Matthew 3:13-17
Why is Jesus being baptized? That’s the central question of this reading, and of this day. It was John’s question, or at least the question behind his initial objection. It’s the question that every child raised in the church eventually wonders: If Baptism washes away your sins, and if Jesus has no sins, then why is he getting baptized? It’s a good question. But it’s also a question Jesus answers. Why? “to fulfill all righteousness” that’s why. And so today let’s talk about what he means by that.
Like so many things that happen in the pages of Holy Scripture, God not only teaches us by the words that the people in the Bible say, but also by the actions they perform. Quite often these actions and events have very deep significance, and it takes keen insight and careful teaching to draw them out. Consider how the flood of Noah prefigures Christian baptism – washing away the wicked, and only the faithful remain – saved through the waters by God’s grace alone. Or take the prophet Jonah being swallowed by the great fish for three days – Jesus tells us the “sign of Jonah” is related to his own rest in the tomb, before his resurrection on the third day. And there are so many other examples of all this.
But Jesus’ baptism is one of these, too. An action and event that is loaded with meaning far above and beyond the simple words describing what happened. It is therefore one of the readings, one of the events in the life of Jesus, that we return to each and every year on this Sunday. We ponder its meaning for us, delve into its mysteries. And each time it seems there is more to say about why Jesus was baptized for us – to fulfill all righteousness.
Martin Luther weighed in on what Jesus means by “to fulfill all righteousness”:
“In other words, in order that poor sinners might come to righteousness and be saved, [Jesus says to John you must now baptize me. For I have for the sake of sinners become a sinner and must fulfill that which God imposed upon sinners, in order that they might become righteous through me.” (Martin Luther, House Postils: Epiphany: Third Sermon — 1534).
St. John Chrysostom, one of the early church fathers, puts it this way: “I have come to do away the curse that is appointed for the transgression of the law. I must therefore first fulfill it all, and having delivered you from its condemnation, in this way bring it to an end. It is fitting for me therefore to fulfill the whole law, by the same rule that it is fitting for me to do away the curse that is written against you in the law: this is the very purpose of my assuming flesh and coming here.” (Homily XII, Matt. III., 13.)
St. Paul has a similar idea when he writes to the Corinthians: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
And so Jesus is anointed with the Holy Spirit, set apart and proclaimed as the Son of the Father, with whom God is well pleased. But it also proclaims him as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. John had already said so. Now it's even more official. Jesus who has no sin, enters those waters for us, not to be washed of his own sin, but to take on our sins.
You might even say that as Jesus, in his baptism, takes our sins upon himself – it is a sort of "Reverse-Baptism". Part of the “Great Exchange” between The Righteous One and those he makes righteous by fulfilling all righteousness.
Some have suggested it's as if all the sins of the people that were washing off into the Jordan with John's baptism, Jesus waded in and took upon himself, like a giant holy sponge, taking even more – taking all the sins of the world on his shoulders, or into his own body. And with his eye on the cross, where he would take all those sins to die.
Notice also: The whole Trinity was in action in his Baptism, the Father's voice, the Spirit's descent as a dove. And so, also, in yours – the whole Triune God places his name on you by those waters. The Spirit is at work on you and in you. The Father's words of Jesus are spoken as much to you – you are now his beloved child. With you he is well pleased. The same Spirit has sanctified you, and continues to make you holy, continues to point you to Christ, continues the good work begun in you, bringing it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ.
You and I are baptized into Christ, who was baptized for us, to fulfill all righteousness.
Who can say enough about the gift of Christian baptism? It works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare. It creates faith, drowns the Old Adam and raises the New Man in Christ. It is a daily renewal. It is a lifelong blessing. It is the seal of God's approval and the sign that you too will be part of the final resurrection. It's not just a symbol, though, it actually does what God promises. It is the means of God's grace in Christ for the making of disciples of all nations, Jews and Gentiles alike.
But when we speak of Jesus' Baptism, we can't only mention the one in the Jordan by John. There's another baptism. Hear his words to his disciples from Luke 12: “I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!” and Mark 10 to James and John, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
You see for Jesus, his baptism, his greater baptism, the one that mattered even more, was the cross. For Jesus the baptism in the Jordan was part and parcel of, and led directly to the baptism of Golgotha. There the sins of the world were washed away, not in ritual water, but in the real sweat and blood of his death. There at the cross was the baptism of all baptisms, the baptism into which all who are baptized are baptized... into his death, and into life eternal.
And now we see from Romans 6 that your baptism, dear Christian, is also part and parcel of his baptism. You were, in your baptism, buried with Christ into death, that just as Christ has been raised from the dead, you too might walk in newness of life. Your baptism unites you to him, even as his baptism united him to you. And all of it leads to the cross, to death, and to victory over death in him.
This is why baptism is such a comfort when Christians die. Oh sure the culture wants us to say nice things about our departed loved ones, and there’s a time and a place for that. But one of the greatest comforts in the shadow of death is the hope that baptism brings. Buried with Christ already, raised with Christ by faith to newness of life, and one day, you who are baptized will be raised bodily to the life of the world to come.
In the end, none of your works matter, but God’s work of baptism does not fail. And so this sign, this seal, this water-mark upon your brow is really preparing you for life, for death, and for eternal life.
There truly is nothing worth comparing to this life-long comfort sure. Open-eyed my grave is staring, even there I’ll sleep secure. Though my flesh awaits its raising, still my soul continues praising, I am baptized into Christ. I’m a child of paradise!
So rejoice this day in the baptism of our Lord, at the Jordan, and in the baptism of our Lord that is the cross. Rejoice this day that in your baptism, you receive the benefits of his baptism. Rejoice this day that each and every day “baptism has the power divine to make life immortal mine”.
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