In The Footsteps Of The Master: The Life and Times of Jesus Christ

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In The Footsteps Of The MasterThe Life and
Times of Jesus Christ

• The Baptism of Jesus
• November 2, 2008

www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
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Interesting Fact

• Did You Know?
• The oldest city under an American Flag is named
  for John the Baptist
• What City is it?
• San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Originally the entire island was named San Juan
  Bautista (St. John the Baptist)
• Official Commonwealth motto is His name is
  John, quoted from Luke 163

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Jordan River

• The only river of real size in Israel
• Many key Biblical events occurred here
• When Israelites entered the Promised Land they
  crossed it on dry land (during flood stage)
• Elijah and Elisha both performed miracles
• AND God in the flesh was baptized in its waters

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Jordan River
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Jordan River
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Synoptic Accounts

• Read Mark 19-11
• Marks narrative reveals the theological
  difficulty posed by this event
• John offered a baptism of repentance (Mark14,
  Luke 33)
• Jesus submitted to it
• Doesnt Jesus action indicate that he sinned?
• Some, of course answered affirmatively
• This notion contradicts the early and widespread
  belief. 2 Cor 521, Heb 414-15

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Synoptic Accounts

• Others John baptized were described as
  confessing their sins Mark 15, Matt 36
• Not so with Jesus
• Read Matthew 313-17
• In this account the author seems prompted to
  expand the story
• Jesus seems to talk John into baptizing Him

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Synoptic Accounts

• Read John 129-34
• The most common explanation is that Jesus was
  baptized to set an example for others
• Why demonstrate baptism
• Especially in light of the mixed message that
  might be sent?
• This also shed little light on the divine
  response that follows
• Short Video Clip from John

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Washbasin Explanation

• Read Luke 321-23, then Mark 15
• This is a sizeable population (15)
• People gathered along shore, publicly confessed
  their sin, and immersed
• They were theoretically free of their sins
• Where did there sins go?
• Into the water (some argue literally or
  figuratively, but makes no difference here)

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Washbasin Continued

• Jesus enters the picture
• The only One without sin
• Think of the Jordan as a washbasin
• If those dirty are made clean by its waters
• Then the one who is clean is rendered dirty
• Jesus taking the sins
• the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the
  world (John 129)

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Pivotal Event

• God says This is my beloved Son, with whom I am
  well pleased
• Possibly pleased that Jesus has willingly
  shouldered the transgressions of all the people
• From this point on Jesus will demonstrate his
  capacity to forgive individuals their sins
• Something not exhibited prior to His baptism
• Satan immediately tries to dissuade Him in the
  Temptation of Jesus

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Why Was Jesus Baptized?
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Why Was Jesus Baptized?

• Matthew 313-15
• Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the
  Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But
  John tried to prevent Him, saying, I have need
  to be baptized by You, and do You come to
  me? But Jesus answering said to him, Permit it
  at this time for in this way it is fitting for
  us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he
  permitted Him. 
• To fulfill all righteousness
• What does that mean?

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Jesus Humanity

• Jesus baptism identifies Him with those He came
  to save
• There was no need for the sinless Messiah, 100
  Son of God, to seek forgiveness of sins or
  repentance
• Yet His 100 humanity led Him to participate with
  us
• Philippians 25-8
• Have this attitude in yourselves which was also
  in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the
  form of God, did not regard equality with God a
  thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking
  the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the
  likeness of men.

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Jesus Example For Us

• We encounter those who argue that linking baptism
  to salvation amounts to salvation by works
• Yet, if the Creator of the Universe humbled
  Himself in submission to baptism even when it
  was not necessary for Him to do so (at least in
  the salvation sense) who could possibly argue
  that sinful men should not?
• Pride would have to be the hindrance

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Descending of the Spirit

• Matthew 316-17
• After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately
  from the water and behold, the heavens were
  opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending
  as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a
  voice out of the heavens said, This is My
  beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.
• Psalm 27
• I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD He
  said to Me, You are My Son, Today I have
  begotten You.

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The Chosen Servant

• Isaiah 421-4
• Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold My chosen
  one in whom My soul delights. I have put My
  Spirit upon Him He will bring forth justice to
  the nations. He will not cry out or raise His
  voice, nor make His voice heard in the street. A
  bruised reed He will not break and a dimly
  burning wick He will not extinguish He will
  faithfully bring forth justice. He will not be
  disheartened or crushed until He has established
  justice in the earth and the coastlands will
  wait expectantly for His law.

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The Anointed One

• Isaiah 611-2
• The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because
  the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to
  the afflicted He has sent me to bind up the
  brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives
  and freedom to prisoners to proclaim the
  favorable year of the LORD and the day of
  vengeance of our God to comfort all who mourn
• Jesus will later quote this passage in the
  synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 416-19)

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Anointing of David

• 1 Samuel 1612-13b
• So he sent and brought David in. Now he was
  ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome
  appearance. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint
  him for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn
  of oil and anointed him in the midst of his
  brothers and the Spirit of the LORD came
  mightily upon David from that day forward.

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The Anointed Messiah

• Malachi 45-6
• Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the
  prophet before the coming of the great and
  terrible day of the LORD. He will restore the
  hearts of the fathers to their children and the
  hearts of the children to their fathers, so that
  I will not come and smite the land with a curse.
• As the great prophets Samuel and Elijah anointed
  kings among men, the second Elijah anointed the
  King of Kings at the beginning of His earthly
  ministry

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Next Week

• The Temptation of Jesus

Questions?