Text – Matthew 3:17 (read vv.13-17)
“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 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: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:13-17 (KJV)
INTRODUCTION –
Every son wants validation from his father. It does not matter if he knows his father or not; there is a desire in him to hear his father say to him that he is proud of him and the way he is living. It doesn’t matter what his station is in the world, just to know that who he is and what he is doing with his life makes his father proud means everything to the son.
Now I want you to imagine that you were one of those who were in the crowd waiting to be baptized by John. You heard John’s teaching, you heard his admonishing to the Pharisees and Sadducees, you repented of your sins and you were now waiting for your turn to be baptized; and then all of a sudden . . . (proceed to expound on the scripture).
POINTS –
- John was not being disrespectful but he was humbled and knew that the “Mightier One” whom he aforementioned was standing there before him (v.14) when he wanted to deny Jesus from being baptized by him and stated that he needed to be baptized by Jesus (expound).
- Jesus let John know that he needed to perform this baptism so that the word of God can be fulfilled (v. 15).
- This takes us to our text and to our subject for today . . .
A PROUD POPPA!
I stated that every son wants confirmation from his father. I know that there are some sons who have never had the opportunity to know their fathers; that didn’t stop them from desiring confirmation from their father.
But take Jesus. From the beginning of His public ministry He stated that He “Must be about His father’s business!” We recognize that in all things that people had the chance to see Jesus do, He always gave His father the glory and stated that he was doing what His Father told Him to do.
Now we see what is probably the greatest example of a father confirming his son that had ever taken place publicly! GOD the Father is proclaiming before a number of people that he not only loves His son, but He is proud of what He is doing. God is giving His stamp of approval on His Son; and He is doing it with the aid of the Holy Spirit! (Expound and conclude).