Monday, June 17, 2013
Matthew 3:13-15 Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
YOU ARE BAPTIZED IN CHRIST: HE IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Jesus' Baptism was the beginning of His public ministry. It had now come to the point in His life as Isaiah prophesied that He was "to preach good tidings to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, and open the prison to those who are bound" (Isaiah 61:1). Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to fulfill the sacrificial work for the forgiveness of our sins as the "LORD our Righteousness" (Jeremiah 33:16).
We know that water makes up about 60-70 percent of our bodies, as well as roughly 60-70 percent of the earth's surface. Water has many purposes in everyday life, but none that compares to the special purpose God gives it in connection with Baptism. The water in any baptismal font or even the Jordan River is nothing special in itself--until it is combined with the POWER of God's Word. Just as it doesn't work to get anything clean without soap, the same is true about Baptism without God's Word. Water alone simply won't do the job.
Christians like us get quite filthy from day to day by what we do and what we don't do in view of God's righteous law. It is truly a blessing to be reminded that we have been washed! Jesus has fulfilled all righteousness for us--we are baptized in Christ!
God's own child, I gladly say it: I am baptized into Christ!
He, because I could not pay it, gave my full redemption price.
Do I need earth's treasures many? I have one worth more than any
That brought me salvation free Lasting to eternity!
(Worship Supplement 2000, 751:1)
