Closing Prayer
Lord, send us Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Text: Matthew 3:13-17
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. Then Jesus, when He had been baptized, came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Devotion
By His Baptism Jesus entered into our sin. By His Baptism He consecrated the water for our Baptism, so that we are baptized into His righteousness.
He is consecrated as our High Priest, Prophet, and King. As High Priest: “He who knew no sin became sin for us” (2Co 5:21). The Righteous One has stepped in among sinners, and it is said: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Joh 1:29). He is baptized into our sinful condition to make an offering for sin by suffering death. From His Baptism He embarks upon the way of sorrow. As Prophet: From Baptism on He begins His preaching office. From then on He goes around teaching the truth, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and in His teaching He reveals heaven on earth. As King: Now indeed begins in earnest the battle with the devil, who rages against Him with all seriousness, until by His resurrection He wins perfect victory over the prince of death. As the One anointed as our High Priest, Prophet, and King, He is declared to be the Father’s beloved Son, in whom He is well pleased.
By His Baptism He consecrated water as a means of Baptism for us. What glorious and precious water Baptism now is! Christ’s blood and His life of resurrection are in it. By my Baptism I receive what He became for us by His Baptism. He is baptized into my sin; I am baptized into His righteousness. “As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ,” Paul says (Gal 3:27). As the Savior given into death for me and the Intercessor now enthroned in heaven, He has become mine and I have become His in Holy Baptism. I am united with Him, just as He died for me and lives for me, so that in Him I am both dead to sin and dead from sin (Romans 6:3). I have received a portion in His Spirit and have entered into the light; I am received among His disciples and am certain that He does not lead me astray or allow me to go astray. I have put on Him as the Lord who conquers over the devil. I am received into His kingdom, and now I battle in His power and shall thereby win the victory in all struggles against evil. He is my High Priest, my Prophet, my King.
But now it is necessary to believe. All God’s promises are Yes and Amen in Christ (2Co 1:20). Blessed are those who believe and retain the blessings of Baptism! They are God’s beloved children and the heavenly Father is well pleased with them.
Closing Prayer
Lord, grant us grace to believe and remain in faith, in the grace of Baptism, and in Your living communion, to the end. Amen.
Hymn
In Jordan’s water God’s own Son
In sinless manhood bending,
The Spirit, too, from heaven’s t
hrone
In dove-like form descending;
This truth must never be denied,
Our faith should never waver,
That all three Persons do preside
At Baptism’s holy laver
And dwell with the believer.
To His disciples Jesus said:
“Go forth, teach every nation,
For, lost in sin, all must repent,
And flee from condemnation;
All who believe and are baptize
d
Shall thereby have salvation.”
Thus, born again in Jesus Christ,
We’re freed from sin’s damnation.
We shall inherit heaven.
Luther: To Jordan came our Lord, the Christ L 260:4-5 ELH 247:4-5 tr. Composite;
tune: Christ unser Herr