Luke 3:15-22
Have you ever asked yourself, why was Jesus baptized? Jesus was bigger than John and besides, John’s baptism was for repentance. Did Jesus need to repent of any sin? The earliest witnesses of Jesus’ baptism must have asked these questions. And perhaps John too, because in Matthew’s Gospel, John the Baptist tried to stop Jesus from his baptism: “Why do you come to me? I need to be baptized by you!” John said. These questions about Jesus’ baptism and others will not stop during we are on this earth, and everybody will have a different answer for them. To the question why was Jesus baptized? My answer is simple and plain: for us, and I believe so, because everything Jesus did during His earthly ministry was for: 1) to fulfill the scripture, 2) to please His Father and 3) for the benefit of us, sinners.
With His baptism Jesus inaugurated his public ministry, and what a way to begin his public ministry! by being one with “all the people.” With his baptism Jesus allied himself with the faults and failures, pains, and problems of all the broken and hurting people. By going into the waters as and with the rest of them, he took his place beside them and among them. With his baptism Jesus openly and decisively declared that he stands shoulder to shoulder with all of us in our fears and anxieties. With his baptism He intentionally takes sides with people in their needs and declares that God is on our favor. With his baptism he made himself our brother. Hebrews said 2:11-12 says, “So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation, I will sing your praises.” Thru his baptism and his life Jesus joined our human experiences. In the same letter, Hebrews chapter 4:15–16, says about Jesus, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need”. Because Jesus was tempted in every way, just as we are, he understands, and God’s abundant mercy is available directly and immediately to every person.
Jesus’ ministry of compassion and solidarity with the broken people was vividly confirmed by divine affirmation and empowerment. Still wet after his cousin had immerged him beneath the Jordan, Jesus heard God’s voice and saw the Holy Spirit. These were signs of God’s approval to his ministry. And that is why the writers of the gospels share with us Jesus’ baptism. They did it, not to bring questions and doubts, but to let us know without shadow of a doubt that Jesus has His Father approval; they did it, to let us know that God and the Holy Spirit were present when Jesus began his ministry. “You are my son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
This is important because we can find God’s presence and approval throughout the life of Jesus. When Jesus was born, angels appeared saying to the shepherds “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Like His baptism, his birth also had God’s approval; when Jesus was presented in the temple, his presentation also had God’s approval. Do you remember Simeon and Anna testifying about the baby? And what about when He was twelve and He was talking to the teachers in the temple, Luke tells at the end of chapter 3 that “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.” Jesus always had His heavenly Father approval in every stage of His life.
What all these approvals mean to us? It means that everything Jesus did and said was supported by his Father, therefore every promise He did is real and true; it means that Heaven and earth will pass away, but His words will never pass away, therefore we can trust in Jesus because the greatest power of the universe is in Him and with him.
This approval from the Father made the difference between Jesus and others who came calling themselves messiahs. Mark 1:28 “The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits, and they obey him.” Or in the same chapter verse twenty-two “And they were astonished at his teaching: For he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.
Jesus’ teachings had authority, not only because He was a great teacher, but because he had his Fathers’ approval.
For us this gospel today has two lessons: 1) Trust in Jesus, He has God’s approval. Trust in His words and in His promises. Why? Because according to Matthew 28:18 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him.
Whatever Jesus promised us he will fulfill. He promised to be with us always and because he has all authority in heaven and on earth, he can do it. He is present thru the Holy Spirit; he can be with us because he is alive.
Now that we are at the beginning of a new year, remember the promise of Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
The second lesson we can learn from the gospel today is: if we want to have God’s approval, we must please Him with our life as Jesus did. Philippians 2:6-9 says: have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name…
How can I please God? doing what Jesus did, live according to His word. Joshua 1:7-8 testified about it. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
My brothers and sisters let us live in such a way that when God sees us, he can say once again: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”