Matthew 3:1-17

In your Bible of Matthew chapter 3, our second reading is taken from verses 13 to 17. Matthew chapter 3 is on page 808 in the church bibles.

Matthew 3 · chapter mention Matthew 3 · chapter mention

! Matthew chapter 3. Now the passage that Edith read to us really is the appearance of John the Baptist. And then in verses 13 to 17 you have the appearance of Jesus.

Matthew 3 · chapter mention

Verse 13 reads, then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptised by him. John would have prevented him saying, I need to be baptised by you. And do you come to me? But Jesus answered him, let it be so now for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.

Then John consented. When Jesus was baptised, immediately he went up from the water and behold the heavens were opened to him.

He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him. And behold a voice from heaven said, this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.

When you read the Bible, one of the things that you need to look for is you need to look for things that don't fit.

You need to look for things that jar.

You need to look for things that seemingly don't go together.

And I don't know whether you've picked that up between the first half of John 3 and the second half of John 3, but there's something there which doesn't fit.

There's something there which doesn't go together.

It's how you should feel when you come to the Lord's baptism.

John the Baptist in the first half of the chapter has said, Jesus will baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

That this coming one, he is going to be the baptiser.

And yet Jesus comes to the Jordan, to John, to be baptised by him.

What's going on?

I thought Jesus was the baptiser.

That's what John the Baptist's message is.

How come the baptiser is to be baptised by the Baptist?

It doesn't seem to fit together.

What are we to make of this baptised baptiser?

What can we see in this baptised baptiser?

First of all, Matthew chapter 3 shows us the emergency Jesus creates.

Matthew 3 · chapter mention

The emergency Jesus creates.

And the reason for the emergency is found in verse 2.

It's one word.

John's word in verse 2.

It is repent.

Repent.

For the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The kingdom of heaven has come near.

Now when it says the kingdom of heaven, it doesn't mean heaven exactly.

It means the kingdom that has its origin in heaven.

The kingdom that is from God who is in heaven.

And the kingdom of God has come near because the king of the kingdom is about to come near.

Jesus is about to come to do his ministry and in his work.

And that creates an urgency and an emergency.

Their response must be they must repent.

Israel was familiar with this Old Testament idea.

The last book of the Old Testament, the book of Malachi.

Malachi.

The people in Malachi said they were really upset about their lot.

They were upset the way things were and how things were going.

And they said, where is the God of justice?

Where is the God of justice?

As if to say that the Lord needs to come and put things right and sort things out.

And the Lord's response in Malachi 3 is, behold, I send my messenger.

And he will prepare the way before me.

And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple.

And the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

But then there was this issue.

When the law that was promised in Malachi 3 actually arrived, here's the problem.

Who can stand when he appears?

And he says, I will draw near.

I will come for judgment.

The Lord's coming isn't all good news.

There's this element of emergency and crisis.

He's saying to the people in Malachi's day, he's saying, are you really sure that you want the Lord to come?

Who can endure the day of his coming?

There's this crisis and emergency.

And the response that you need to make to his coming, John the Baptist says, is repent.

Because the kingdom of heaven has come near.

Now what does it mean to repent?

It doesn't really mean just to be sorry for something.

That is part.

But to say sorry is not really repentance.

In fact, the word sorry is not found in the Bible at all.

It's not really just to change one's mind.

That's what it's sometimes said.

But that is from the essence.

To repent is to turn the whole person from a wrong direction to a right direction.

The classic statement is what we often use for our assurance of pardon in Isaiah 55.

Where Isaiah says to the people, he says, seek the Lord while he may be found.

Call upon him while he's near.

And then let the wicked forsake his way.

And the unrighteous man is false.

And let him return to the Lord that he may have mercy on him.

And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

That is the idea of repentance.

It is a forsaking.

It is a leaving of your wicked ways and your sinful thoughts.

And a returning wholeheartedly, whole life to the Lord.

And God wonderfully will have mercy.

And abundantly pardon.

And this repentance that John speaks with, speaks about, begins with this acknowledgement.

It begins with this acknowledgement that I am unfit for the kingdom of heaven.

That I am unfit to meet this king of the kingdom that is coming.

That's what repentance is.

Now you've got some picture of this emergency that John gives us.

He gives us some snapshots.

And he gives them to us in verse 10 and verse 12.

He says, this emergency, this crisis is something like, let's call the picture in verse 10, Jesus the axe man.

Look at verse 10.

Even now the axe is laid to the root of the tree.

Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

That's what Jesus' coming is like.

He comes with an axe in his hand.

It's going to be like the tree in Sphagata.

Who comes with his chainsaw.

And looks at the tree.

And sees the tree is no longer bearing fruit.

And he fires it up.

And cuts down the tree.

Any tree that doesn't bear fruit.

That doesn't reflect repentance.

Will be cut down.

And already that's the case.

Well let's see the second picture.

Jesus the axe man.

And then Jesus verse 12.

Jesus the thresher.

We're not farmers we.

But verse 12 is the picture of a threshing floor.

And there's a shovel.

A winnowing shovel.

And the farmer takes the grain.

That's been cut up.

And is on the threshing floor.

And he throws it up into the air.

And because it's a windy day.

The wind blows it.

And it carries the chaff off.

But the grain falls to the ground.

Because it's heavier.

What's that a picture of?

It's a picture of separation.

And John says.

Here is one who is stronger than I am.

And he's going to do that kind of cutting down.

And separating.

He's going to bring division.

He's coming to bring.

And to gather a people to himself.

He gathers his wheat into the barn.

But as he gathers his wheat into the barn.

He separates it from the chaff.

And he throws the chaff into the fire.

So you've got these pictures.

Of an emergency.

Whose emergency is this?

Who needs to be concerned about it?

Well verse 5 is the shock isn't it?

Then Jerusalem.

And all Judea.

And all the region about the Jordan.

Were going out to him.

They were going out to him.

And the reason they were going out to him.

Is because they were baptised by him.

In the river Jordan.

Confessing their sins.

That's strange.

Jews.

There's a practice.

In Sydney.

In evidence probably at this time.

And before called proselyte baptism.

The Jews had a practice.

If you were a Gentile.

Or you were a pagan.

Who wanted to become a Jew.

Someone who wanted to convert to Judaism.

You had to go through this practice.

Where the person.

Could go through a certain procedure.

In order to become a member.

Of the covenant people.

In later times.

Even as early as John the Baptist.

It consisted in three steps.

If it was a male convert.

There would be circumcision.

And then there would be a baptism.

A proselyte baptism.

And then you would make an offering.

And then the person.

Having done those three steps.

The circumcision.

The proselyte baptism.

And the offering.

Then that person was counted.

As a partner people of God.

The covenant people.

And that's what happens.

When pagans.

Wanted to join.

Israel.

It was pagans.

Who were baptized.

In order to join the people of God.

Pagans.

But what do you have here?

Can you see it?

In verse 5.

It is.

The people of God.

You have God's covenant people.

You have Jews.

You have Jews.

Who.

Being baptized.

Confessing their sin.

They were the ones.

Who were saying.

We're not fit.

For this kingdom.

That is coming.

And we acknowledge.

That that is a strange thing.

Of course.

It's difficult.

Isn't it?

To get Israel.

To see that.

And John seems to be.

Very concerned.

About the group.

In verse 7 to 9.

He sees the Saradices.

And the Pharisees.

And he addresses them.

Because these people.

Think that they don't have.

Any need for repentance.

They look down.

On John the Baptist.

I think John the Baptist.

Who is he?

He's a Johnny.

He's coming from nowhere.

Isn't he?

They look down.

It's too bad.

That John the Baptist.

Wasn't educated.

Or he only had a few years.

In our.

Semory.

It might have refined him.

A little bit.

It might have polished him up.

Otherwise.

This guy.

John the Baptist.

Everywhere he goes.

He creates friction.

Everywhere he goes.

Doesn't he?

And so John sees.

These Pharisees.

These lay.

Spiritual leaders.

And the Sadducees.

The priestly ones.

The clergy.

And when he sees them.

Coming to his place of baptism.

He says.

Do you know what you are?

You're a bunch of snakes.

You're a bunch of snakes.

Who warned you.

To flee from the wrath to come.

Do ministers and elders.

And deacons.

Like to be spoken to like that.

He says to them.

You need to bring forth fruit.

Fruit that reflects.

Repentance in your life.

Do you remember what repentance is?

It is a sorrow.

It is a forsaking.

It is a turning away.

And a turning to God.

You need to show that in your life.

And don't you dare begin to say.

We've got Abraham as our father.

For I tell you.

God can raise up children from Abraham.

Out of these stones.

There was probably nothing.

In the popular mindset.

Of Jesus' day.

So automatic.

As the merit.

And the benefit.

That Abraham conveyed.

On his people Israel.

That's not everyone.

But there was an element.

In the popular Jewish mindset.

Of the day.

That all Israel.

All Israel.

Had a share.

In the world to come.

And the reason why.

Israel had a share.

In the glory of the world to come.

Was because their connection.

To Abraham.

There was one little rabbi.

He drew a picture of Abraham.

Seated at the gate of Gehenna.

Of hell.

Just in case.

Some Israelite.

By mistake.

Might be consigned.

To Gehenna.

And Abraham was seated at the gate.

In order.

To keep any Jew.

From having to enter hell.

If you have Abraham.

As your father.

If you are descended from him.

Among the people.

You are immune.

From any judgment.

Or any need.

From repentance.

Gents.

And John the Baptist says.

No.

This is your emergency.

You need this.

He's trying to get through to them.

Do you remember.

When you'd play as children.

And you'd play a game of children.

You'd be shooting guns and arrows.

Or.

I don't know what else you'd do.

But you'd be playing there.

And then suddenly.

Would kind of.

They would.

They would put on a pretend.

Bulletproof vest.

Wouldn't they?

And so.

It was like their.

Their.

It was like their bullets.

Couldn't hurt them.

You see it don't you.

In the Incredibles.

Have you seen that film.

Children in the Incredibles.

There's a shield.

That one of the children.

He puts over him.

And so.

Nothing.

Can.

Nothing.

Can.

I think we need to pray.

To.

Janet.

Is not.

Very well.

Let's bow our heads in prayer.

I want to do.

Would you.

Have a look.

Let's pray.

Let's bow our heads in prayer.

Heavenly Father.

We.

We.

Want to pray.

For your help.

And your care.

For our sister.

Father.

We thank you.

For those.

Who have.

Medical skills.

We pray.

That you would.

Bless.

Them now.

And we thank you.

So much.

For your loving care.

And your concern.

We pray.

That.

You would.

Be with.

Uh.

Chan it now.

For we pray.

In Jesus name.

Amen.

Let's just take a moment.

And.

And.

let's lift the Lord in prayer again

let's pray

Holy Father we have

already confessed this morning that all things are in your hands

and we thank you that there is nothing that is outside of your control

and we thank you for your love and care, we thank you for Terry and Janet

for the blessing that they are

and we pray that this issue would not be a major one

we pray that it would be

Janet would be able to get the care that she needs

we pray particularly for Terry that you would strengthen him

and be with him

keep them from anxiety

Holy Father we pray now that as we continue to look at your words

that you would speak to us

our hearts are worried and concerned for our sister who we love

but we pray that you might speak to us through your word

and you might help us

help us and speak to us, bring us comfort and strength

for we pray in Jesus name

Amen

and so they thought didn't they that repentance didn't apply to them

and the danger is for you and I that actually we can feel the same

can't we

we can think I've been baptized

I'm a Presbyterian

I'm a Baptist

and it doesn't really apply to me

I have Calvin as my father

and we need to realise don't we that God can raise children out of the chairs that you're sitting on

out of these walls

God can raise Presbyterians out of this floor

and we must never think

that this repentance

doesn't press in upon us

and so I need to ask you today

I need to ask you

have you ever done this?

have you ever repented?

you know the word in verse 2

it says isn't it

repent for the kingdom of heaven

is at hand

and that is present continuous

it's not just initial

it's live a life of repentance

and that is what John is calling us to

and Jesus said the same thing

Jesus is calling you and I

to a life that is a constant turning away from wickedness

and turning away from our iniquities

and turning to God

and one of the things we learn as Christians

that we realise

and as we face Jesus coming

we realise that we are not fit for the kingdom of heaven

and I am not fit to meet the king

and it is only by his mercy isn't it?

it's only by his mercy

that I have any reason to stand before him at all

and as you grow in grace

and as you grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus

and the better that you get to know him

you will probably find that sense more and more

that you need repentance

it seems an interesting mark isn't it?

that when you grow in grace

you have a clearer and deeper insight

into how corrupt your heart is

Archibald Alexander in the 18th century

19th century

he gave it the Christian life as a picture of a room

and the room is completely dark

and it's utterly filthy

and you know that you're standing in the room

and you know that it's dirty

and there's a little stream of light

and you can see some of the filth

enough of the filth

to know it's dirty

and the more light that comes in

the more you see how stinking it is

and the amount of filth you see

is related to how much light comes in

and isn't that the way of the Christian life?

the more light that we have

the more nearer we come to the Lord Jesus

the more we know of his word

the more we see of our sin

and we see how unfit we are

and how unworthy we are

to be in the kingdom of God

now we need to watch that don't we?

we need to watch that

because it's really easy to fake it

and there are phonies out there

spiritual phonies

that are constantly telling you

about how terrible and evil they are

they're a plague

and they do it to kind of carry favour with men

so we think oh aren't they godly?

we don't have to share in that

but I do think we need to realise

as Christians that the longer we go on

it is a life of repentance

you are not for this kingdom

the second thing I want you to see

is in verses 13 to 15

just look at the place where Jesus stands

he stands by the Jordan

and he comes to John to be baptised by him

and this puzzle

John says

what are you doing?

verse 14

coming to me to be baptised

I need to be baptised

by you and your coming to me

it doesn't make sense does it?

you don't need to be baptised

I need to be

and Jesus explains to him

no no no

in one sense you're perfectly right

but you see John

it is necessary

for us at this time

to carry out God's will

to fulfil righteousness

to let it take place

and the place where Jesus stands

why is that such a problem?

well look at verse 6

look at the text

verse 6

and verse 11

who is this baptism of John the Baptist for?

it is for sinners

those Jews that went out to him for baptism

they were doing something

they were confessing their sins

and John says

in verse 11

I baptise you with water

for repentance

and so what on earth

is Jesus

the sinless lamb of God?

sorry

good news

Janet is

I think

they don't think it's a stroke

just too hot

and

and

and

and

and

and

not as bad

as we fear

is that alright?

can we have a bit of air in this room?

I don't want that to happen again

is that alright?

let's turn it down

you don't

right

now you've not listened to the last 10 minutes

but we'll try and get back there

okay

so who was the

who was the baptism of repentance for?

it is for those who

had sin

a story about Shamil

isn't it?

Shamil was a guerrilla

fighting against the

Tsarist regime in Russia

in about 1870

and Shamil

it wasn't just Shamil

and his men

it was their

wives and their families

there was this whole

kind of little community

fighting against the Russians

and there was this

tight little universe

of kind of bandits

outlaws

but something happened

in Shamil's society

someone stole

and in a tight little community

no one knew it

no one knew who did it

everything was coming

unglued

by suspicion

Shamil issued a law

thou shalt not steal

and there was a penalty

he says

whoever is caught stealing

there will be a hundred lashes

for the one who is found stealing

well you know the story

a couple of days later

it is found to be his mother

and so there is a dilemma

he has to make sure

his law stands

he can't say

that's my mother

it can't happen to her

but he also loves his mother

doesn't he

he has affection for her

he doesn't want her

to undergo the lashes

so he shuts himself up

in his tent

in the middle of this kind of

outlawed tent

for three days

and after three days

he comes out of his tent

and he says

the law must be upheld

and she must be punished

and she must receive

the hundred lashes

and rightly so

because you can't ignore

the demands of the law

and so there is justice

and after she received

three lashes

Shamil has

his real solution

his real solution

was that he took

his mother away

and he

the leader of that community

took

the ninety-seven

lashes

himself

he commanded

that all of those lashes

would be given

but he would bear them

so the law was upheld

the law was upheld

and love was satisfied

but it was because

Shamil stood

in the place

of the offended

and you might say

well that's a really good

illustration of what

Jesus did on the cross

but what you need to see

is that is what

Jesus is doing

that is baptism

don't you see baptism

is what sinners

need to have done to them

and in verse eleven

and verse six

when Jesus

who didn't need

to be baptized

because he's not a sinner

when he comes

and says

John baptized me

he says

I'm standing

in the place

of sinners

John White

in one of his books

refers to

one of the experiences

he had as a medical student

I've told him this story before

he missed

a practical class

on sexually transmitted diseases

and because John White

had missed the class

he had to go to the class

at night

at a time when students

didn't normally go

to the STD clinic

and as he entered the clinic

a male nurse met him

there was a line of men

there waiting for treatment

and he said to the male nurse

I want to see the doctor

that's what everyone wants

stand in line

said the nurse

ah but you don't understand

I'm a medical student

doesn't matter

you've got it

the same way as everyone else

stand in line

in the end

he says

I managed to explain to him

while I was there

but I can still feel

that sense of shame

that made me balk

at standing in line

with men who had BD

and yet Jesus stood in line

as he lined up

on the Jordan River

the Holy Son of God

the Holy One of God

lined up with a bunch of sinners

waiting to be baptized

and he identified himself

with us

he publicly identified

with those he came to save

he was no sinner himself

but he identified

with sinners

and took his first step

on that career

that was going to take him

to the cross

it's as if Matthew

could have put in

a verse

at this point

it's as if Matthew

could have put in

the verse

in order that the words

of the prophet

might be fulfilled

he was numbered

with the transgressors

note the place he stood

thirdly and lastly

note the assurance

Jesus receives

verses 16 and 17

there's two things

immediately after

Jesus is baptized

there's the equipping

with God's power

by the Holy Spirit

the dove comes down

the Holy Spirit

comes down

in the form of the dove

but I want us to focus

in verse 17

on the expression

of God's favour

that voice said

this is my son

the one I love

and I'm delighted

with him

and I wonder

what those words

would have meant

for the Lord Jesus

maybe you don't often

think God speaks

in such a positive way

or perhaps

maybe you're not used

to seeing that tone

of delight

in God's voice

but did you hear

what he said

he said

here is my son

here is my son

whom I love

and I am delighted

in him

it's a bit like

Genesis 1

do you remember

Genesis 1

in the creation

account

it's a phrase

that keeps on

being repeated

isn't it

and God saw

that it was

good

and several times

and God saw

that it was

good

and God saw

what he'd made

and it was good

and it was good

and it was good

and in chapter 1

verse 31

God stands back

and he sees

everything that he's

made

and he says

that is very

good

if you can put it

in picture form

it says

it's almost as if

God the creator

and the designer

and the artist

he stands back

from his work

and he looks at it

and he says

that is great

that is very

very good

I like that

I really like that

here's my son

the one

I love

I delighted

him

was that not

a great

source

of assurance

for Jesus

imagine how

he must have

felt

when he heard

those words

but it seems

to me

that it's

no wonder

that when you

come to

John's gospel

in John

John 16:32

chapter 16

verse 32

John 16

John 16:32

verse 32

this is what

Jesus says

he says

behold the hour

is coming

indeed it has

come

when you will

be scattered

you disciples

you will leave

me

you will be

scattered

each to his

own home

and you will

leave me

alone

yet I am

not alone

for the

father is

with me

I think

that is

the fruit

of a

deep

assurance

that he's

been given

in his

baptism

and is

this written

for his

sake

alone

is it

only for

Jesus

that this

is written

this is

my son

whom I

love

with him

I'm

well

pleased

doesn't

it also

include us

I know

that we

are not

sons and

daughters of

God

in the

same way

that Jesus

is the

unique

son of

God

but it

is true

isn't it

that we

are the

adopted

children of

God

the Bible

does call

us

sons of

God

Romans 8

14 and

15

and it's

true

that just

as God

calls Jesus

the one

he loves

or the

beloved

in verse

17 of

Romans 8

the apostle

Paul

writing to

the Christians

in Rome

he writes

to those

plural

who are

loved

by God

beloved

by God

it's the

same word

and so

the father

who loves

his only

son

especially

loves his

sons and

daughters

who his

son has

brought to

him

there's

something

about that

type of

assurance

that nothing

can erase

I don't

think this

verse is

here to

tell

parents

to tell

children

how much

they love

them

that is

a great

thing to

do there

isn't it

my father

is here

this morning

I don't

really

talk to

him as

well

but there

are times

aren't there

when a

father or

a mother

expresses

their love

and appreciation

for a

child

and we

remember

it

that wasn't

in your

family

I'm

terribly

terribly

sorry

but the

wonderful

thing about

the gospel

is maybe

it wasn't

in your

family

but God

says to

you this

morning

if you

have faith

in the

Lord Jesus

Christ

that is

my son

that is

my daughter

with whom

I'm

well

pleased

there's

something

about that

type of

assurance

that nothing

can erase

you never

know do you

the sense

of security

and assurance

that a mere

word of

relationship

can give to

someone

many of us

can bear

testimony to

that the

assurance

that we

received

and the

sense of

security

that we

ought to

have

and yes

that comes

better less

or more

with a

parent

but it

comes

powerfully

to us

from God

by adoption

through Jesus

Christ

that he

has called

you a son

or a daughter

and then in

the light

of that

assurance

and security

in the midst

of darkness

and trial

and fear

and anxiety

which you

may even

be feeling

right now

can you

not say

as Terry

and Janet

can say

this morning

I am

not alone

for the

father is

with me

and all

of this

you have

and enjoy

because the

baptiser

is baptised

let's pray

holy father

we will

remember

this sermon

for a long

time

and yet

we want to

pray that

this assurance

that you

give

you give

to your

son

whom you

love

whom you

are delighted

in

we pray

that by

faith

we might

claim those

words as

our own

that we

would be a

people that

repent

turn from

our wicked

ways

and turn

to you

but also

we would

know that

as your

people we

are loved

that we

live with

that tension

and we

delight

in that

father again

we pray for

terry and

janet we

pray that

you would

be very

near them

we pray

that you

would draw

near them

and strengthen

them and

restore them

fully to

health in

jesus name

amen