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Monday, February 20, 2012

Baptizing The King

Baptizing The King

Text: Matthew 3

Focus: Matthew 3:1-9, 13-17.

We began with the generations of Jesus Christ our Lord and His birth of the "Virgin Mary". I did not cover that as good as I should have but we all need to study ourselves to be approved of God.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

In this chapter of Matthew we are introduced to John the Baptist. He could also be called John the Preacher.

The salvation of souls depends entirely on the "death, burial and resurrection from the grave" by the Lord Jesus Christ. The "Church" is based on these facts. Without the Lord's "sacrifice" there can be no salvation of anyone that has ever lived or will live on this Earth. There could be no assurance of a home in Heaven. Those that say they have another way are only using religion as means to forward their own evil agenda.

Many religions teach of other ways to Heaven but there is only one way and to be honest if the death as a suicide bomber and by works is the way, then Heaven is not the Heaven that I have come to know as my future home.

God would not have allowed the death of His Own Son to be a meaningless gesture to pacify those that live in sin on Earth.

As we study the Gospels we can and will see that there is nothing that would have or could have prevented Jesus The Christ from fulfilling every prophesy written about Him and for Him. His day on the "cross" was His way of showing how much He loves the sinners of this world and He loves each one even more once they believe on Him.

If Christ Jesus had not fulfilled all prophesy of Him then He could not be the Jewish Messiah nor the Christian Savior. The first time He came was humbly in a manger. The next time He comes it will be in in Power.

The Bible says:

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

John said "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:"

1.) John used water for the Jews.(calling of Israel to return to God)

2.) Jesus would use the Holy Spirit for salvation.(first coming of Christ)

3.) Jesus would use Fire for those that rejected Him.(second coming of Christ)

Sinful men are born under the curse of sin which is "death".

Rom 6:23 [For the wages of sin is death]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Just as sure as you work to draw a paycheck that you expect to receive. The payment for sin is eternal death of the soul which you should also expect to receive.

Everyone will die a physical death:

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

We can see that there is a judgment that takes place after that physical death. This is the second death that will come on all that reject the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the "judgment" of Hebrews 9:27.

The second death is a separation of the soul from the presence of God into eternal damnation, the judgment.

For a person to avoid this second death he must experience the second birth by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior in faith.

The Bible says:

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Jesus Christ was born, that He might die to save us from all our sin, that we might live eternally! This is the only reason He came to God's creation was to save God's creation.

The Bible says:

Act 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

Act 8:37 And Philip said, [If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest]. And he answered and said, [I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God].

Act 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, [even so we also should walk in newness of life].

We that know Jesus Christ as our Savior have accepted these facts of Jesus by "Faith"!

The Bible says:

1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, [yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

1Pe 1:9 [Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls].

If we are not baptized by the Holy Spirit we are not saved:

Tit 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

Tit 3:5 [Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost];

Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Tit 3:7 [That being justified by his grace], we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

*****Our Text:

John the Preacher:

Mat 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mat 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Mat 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

It is important to remember that the Book of Matthew was written to the Jewish nation, if we are to rightly divide the Word of God. Matthew was trying to convince these Jews that Jesus was indeed the Christ the Messiah. Matthew also refers to the "coming" Church that would not begin until Pentecost.

We should also observe that the ministry of John the Baptist was not in the Temple but outside the gates of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem.

John the Baptist "Preached" outside the established religious system. [In comparison the independent Church began by the Apostles of Jesus Christ at Pentecost have always been outside the established religious systems].

This was prophesied of John:

Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, [make straight in the desert a highway for our God].

Isa 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

Isa 40:5 [And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it].

We know at one time God was in the Temple:

2Ch 5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;

2Ch 5:14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: [for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God].

We know that God left the Temple:

Eze 10:4 [Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house]; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD'S glory.

Eze 10:18 [Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims].

Eze 11:23 [And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city].

We can see that John was in the right place.

When God calls us to be in a certain place then that is where we need to be for our ministry to be blessed of God. You see God still speaks outside the temple and He will continue until the Rapture of the Church. Outside the Temple is where we can hear Him and meet Him.

The Bible says:

Rev 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

John came in the Spirit of Elijah:

The Bible says:

Mar 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Mar 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

We can see that Mark quoted from two different prophets:

Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

We can see that the angel Gabriel told of John.

Luk 1:76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

We can see that Jesus told of John the Baptist:

Luk 7:24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

Luk 7:25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.

Luk 7:26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

Luk 7:27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Luk 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

Again the words of Jesus:

Mat 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

Mat 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

Mat 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Mat 17:12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

Mat 17:13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

Mar 9:13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

I believe we can understand that Elijah will still come but it will not be in the Church age. The forerunner of Jesus Christ at His first coming was John the Baptist. Elijah will return before the second coming of Christ.

*****Our Text:

Mat 3:5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

Mat 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

Mat 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Mat 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Mat 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Matthew skips the boyhood years of Jesus and goes from His birth straight to the beginning of His ministry.

We know that Jesus was surrounded by family:

Mat 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

And He also had sisters:

Mar 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

Notice Jesus had achieved the reputation of a carpenter as taught by Joseph who had adopted Him.

This chapter of Matthew deals mainly with Baptism.

To get a better understanding of what this meant to these Jews let's take time to study. The Greek word "baptizo" comes from the root word "bapto".

"Bapto" means to dip or to dye. It was a common word in the "Fuller's trade. Undress cloth was prepared for use by first dipping it into bleach and then into dye. When the cloth emerged from the bleach it was clean and white. When it emerged from the dye it was altered again.

Even Jeremiah knew that this would not wash away sin:

Jer 2:22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.

Job also knew:

Job 9:30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

Job 9:31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

This the literal concept of Baptism. The word means to change identity, to change appearence, to change a relationship.

To the Jewish mind those that Matthew was writing to this gave the idea of cleansing and consecration to a new identity and a new relationship.

Jewish proselyte were baptized in such a manner. Water was extensively used in the Old Testament for ceremonial cleansing.

Lev 16:4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.

Lev 14:7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.

Lev 15:8 And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

A Jewish proselyte by his baptism signified that he was terminating his relationship in his old society and he was joining himself to Israel and to serve the God of Israel.

The message of John the Baptist was the preaching for the nation of Israel to return back to the God of Israel. Only then could they hear the message of "Grace" that Christ Jesus had.

Remember what Moses had said:

Deu 30:1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,

Deu 30:2 [And shalt return unto the LORD thy God], and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;

Deu 30:3 That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.

The Lord told Solomon:

2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Israel is still seeking the Messiah and yet these are the conditions that will bring the Kingdom of Heaven to this Earth with the second coming of Christ.

John's message was that the Kingdom of Heaven is as near as the nation of Israel returning to the God of Heaven.

"Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand"

Repent or TURN BACK TO GOD.

For upon His coming it would be the Messiah that would provide forgiveness of "sin" and institute a Kingdom of peace and righteousness with His reign as King.

Baptism is but a "public confession of sin". It symbolizes a "Moral Cleansing".

Did Jesus have sin? No, the Bible is specific about that.

[What Jesus was saying at His Baptism is that He was associated with the sinner and not the established religions]!

Baptizing in the Church that Christ built associates us with Jesus Christ who came to be the Savior of the world!

Repentance means to change your mind and then act on that change!

When John told this to the Pharisees, Scribes, Sadducees and The Elders, he was just saying just because you are from Israel and you are the descendant of Abraham, it is not enough for salvation and just saying you are sorry will not help.

John was not satisfied with the remorse and the regret on the part of these people. These Jews would have to show evidence of change before John would baptize them.

Jesus explained it this way:

Mat 21:27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Mat 21:28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

Mat 21:29 [He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went]. (true repentance)

Mat 21:30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. (these represent all who say they are saved and are not)

Mat 21:31 [Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them], Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

Mat 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

To the Christian the evidence of change it to be filled with the Holy Spirit! This can only happen after you have invited the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart!

This not some great physical showing such as speaking some unknown language but it is the knowing in your heart that you believe and have place your faith in Christ Jesus!

The evidence of change is then the changed life. "to be Born Again"!

Jesus said: "ye must be born again"

[Only after this is the need to be baptized] to show we are associated with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and His resurrection. This is a public showing of faith in Jesus Christ.

The Pharisees were "traditionalist" not only holding to the laws of Moses but creating some of their own to make those laws impossible to be kept.

The Sadducees were liberals. They didn't believe in anything enough to endorse it but they did had control of the Temple and the Temple business.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

Act 23:3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

Act 23:4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?

Act 23:5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

Act 23:6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

Act 23:7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

Act 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

Act 23:9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

We know that the Lord Jesus cleaned these business's out on at least two occasions:

Joh 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

Joh 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

Mat 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

Mat 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Mar 11:15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

Mar 11:16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

Mar 11:17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

These two groups fought each other until Jesus came, they then joined forces against Him. This is why John preached a message of judgment.

John fulfilled Isaiah 40:3. He was in a spiritual sense the Elijah that was to come.

Listen to what is said of Elijah:

2Ki 1:8 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

John was the last of the Old Testament prophets but he was the first Christian Prophet and he preached to the Jews first.

Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Mat 11:7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

Mat 11:8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

Mat 11:9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

Mat 11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Mat 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

Mat 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

Mat 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

*****Our Text:

Mat 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

Mat 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

Mat 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

The baptism of Jesus fulfilled at least two purposes:

1.) It prepared Israel to receive the Messiah.

2.) It presented Jesus Christ as that Messiah.

John had mentioned two more baptisms.

1.) A baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Whenever a sinner trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, that sinner is immediately baptized with the Holy Spirit. and into the body of Christ.

1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

2.) A baptism by Fire:

A baptism by fire will only happen at the second coming of Jesus Christ and by Jesus Christ Himself. All non-believers will be baptized by "fire".

Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Why was Jesus baptized:

1.) This gave Jesus' approval of John's ministry.

2.) Jesus identified Himself with publicans and sinners.

3.) It painted a picture of His future baptism on the cross.

Mat 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, [Ye know not what ye ask]. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

Luk 12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

In the Old Testament:

Psa 42:6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

Psa 42:7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Psa 42:8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

Psa 42:9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? [why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy]?

Psa 42:10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

Psa 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? [hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God].

Jesus associated Himself with Jonah:

Jon 2:3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

Jon 2:4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

Jon 2:5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.

Jon 2:6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.

John the Baptist bore witness to Jesus Christ as the "Son of God" but also as the "Lamb of God".

Because of John many sinners trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ:

Joh 10:39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

Joh 10:40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.

Joh 10:41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.

Joh 10:42 And many believed on him there.

The coming of the Holy Spirit like a dove was a sign God to John:

Joh 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

Joh 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

Joh 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

Joh 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

But it also assured Jesus that the Holy Spirit would be with Him as he began His ministry:

Joh 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

The first dove in the Bible was when Noah sent out two birds:

1.) The Raven which found plenty of flesh to feed on in the world.(represent the flesh)

2.) The Dove which would not have any part of the corruption in the world.(represents the Holy Spirit)

But let's compare this:

The name Jonah means "Dove" and he also experienced a baptism. Jesus used Jonah as a "type" of Himself in His death, burial , and His resurrection:

Mat 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Jonah was sent to the Gentiles. Jesus would also minister to the Gentiles.

Don't you just love the Word of God? He makes understanding His Word so easy.

There are three special occassions where God the Father spoke to His Son from Heaven.

1.) Verse 3:17 of our text.

2.) At His transfiguration:

Mat 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

3.) As Christ approached the cross:

Joh 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

Joh 12:28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

Joh 12:29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.

Joh 12:30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

Joh 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

In the past God spoke "to His Son".

Now God speaks "through His Son".

In the Old Testament:

Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; [this day have I begotten thee].

In the New testament:

Act 13:32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

Act 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

What we can see that this "begetting" refers to Christ's resurrection and not the birth of Jesus Christ. We can see how these words are tied to the baptism of Jesus Christ.

That Jesus would also be a suffering prophet also stands out:

Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Isa 42:2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

Isa 42:3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

compare:

Mat 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

God approved everything His Son had done up to this point in His life and His beginning of His ministry. His hidden years in Nazareth had been a pleasing thing to God. God was proud of His "carpenter Son" and all this together encouraged our Savior to begin to Preach and begin His Ministry.

Let's Pray!

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