JESUS’ BAPTISM & TEMPTATION
PURPOSE
In today’s study, we will examine the baptism and temptation of Jesus.
1.
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS.
(Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-23a) reveal the baptism of Jesus. Why was Jesus baptized by John even though He was without sin?
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n Jesus was “about thirty years old” (Lk. 3:23) when He came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. Thirty was the prescribed age for priests to begin their ministry (Num. 4:3). Joseph was 30 years old when he began serving the king of Egypt (Gen. 41:46), and David was 30 years old when he began to reign over Judah (2 Sam. 5:4). Age 30, then, was a good time to begin an important task in the Jewish culture.
n Why was Jesus baptized by John even though Jesus was without sin? Remember John’s baptism was a sign of confession and repentance with a view to forgiveness of sin.
n Here are several reasons why Jesus was baptized:
a. First, Jesus was baptized “to fulfill all righteousness” (Mt. 3:15).
(1) Perhaps Jesus chose to be baptized, even though He personally had no need to repent, in order to please His Father (Jn. 8:29). Jesus was baptized because He was being obedient to His Father’s will through John the Baptist which was to focus on God’s kingdom (Mt. 3:2).
(2) Often times we wonder “why” we should do the things that Jesus asks us to do. For example, we wonder why (a) Jesus wants us to love our enemies (Mt. 5:44); (b) Jesus wants us to rejoice when we are persecuted (Mt. 5:12).
n We do not always need to know “why” before we do something. Instead we should just do it. Obedience is doing what God or Jesus said, believing that it is the best thing for us.
b. Second, Jesus was baptized to identify Himself with sinful men.
(1) Immediately after His baptism, the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. There may be here a picture of the “scapegoat” that symbolically carried the nation’s sins into the wilderness (Lev. 16:1-10).
c. Third, Jesus was baptized to identify Himself as the Son of God. God officially announced that Jesus is His Son.
d. Lastly, Jesus was baptized in order to receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit so He could fulfill the functions of the messianic office (See Mt. 3:16—Isa. 61:1 Acts 10:38).
(1) Jesus received the Holy Spirit after baptism just like we do (Acts 2:38). Jesus was now ready to fulfill His messianic office to be the Savior. He was given the power of the Spirit in order to minister (Lk. 4:14).
Why should we be baptized?
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