Session 4: The Jordan

Session Overview

Creedal Statement

Coming soon.

Key Elements

• Key Passage - Matthew 3:1–17
• Scripture Memory - For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. 2 Corinthians 10:18
• Catechism - Q: What do the waters of baptism symbolize? A: Acceptance/Approval.

Introduction

Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”

Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without the wind, or chariots without steeds; like branches without sap, we are withered; like coals without fire, we are useless; as an offering without the sacrificial flame, we are unaccepted.

All humans seek acceptance and approval. From the smallest infant to the aging elder, the desire for approval is intrinsic to human experience. We long to belong: to fit into a community, to have a meaningful place in society, to enjoy loving relationships, and to find security in a system of trusted support. Our deep desire for approval and acceptance influences decisions, impacts behavior, regulates speech, and affects emotions. Although human approval is a pressing concern in the human heart, people long for divine approval above all else. This desire may not always be explicitly expressed or vocally acknowledged, but acceptance from God is a core human desire. Sadly, sin has marred our relationship with God and has sent aching sinners into the wilderness on a quest to recover this most meaningful relationship.

Importantly, no amount of human effort or engineering can secure a person’s acceptance from God. In fact, only by abandoning fleshy pursuits, selfish ambition, and prideful confidence is reunification with God possible. Access to God is achieved through an honest acknowledgement and decisive rejection of sin. Confession of truth, repentance from wrongdoing, faith in Christ, and allegiance to God’s kingdom bring free access to a restored relationship with God. This promise has been whispered and prefigured in the Old Testament Scripture. These whispers crescendo into a loud and convincing testimony in the New Testament realities. The power of God’s judgment and salvation at the flood, the might of God’s liberation through the Red Sea, and the cleansing of Naaman in the Jordan River all lead us to encounter an austere prophetic voice living in the wilderness, a bold preacher who announced a viable path for sinners to gain acceptance with God.

The scriptural account of Matthew 3:1–17 records these important wilderness happenings. As a fulfillment of a long train of redemptive events, the story of John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus teaches us about Christian devotion and the Christian rite of baptism. In this story, we see the life and vocation of John the Baptist upheld as a model of devotion and commitment to God. John’s ministry of preaching and baptism summoned people to align themselves with God’s inbreaking kingdom, calling them to confession, repentance, and water baptism. Confronting superficial veneers of religion, John called all true disciples to exhibit their devotion (and the genuineness of their baptism) with the fruit of an obedient life. John’s ministry taught all disciples that humble submission to Christ—acknowledging his worth, might, and authority in our lives—is the great defining mark of Christian disciples. In this way, water baptism symbolically reflects the reality of a transforming baptism of the Holy Spirit that comes through faith in Christ. Although Jesus was without sin (thus without any need to repent), he was baptized by John in the Jordan River to show a fitting fulfillment of his righteous character and an example of acceptance by God.

This biblical account highlights another important function of baptism: it is a rite of initiation that announces that disciples have gained approval before God as his accepted children. The rite of baptism has been given to the community of faith to publicly display disciples’ devotion to God. It marks the Christian community as a “kingdom people” of confession, repentance, faith, obedience, and empowerment. Knowing that the waters of baptism are no magical source of power, Christians see this rite of passage as a reflection of a divine work of transformation in the life of God’s people. God’s people most naturally display their devotion to God as his own possession, children of God fully accepted into his family and marked by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Beloved children of God who have been raised to new life by God’s power, the church orients its entire life in service to Christ as God’s family. As we explore this passage for what it teaches about baptism, devotion, and the life of faith, may our ears be open to listen to the voice crying out in the wilderness to hear what he has to say to us today.

Biblical Interpretation: Hearing the Word

Study the Text: The Bible is God’s inspired word to his people. Christian disciples mature in the faith when they are grounded in God’s word. In this movement, you will study the basic details of the biblical text.

Observation Questions

Read (or listen to) the whole passage of Scripture. Discuss the questions below for each section of the story. Pay attention to the details of the text to recall what the passage is saying. Use the focus verses to guide your conversation.

Storycraft

Retell the story in your own words, recounting the overall flow of the narrative, the main segments of the story, and the major developments that take place.

Narrative Elements

Story Retell

Theological Dialogue: Discussing the Plot

Explore the Text: God’s word is his trustworthy and sufficient revelation to his people. We grow as Christ’s disciples by rooting our lives in God’s unchanging truth. In this movement, you will explore vital teachings of this biblical passage.

Discussion Questions

Summarize the biblical story. As a community, discuss the following questions. Be attentive to the truths taught in this text. Use the commentary on the next pages to uncover core principles this passage teaches about the Christian faith.

Biblical Commentary

Use this commentary to help you understand the meaning of the text. Refer to the infographic on the next page to think through how narratives work.

Passage Introduction

Key Idea

In baptism, believers express repentance from sin, embrace a life of obedience, confess allegiance to Christ, and celebrate acceptance with God.

Passage Overview

Bringing to fruition God’s gracious and grand acts of salvation in history, Jesus Christ came as the ultimate fulfillment of God’s redemptive work. His baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist was an affirmation of Jesus’ perfect righteousness and full acceptance before his heavenly Father. While we do not have Jesus’ perfection, we can share in his righteousness by placing our faith in him and turning from our lives of sin. Faith in Christ brings us into a restored relationship with God. As John’s life and ministry showcased, this faith is expressed by repentance, confession, kingdom allegiance, obedient lives, and humble submission to Christ. Out of a restored relationship with Christ, we live a life of grateful devotion to God. At the beginning of this path to a restored relationship with God is an invitation to confess our sins and turn to God in repentance. In a real sense, the Christian disciple never ceases to confess sin or repent for the whole of their lives. As you study this passage, use the following commentary to help understand the text and discern what it teaches about a life of devotion built upon genuine repentance, sincere faith, and wholehearted obedience to God.

Passage Outline

1. Life and Ministry of John the Baptist Matthew 3:1–6
2. Nature of Real Faith Matthew 3:7–10
3. Two Baptisms and Two Peoples Matthew 3:11–12
4. Jesus’ Baptism Matthew 3:13–17

Fulfilling All Righteousness

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

True repentance … is never alone in the heart of any man. It always has a com­panion—a blessed companion. It is always accompanied by lively faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Wherever faith is, there is repentance; wherever re­pentance is, there is always faith … I am bold to say that the two graces are never found separate, one from the other. Just as you cannot have the sun without light, or ice without cold, or fire without heat, or water without moisture,—so long you will never find true faith without true repentance, and you will never find true repentance without lively faith. The two things will always go side by side.

Introduction

The good news of the gospel is that a restored relationship with God is possible. While humans frantically seek acceptance and approval in the wrong places, the rich promise of the Bible is that Jesus is the key for humans to find the acceptance—divine approval—for which they have always longed. Christian baptism is a foundational Christian rite of passage that celebrates a disciple’s approval before God, acceptance in the church community, and allegiance to follow Christ in devotion and commitment. Importantly, it is out of divine acceptance and approval that Christians live out their devotion and commitment. Christian obedience is not a means to secure God’s approval; rather, Christians respond in grateful obedience because God has powerfully and graciously brought them into a restored relationship with himself.

In Matthew 3:1–17, we read about the life and ministry of John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus Christ. This narrative highlights the nature of Christian devotion and the importance of baptism in the believer’s life. John’s ministry of baptism invited people to make a visible and public display of their alignment with God’s kingdom. This symbolic act of water baptism represented a person’s repentance, confession, and faith in the gospel of the kingdom. John’s confrontation with the religious elite further emphasized the fruit of a transformed kingdom allegiance: a life of faith aligned with God would bear the fruit of obedient living. This transformed kingdom allegiance (reenacted in the rite of water baptism) was an outward expression of an inward change wrought by the Holy Spirit. Although he was without sin, Jesus’ own baptism puts on display the possibility of people’s righteous standing before God.

As we explore the present scriptural story, our hearts need to be sensitive to the Lord’s leading. We must heed the warning John the Baptist gave the Pharisees and the Sadducees so that we do not seek approval and acceptance in the wrong places. The path toward acceptance before God—a reality symbolized in the Christian rite of baptism—is a challenging path of self-denial, humility, and simplicity. While this passage will confront our pride and presumption, it will also challenge our confidence in man-made attempts to find divine approval or misguided efforts to cater to humans for their approval. As this passage is taken seriously, it can strip down these veneers (really barriers) that keep us from reconciliation with God. But while it can remove and break down the calloused fibers of our hearts, it can also graciously rebuild us into a new people, a people with a restored relationship with God, a reordered life, a rich faith community, and a rekindled commitment to God.

Kingdom Coming: Turning to God in Confession, Repentance, and Allegiance

Biblical Narrative (Matthew 3:1–6)

Jesus’ baptism occurred during the ministry of John the Baptist. God chose John the Baptist as a forerunner to the promised Messiah to prepare the way for Jesus. With the voice of a prophet, John came “preaching in the wilderness of Judea” (3:1). The ministry of John was anticipated by the Old Testament prophets (cf. Isaiah 40:3) as “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,” who would “prepare the way for the Lord” and “make straight paths for Him” (3:3). Specifically, he announced the coming of God’s righteous rule and called people to turn from their sins. A message that Jesus would himself later preach (cf. 4:17), John called people to “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (3:2). In terms of devotion to Christ, John was calling people to align their lives and loyalties with the character of God’s kingdom.

The lifestyle of this wilderness prophet was fitting to his message. John the Baptist wore a garment made of camel’s hair fastened by a leather belt (3:4). His food consisted of wild honey and locusts (3:4). Giving us a clue into John’s own devotion to God, his simple attire and lean diet highlighted the focused, earnest, and intense devotion John practiced. His life and ministry were intertwined; his livelihood was utterly dependent upon God; his lifestyle was characterized by the message he preached; and his lifework was absorbed with God’s purposes. The austerity with which John lived and ministered—the remoteness of the wilderness, the meagerness of his diet, the meekness of his clothing, and the pointedness of his message—compelled the attention of many such that “people went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan” (3:5). Not aiming to build a kingdom of his own, John was not enamored with this public attention or crowds of people. He knew his work was to direct people to the coming Messiah. When people came to express their own devotion to God, John baptized them in the Jordan River (3:6). Heeding John’s message of repentance and kingdom ethic of a God-centered life, the people were “confessing their sins” (3:6) as a part of the act of baptism.

Biblical Principles

Exemplifying Devotion to God. John’s life and ministry depicted devotion to God. At the center of his life and ministry was a message of kingdom allegiance and humble repentance: a call to turn from sin and live a life as a citizen in God’s kingdom (3:2). John’s very life as a prophet became a parable to his message: a message of commitment to God. The extreme situation of John’s wilderness existence emphasized his commitment to God. John was God’s servant, sent to fulfill a divinely appointed assignment (3:3). Because he dared not lose focus on his God-given calling, he paid painstaking attention to his lifestyle. John focused on serving God and brought his manner of life into conformity with this great vocation. His simple lifestyle—wilderness setting (3:1, 3), plain clothing (3:4), and basic sustenance (3:4)—highlighted his dependence on God, his denial of self, and his undivided focus on God’s work. John’s life was in harmony with his ministry. John’s prophetic vocation called him to embody God’s kingdom character in word and deed. Consequently, when John called people to turn to God, he was calling them to turn from their sin and accept the truth of God’s coming kingdom, a message he thoroughly embraced in preaching and conduct. For contemporary believers, the testimony of John’s life and ministry still speaks. His life of devotion is a model to follow, an example to heed, and a paradigm to pattern our lives.

Turning from Sin, Turning to God. John used baptism as a means to symbolize and initiate people’s turn from sin and turn to God. Devotion to God begins with rejecting wickedness and wrongdoing. The river in which Naaman bathed (cf. 2 Kings 5:1–27) was the same river in which John baptized those who embraced his message. When John baptized people in the Jordan River, they were forsaking their lives of sin. But they were also reorienting their whole lives to God. The act of turning to God involved confessing sin (3:6), repenting from sin (3:2), and aligning oneself with God’s kingdom (3:2). Confession entails admission of one’s guilt before God. Building upon this honest confession to God, repentance involves a turning from sin and a turning toward a whole new way of life. Those who repent reject the life of sin in order to embrace citizenship in God’s kingdom. John depicted God’s kingdom as inbreaking—“the kingdom of heaven is near” (3:2). Confessing and penitent disciples align themselves in allegiance to God, becoming willing subjects under God’s righteous rule. John’s ministry and message emphasize the depth of meaning in Christian baptism: acceptance of the gospel message, renunciation of evil, and citizenship in God’s kingdom.

Divine Initiative. As much as baptism symbolizes these spiritual realities—confession, repentance, and kingdom—John’s baptizing ministry also taught about the nature of devotion to God. Devotion involves a full and total realignment of our lives—much like the substance of John’s own commitment—to God and his kingdom paths. But our devotion to God is birthed by God’s loving commitment to us. Sin impedes access to God. Sin sets humanity on a path contrary to God. Sin encourages people to live in indulgence and self-pleasure. Sin comes from a wicked kingdom that opposes God, and humans cannot overcome sin in their own strength. Importantly, John’s invitation for people to turn back to God was predicated upon divine initiative—God was coming to them. John’s prophetic vocation was to “prepare the way for the Lord” and to “make straight paths for Him” (3:3). This statement highlighted John as a forerunner. In Jesus, God was coming to save sinful humans from their desperate and condemned condition. John came to get people ready—his original audience and us—to receive the Lord and his salvation. He came as a prophet to prepare the way for the coming of God. The coming and inbreaking kingdom (3:2) was a matter of God visiting his people (3:3) because humans could never reach God on their own work or initiative. Our repentant turn to God is only possible because of God’s rescuing advent on behalf of his people. At its core, true devotion to God is a fitting response to God’s loving pursuit of his people.

The Axe Is At the Root: Embracing Lives of Fruitful Obedience

Biblical Narrative (Matthew 3:7–10)

Although many people came to the wilderness to make declarations of faith in John’s message of repentance (cf. 3:5–6), many Jewish religious leaders—“Pharisees and Sadducees” (3:7)— also came out to him. The Pharisees and Sadducees were uniquely devoted to Jewish practice and faith. They represented strict adherence to the Law, religious purity, and Jewish custom. In Matthew’s telling of the story, while many came to John and “were baptized by him” (3:6), these religious leaders were simply “coming to his place of baptism” (3:7). They arrived in the wilderness as spectators or examiners rather than as full participants and recipients. They did not come to receive baptism or express repentance. They came as religious experts who would render an opinion on John’s ministry and message. John’s proclamation and prophetic ministry exposed the hypocrisy of these pious authorities and social elites.

John called the Pharisees and Sadducees a “brood of vipers” and challenged how serious they were to “flee from the coming wrath” (3:7). John’s confrontation was a direct indictment against these leaders who hardly came to the wilderness to confess, repent, and be baptized. Addressing their spiritual blindness, John commanded them to “produce fruit … in keeping with repentance” (3:8). These leaders were a part of God’s chosen people—the Jews. Their ethnic and religious heritage should have made them attuned to John’s message. After all, the history of the Jewish people was a lengthy chronicle of God’s extravagant grace rescuing his sinful and undeserving people. But their religious privilege—“we have Abraham as our father” (3:9)—had made them overconfident in their spiritual condition. John rebuked their self-assured spirituality: “Do not presume to say to yourselves” (3:9). Mere family lineage could not save any person from God’s wrath. Equally, God could form his people out of inanimate objects if he wanted to: “For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham” (3:9).

The real children of Abraham were marked by spiritual fruit—faith, confession, repentance, and obedience—not a biological family tree. Although the Jewish leaders came to the wilderness to appraise the ministry and message of John, it was their lives that John evaluated. Using a powerful figure, John described a person’s true spiritual condition to a tree being assessed for its health and maturity. John told his audience, “The axe lies ready at the root of the trees” (3:10). There was an immediacy to this judgment in that a person’s fate would be determined by their spiritual condition. John explained to the crowd that “every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (3:10). Birth into a specific family lineage did not make a person godly. A life characterized by spiritual fruit provided evidence of genuine spiritual maturity.

Biblical Principles

Superficial Spirituality. John’s confrontation of the Pharisees and Sadducees highlights an important dynamic of Christian devotion. External realities do not determine a person’s true spiritual condition. Jewish people could easily depend upon their genealogies (3:9) to feel secure about their status before God. Even more, the Pharisees and Sadducees (3:7) could have relied upon their elite religious positions to feel a certain spiritual superiority. Mere external spirituality can lead to arrogance, pride, and conceit (3:9). What John confronted in the wilderness remains a present malady that threatens our own hearts. Christian ancestors, a believing family, church attendance, public rituals, and even religious authority do not make a person acceptable in God’s eyes. Proximity to the faith does not mean a person is in the faith. Sadly, we can wrongly rely upon externalities to bolster spiritual self-confidence when it may only create a thin veneer of spiritual depth. Faux spirituality abounds, however manicured and official it may appear to be. We must beware of thin spirituality, which is only superficial, peripheral, and external in nature. To embrace a true faith—one that is internal and genuine—we must go much deeper, to the very roots.

Internal and External. The roots of one’s faith are determined by the fruit that a person yields: “Produce fruit … in keeping with repentance” (3:8). Each person’s life will be judged—“The axe lies ready at the root of the trees” (3:10)—by the fruitfulness of their lives. In this sense, the way we live our lives is evidence of our faith condition. It is possible to appear prestigious in religious garb but to be a “brood of vipers” (3:7). This is different from an external spirituality and works-based thinking. External spirituality relies on outward displays of religiosity to garner confidence before God. Self-righteousness attempts to earn favor with God by acts of obedience. Neither of these represents Christian devotion. Genuine spirituality is established by a strong and healthy root (the part of a tree that a person does not see), which gives evidence to its sincere faith by external visible fruit (the part of a tree that a person can see). The internal and external dynamics of spirituality are important. External performance without internal reality exposes one’s faith as a fraud. Faith profession without fruitful living confronts one’s piety as insincere. Christian disciples fully devoted to Christ wisely attend to the internal and external dynamics of their lives and faith community.

Life Transformation and Obedience. Forsaking a former life of sin, believers in Jesus embrace their new life in obedience. Faithful obedience to Christ’s ways is an expression of devotion and worship as well as proof that our turn from sin to God is sincere. Disciples who come to faith in Christ and turn from a life of sin evidence this foundational transformation in their lives when they operate by a whole different set of life principles. When we obey God’s ways, we are declaring that we have actually turned from a life of sin in earnest repentance. Forsaking old ways must be replaced by the adoption of a whole new way of life. While obedience is not how we enter into God’s kingdom, it does display evidence that our lives have been changed. Repentance is only as good as its fruit. Feigned repentance or counterfeit confession will ultimately be exposed. While no one can earn their way into God’s kingdom (it can only be freely received by repentance and faith in Christ), we evidence our salvation by lives of obedience.

John’s critique of the Jewish leaders was that the character of their lives did not match the content of their profession. They depended upon an ethnic legacy to vouchsafe their acceptance with God. They relied upon their position of power and prestige as evidence that they had gained God’s approval. They were not coming to find the path to escape the coming wrath. Although they were Jewish religious leaders, John the Baptist equated this religious elite as more akin to venomous vipers because they had not submitted to God’s word in their hearts. As a rite of passage, baptism invites disciples to leave and abandon their former life and embrace a new life of obedience in God’s kingdom. Baptism is a public attestation that a real and lasting transformation is brought about in our lives. Not only have we escaped God’s wrath, but we have submitted to God’s word as the authority for character and conduct. In the former life, sin held us in dominion; in the new life, Jesus is our king and commander. In the old way of living, we relished in sin, evil, violence, and self-aggrandizement; in the new way of living, we have pursued that which is good, life-giving, righteous, and true. Before Christ, we faced judgment, being cut down and thrown into the fire as a tree that produced no good fruit; now in Christ, we have escaped God’s coming wrath and bear fruit of righteousness and godliness.

The Holy Spirit and Fire: Bearing Witness to God’s Transforming Work in Our Lives

Biblical Narrative (Matthew 3:11–12)

John’s life and ministry called people to repentance of sin and summoned them to live lives of fruitful obedience. Still instructing the crowd, John clarified the nature of his ministry in relation to Christ’s ministry. The wilderness prophet asserted that he baptized “with water for repentance,” but Jesus would come baptizing “with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (3:11). This latter phrase is difficult to interpret. Although some think it could refer to two baptisms—Holy Spirit for the saved and fire for the unsaved—it likely refers to one and the same baptism. Rather than this baptism referring to a person undergoing inescapable judgment, it likely referred to a baptism of the Holy Spirit that involved one’s salvation. When a person is saved, they receive the Holy Spirit. The Spirit’s residing presence in the lives of his people (cf. Malachi 3:2–3; Acts 2:3) brings about a transformation that can be compared to the purification that occurs when an object goes through fire. Therefore, this baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire could singularly refer to the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life, resulting in purification and empowerment. In sum, John’s baptism of water had no saving power but only pointed to the saving work that Jesus and the Holy Spirit could bring about in a person’s life.

In this way, John’s life and ministry intentionally pointed people to Jesus. John described Jesus as one coming after him who was superior to him: “after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry” (3:11). In relation to Christ, John was a humble servant. Although John’s ministry preceded the ministry of Jesus, John was subservient to him. Despite the crowds that came out to the wilderness to hear and heed John’s message, he was only a forerunner, preparing the way for people to declare their undivided allegiance to Christ. John explained that Jesus was the true judge who had a “winnowing fork … in His hand” (3:12). In his judgment, Jesus would adjudicate between all humans and “clear His threshing floor” (3:12). While John was a prophetic instrument in God’s hands, Jesus had (and has) power and authority to judge. Specifically, Jesus would “gather His wheat into the barn” but would “burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (3:12). One’s relationship to Jesus (exhibited by one’s baptism) determined one’s eternal destiny.

Biblical Principles

Two Baptisms. John’s continued explanation gives insight into the nature of baptism and Christian devotion. This prophetic forerunner of Jesus highlighted a connection between water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. John characterized his baptism “with water for repentance” (3:11). John announced that Jesus would distinctively baptize people “with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (3:11). In one sense, John’s baptism is contrasted to Jesus’ baptism—the latter is clearly seen as superior to the former. In another important sense, the two baptisms are part of a continuum—an unfolding and progressive reality. John’s baptism is a sign that points to Jesus’ baptism. The two baptisms differ from and relate to each other in a way that reinforces the essence of the Christian faith. While John’s baptism was important, it pointed people to a greater baptism that would come. His baptizing ministry was subservient to and dependent upon Jesus’ superior ministry. John could not restore people to a relationship with God. Jesus was the “One more powerful” (3:11) who could bring about a lasting transformation in a person’s life. Water baptism—whether John’s or Christian baptism—is an outward and visible sign that attests to inward and spiritual realities.

Holy Spirit. Jesus brings spiritual transformation through the power of the Holy Spirit. When people place their faith in Christ, they receive the Holy Spirit. As John described it, this reception of the Holy Spirit is a kind of baptism—an immersive experience of undergoing the Spirit’s influence, experiencing the Spirit’s power, assimilating the Spirit’s character, and submitting to the Spirit’s authority. The coming of the Spirit in the life of a believer involves life transformation and purification of sin. Consequently, this baptism of the Holy Spirit is a baptism “with fire” (3:11). Like a refining fire, the Spirit cleanses sin, removes impurity, and purges wickedness. When believers in Christ get baptized, they bear testimony to the Spirit’s transforming work in their lives. This transformation is not merely a one-time event. The Spirit brings about continued purification and growth in the lives of Christ’s disciples. In turn, this sanctifying work represents an ever-deepening submission to Christ’s authority, which bears the fruit of greater devotion to Christ.

Relationship with Christ. Although water baptism is important as a rite of passage, it is meant to reflect one’s relationship with Christ, a relationship effectuated by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In this passage, John defined his life and ministry in relation to Christ: “After me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry” (3:11). John’s confession underscores the coming of Jesus, the power of Jesus, and the worthiness of Jesus. Jesus came to rescue his people (cf. 3:3), and our proper response is to receive him. People experience the benefit of Jesus’ power by trusting him. Believers find coverage and safety in Jesus’ powerful salvation; those who reject him will experience his powerful judgment (3:12). The unparalleled worth of Jesus is a summons for people to submit their lives to his authority and commit their lives to magnifying his glory. For the believer, all of life is defined by one’s relationship to Christ. Christians undergo water baptism because they have come into a relationship with Christ and aligned themselves to follow his ways. What disciples in John’s day were looking forward to—the coming of the Messiah—we look at in retrospect. Nevertheless, we follow the same Lord Jesus Christ. Water baptism is a declaration that our new life as Christ followers is oriented around allegiance to Jesus: he has come to save, he is powerful to protect, and he is worthy of our submission, praise, and worship.

Crossing Boundaries. Baptism is also a boundary-creating and relationship-defining rite of passage. As much as it is a declaration of repentance and an entrance into a new life, baptism has a delineating and dividing effect on humanity. Although baptism unites all believers into one body, it also distinguishes the community of faith from the larger society. Water baptism, in that it reflects the baptism of the Holy Spirit and saving faith in Christ, definitively and demonstrably expresses our allegiance to Christ and our belonging among his people. As a rite of initiation, baptism visibly signifies a person’s transition from unbelief to faith. It represents the passage from the domain of the world to the kingdom of Christ. It publicly announces that a person has joined the community of faith, the church. It is a passage across a threshold, marking that a person has made a definitive and decisive change in loyalty: renouncing evil and embracing righteousness, rejecting the devil and submitting to Christ, abandoning worldly pursuits and resting in divine provision, denying self and serving God’s cosmic purposes.

All humanity is defined and divided by its relationship to Jesus. We either belong to him like “His wheat [gathered] into the barn” or are burned up like “the chaff with unquenchable fire” (3:12). In the end, only those who have expressed genuine repentance and faith will be gathered to Christ. The rest will be burned in fiery judgment. In Christ, our identity as his disciples and our community of the church are explicitly established. Deep bonds of Christian fellowship are forged by common belief in Christ. Personality, class, ethnicity, social status, or hobby no longer define human relationships. The church, as the community of Christ’s followers, becomes our proper place of belonging. In this body of believers, we are distinct from the world. We have been called out of the world to join the people of God. The church, while diverse in expression, is one in shared common faith. Baptism is a boundary-forming event that distinguishes God’s people from the rest of humanity. To come to faith in Christ is to cross over from worldly allegiances into an unreserved fidelity to Christ’s kingdom. This change of loyalty marks us as Christ’s citizens. Although this secures our eternity, this change of loyalty can invite present hardship and affliction. Many cultures know that acknowledging Jesus as one’s Savior and Lord may cause some resistance from the world, but it is often when disciples get baptized that society recognizes one’s loyalties have changed to Christ and responds with more heated persecution.

Fulfilling All Righteousness: Finding God’s Acceptance in the Right Place

Biblical Narrative (Matthew 3:13–17)

Around this time, Jesus came to the Jordan River to get baptized. Specifically, Jesus came to “be baptized by John” (3:13). Jesus had no sin that needed to be confessed. He did not need to repent of a former life of disobedience. The Son of God, Jesus, was completely loyal to God the Father. Jesus was fully perfect and obedient, never breaking one of God’s commands. Fully human and fully divine, Jesus did not need to get baptized to gain acceptance with God. He already enjoyed acceptance and approval with his heavenly Father. John the Baptist knew all of this, but he did not fully understand. Consequently, when Jesus came to get baptized, John “tried to prevent Him” (3:14). John knew that Jesus was superior to him in every way (3:11), but he could not understand why sinless Jesus would be baptized by a prophet who preached a message of repentance to sinners. He did not grasp why Jesus would get baptized by a man of God when he was the Son of God. Why would Jesus get baptized by a servant preparing people for the coming of the Lord when Jesus was Lord himself? In reality, John knew that he was the one who needed to be baptized by Jesus: "I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me? (3:14).

Although John the Baptist did not fully understand Jesus’ baptism, he obediently did what Jesus said. John baptized Jesus as part of God’s plan. Jesus explained some of this to John. Jesus’ baptism was not for Jesus to repent of sin, but because “it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way” (3:15). In this way, Jesus was saying that his act of being baptized would demonstrate that Jesus was fully submissive to his Father, altogether righteous. Jesus was establishing himself as the standard for Christian living and devotion. In effect, Jesus’ baptism highlighted that he (being sinless) had already renounced all sin, that he (being upright) had always obeyed his Father, and that he (being perfect) fully embodied righteousness. After hearing this explanation, John agreed to baptize Jesus (3:15).

When John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, Jesus’ complete righteousness was further put on display. After going under the water, “the heavens were opened” (3:16). This happened “as soon as Jesus was baptized” and “suddenly” (3:16). The Holy Spirit came from the heavenly opening and remained on Jesus: “the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him” (3:16). Having earlier mentioned that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit, the descent of the Holy Spirit showed the harmony between Jesus and God’s Spirit. The Spirit did not come on Jesus in a saving way (he had no sin from which he needed to be saved); rather, he came upon Jesus as affirmation of God’s approval and acceptance of his Son. This approval was made audible as God the Father—“a voice from heaven”—made the following announcement: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (3:17).

Biblical Principles

Immersion. Throughout the history of the church, various traditions have viewed the mode of baptism differently. Some baptize with immersion, pouring, or sprinkling. Unfortunately, we cannot sort through all the complexities of this debate in this current study, but this passage does give some helpful insight into the ancient practice of baptism. When Jesus was baptized, we are told that he “went up out of the water” (3:16). This could mean that he left the river and went to the bank of the river. Or, more likely, it could refer to the moment he came out of being submerged in the water of the Jordan River. The words of immediacy that surrounded the event—“as soon as Jesus was baptized” and “suddenly”—suggest that the Spirit came when Jesus came up out of the water. Additionally, the most basic idea of the term “baptize” is to submerge something under, as in to immerse (3:6–7, 11, 13–14, 16). It carries a basic idea of dipping, dunking, submerging, or plunging as a person would do in washing or cleansing. Due to prohibitive circumstances (i.e., lack of water, illness, etc.), people may have utilized other modes (i.e., pouring or sprinkling). But the core idea of baptism is to place something underneath or into a substance like water. The use of water clearly communicates the idea of purification and washing. It could even refer to cloth that is submerged in a liquid so that it could take on the identity of that liquid, as in the case of dyeing a fabric. The act of immersing a person under water in baptism reflects a person’s new identity, thorough cleansing, and change of status.

Righteousness. The baptism of Jesus richly depicts what a life of devotion entails. Being the embodiment of righteousness and faithful service, Jesus underwent baptism as a means to show himself fully faithful to his Father. He did not need to repent of sin, confess previous disobedience, or realign his kingdom priorities. Jesus was baptized as an affirmation and fulfillment that his life was truly righteous in every way. When Jesus said, “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way” (3:15), he was upholding himself as the standard of righteousness, the fulfillment of God’s promises, and the example for faithfulness to God. When believers come to faith in Christ, Jesus’ righteousness is attributed to their account. By faith in Christ, sinners are accepted and approved by God because of Jesus’ righteousness. Genuine believers rest assured that Jesus’ perfect righteousness is credited to them.

Trinitarian Faith. The trinitarian presence at Jesus’ baptism is also instructive. Jesus’ baptism highlights the complete harmony of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Later, Jesus would instruct his disciples to baptize believers “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (28:19). There is only one God who eternally exists as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In this passage, we have a clear scriptural testimony of God the Father (3:17), God the Son (3:17), and God the Holy Spirit (3:16). Devotion and worship to God grow as we come to terms with the mystery and truth that God is one God who eternally exists as three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The wonder and the mystery of the Trinity animate and activate Christian worship because an accurate understanding of God is foundational to the Christian faith. Simply and profoundly, baptism invites disciples to declare their belief in the Triune God. Relationship to Jesus is what brings us into a relationship with the Holy Spirit and the Father.

Family of God. Baptism is also a declaration of our acceptance before God. While Jesus always had his Father’s favor, humanity has become estranged from God. Repenting from sin, placing faith in Christ, embracing a life of obedience, and receiving the Holy Spirit restores sinful humans’ relationship with God. Faith in Christ allows wayward sinners to gain acceptance and approval before God. The glorious rite of water baptism affirms one’s approval before God and acceptance in the community of faith. Devotion to God blossoms as we understand the kind of relationship into which God invites us. The family context dramatically shapes how we approach all acts of devotion and service to God. Although Jesus is God’s one and only eternal Son, our faith in Christ allows us to be adopted into God’s family as sons and daughters. John himself had said as much when he mentioned that God could raise “children for Abraham” (3:9) from the stones if he wanted. While Jesus is God’s one and only Son, we become God’s children when we place our faith in Christ. The Father’s affirmation of his Son—“this is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (3:17)— is a promised blessing to those who place their faith in Christ. We never rise to the same superior status singularly occupied by Jesus, God’s one and only Son, but we do become sons and daughters of God when we place our faith in Jesus. Although we are unworthy servants of God like John the Baptist (3:3, 11), we are also a part of God’s family. In this way, Christian worship is the filial love of a child to his heavenly Father.

Conclusion

This short but substantive narrative charts for us a pathway to a restored relationship with God. Though he lived thousands of years ago, John the Baptist was a prophetic voice crying out in the wilderness, preparing people for God’s coming. He preached a message of repentance and the ministry of baptism. We are to examine his life and ministry and see an example of commitment to God. His ministry of baptism invites us to renounce our lives of sin and turn to God in genuine repentance, confession, and kingdom allegiance. His confrontation with the religious elite of his day alerts us to the fact that fruitful lives of obedience evidence devotion to God (and the genuineness of one’s baptism). The rite of water baptism, however, was not (and is not) magical. The baptism of water was a symbolic act that signified the Spirit’s transforming work in the lives of Christ’s followers. As Jesus’ own baptism evidenced his perfect righteousness and communion with God his Father, so baptism symbolizes our acceptance before God by our faith in Christ.

Out of such divine acceptance, Christians live in devotion to God. Christian devotion in its truest form does not seek to gain approval from God by obedience or participation in a religious rite such as water baptism. Instead, baptism and obedience are natural byproducts of a life that has already gained acceptance before God. Divine approval is possible through Christ alone. He is the fulfillment of all righteousness. He has an unbroken fellowship with his Father. He offers the Holy Spirit to all who humbly believe. And as God can raise up his family out of nonliving stones, so he can build his family of faith from sinful humans. What is impossible to find elsewhere (that is, acceptance before God) is freely offered in Christ for all who pledge their allegiance to him.

Session Synopsis

SESSION 4 SYNOPSIS
Jordan	In this passage, we learn how acceptance by God is expressed by devotion to God. This narrative tells us about the prophet John the Baptist. He was a forerunner, an appointed messenger who came before Jesus to prepare people to receive him. He preached a message of repentance, lived a model life of devotion in the wilderness, and baptized people who received the good news of the kingdom. Many came to him to be baptized. John confronted Jewish religious leaders who came in self-righteousness and hypocrisy. Eventually, Jesus was baptized by John to show the fulfillment of righteousness. When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove, and God the Father spoke from heaven to declare his love and approval of his perfect Son. God the Father approves of all who place faith in Jesus. Followers of Christ get baptized to testify to their acceptance before God as an act of devotion. A summary of this story’s principles is outlined below.
John the Baptist as an Example of Devotion	John the Baptist is an example of a man who was wholeheartedly devoted to God. His preaching ministry (3:1–2), prophetic calling (3:3), simple lifestyle (3:4), and baptizing work (3:5–6) show a man fully devoted to God. Although John the Baptist had a unique role in redemptive history, his exemplary life, faith, and ministry serve as a model to all disciples.
Water Baptism	Water baptism is a public profession of gospel belief (3:1–2), repentance of sin (3:2, 6, 8, 11), commitment to obedience (3:8, 10), attestation to life transformation (3:7–10), and alignment with God’s kingdom (3:2–3, 11). It is also a sign of a person’s righteous standing before God (3:15), acceptance by God (3:17), reception of the Holy Spirit (3:11), and cleansing of sin (3:11–12, 15–17). Baptism has been practiced in many ways throughout church history. Its most basic meaning is to immerse or submerge (3:6–7, 11, 13–14, 16). As a rite of passage, it is an outward sign of inward spiritual realities (3:7–10).
Spirit Baptism	Water baptism is a sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit (3:11). The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs when people receive Jesus in faith. Upon faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells—like a baptism—and brings about full life transformation.
Jesus’ Baptism	Jesus was not baptized because of his sin. He had no sin to repent from. Jesus was baptized as a means to establish himself as the standard of righteousness and the means of finding acceptance before God (3:15).
Trinity	There is only one God who eternally exists as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus’ baptism shows the oneness and threeness of the Godhead (3:16–17). People should get baptized in the name of the Triune God (cf. 28:19).
Divine Initiative and Human Response	Devotion to God is a response to God’s first coming to sinful humans (3:3, 11, 15). To come to baptism is to declare one’s complete orientation to Jesus, affirming Jesus as powerful and superior.
Crossing Boundaries and Rites of Passage	Disciples of Christ are gathered into the people of God; those who reject Jesus are subject to eternal judgment (3:12). Baptism is a rite of initiation that declares disciples members of God’s family (3:9, 17). As a rite of initiation, believers forsake an old life and embrace a new life in Christ, renounce Satan and trust Jesus, and leave former commitments for a prioritized commitment to Jesus and his church.

Personal Reflection: Entering the Story

Apply the Text: The word of God is binding and authoritative, the only reliable guide for faith and godliness. True disciples submit themselves to God’s word. In this movement, you will apply God’s word to your lives.

Reflection Questions

Encourage one person to share a testimony about how this story has impacted them so far. Use the reflection questions to examine your life in light of this biblical passage.

Spiritual Practice

Ministry Practice: Rehearsing the Script

Minister the Text: God’s word is living and active. Through God’s word, the Christian community is edified. In this movement, you will utilize the biblical passage to minister to other believers and build them up in their faith.

Application Questions

Look at the infographic below. Use the questions to think about how to minister this text to other believers.

Missional Outreach: Publicizing the Truth

Witness the Text: The Bible is a message of God’s gracious salvation to the world. In word and deed, God’s people proclaim the good news of the gospel. In this movement, you will use this biblical passage to reach out to unbelievers.

Strategy Questions

Reflect on the infographic below. Consider how you can use this passage to witness to the surrounding world. Use the suggested ideas to prime your imagination. Then, put together a plan to share this passage with unbelievers, Afterward, reflect on this mission experience.