s people and to “bring forth justice
to the nations” (Isaiah 42:1). Thus, He makes all things new, and He is
given “as a covenant for the people, a
light for the nations” (Isaiah 42:6). In the waters of the Jordan, He takes
His place with sinners and takes all the sins of the world upon Himself. He
undergoes the Baptism of repentance in order to “fulfill all righteousness” for us (Matthew 3:15). He submits
Himself to the curse of sin and death in order to redeem us. We are baptized
with a Baptism like His, thereby dying and rising with Him, so that “we will also live with him” (Romans
6:8). Indeed, all of us who are baptized into Christ Jesus are anointed with
His Spirit and named by His Father as beloved and well-pleasing sons and
daughters.
The few weeks since Christmas are short compared to
the approximately thirty years between Jesus’ birth and His baptism by
John. Yet many in our day have already
forgotten why His birth was so important. Others wait with eager or curious
expectation. To see what He mission in life will be. The baptism of Jesus
“begins” His public ministry.
In just twelve days, our next president will deliver
his inaugural address. He will outline for us his vision for our country. He
will tell us what we must expect in the months and years to come. In today’s Gospel Matthew gives us Jesus’
credentials and His anticipated program for the coming years. Now that
Christmas is past, and the Messiah is here, what is His mission all about? The
baptism of Jesus begins His public ministry. At His “inauguration”, Jesus is baptized and
thus begins His walk - from Galilee to Golgotha. Yes, He is the one send by the Father. He is
the Father’s Son – sent to suffer. Jesus
has come. To fulfill all righteousness. This means, He will avoid all detours.
Nothing will stop Him until He arrives at the cross. Calvary is the goal.
Nothing will deter Him. – So, who and
what is this Christ?
1. The Messiah identifies with the past.
2. The Messiah identifies with the present (at His
time)
3. The Messiah’s mission points to the future.
1.
The
Messiah identifies with the past.
A.
He identifies with all people. From Adam to
John. Who “need” to be baptized for forgiveness.
B.
He claims a heritage with God’s covenant people
of Israel. Indeed, He is Israel (and all God’s people) “reduced to one.”
C.
Thus, His mission involves forgiveness. Not for
Himself. But, for the sin of all others. He is baptized for you. He identified
Himself with the faults and failures, the pains and problems, of all the broken
people who had flocked to the Jordan River. By wading into the waters with
them, He takes His place beside them. He identifies with sinners. To be the
cure for sin.
2.
The
Messiah identifies with the present (at His time).
A.
In the baby of Bethlehem God has sent “His Son”
(see Psalm 2:7) “I will tell of the
decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.”
B.
This Messiah is also the “chosen servant” foretold by Isaiah, with whom God is “well pleased,” that is, whom God has
accepted by grace to be His sacrifice for sin. There can be no other.
C.
Jesus is baptized “to fulfill all righteousness,”
“for now.” The fulfillment of
God’s plan has begun. But Jesus’ mission moves from the Jordan to Jerusalem. It
does not end here. It is only the beginning. It will end at the cross. Where He
will suffer and die for the sin of the people.
3.
The
Messiah’s mission points to the future.
A.
He has come primarily to suffer and die so that
by repentance and forgiveness through His righteousness, the kingdom of God may
come.
B.
In your Christian Baptism, you participate in
the death of Christ. (Romans 6) You identify with the “New Israel.” Saved by
baptismal grace.
C.
The
Epiphany season stands between our celebration of Christ’s birth and His
Passion. We remember. He came to manifest God’s good favor (grace) by humbly
offering Himself for the sins of the world.
Words –665
Passive Sentences –5%
Readability –73.9 %
Reading level –5.4
Image: Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS
for private and congregational use
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