In your Bible of Matthew chapter 3, our second reading is taken from verses 13 to 17. Matthew chapter 3 is on page 808 in the church bibles.
! Matthew chapter 3. Now the passage that Edith read to us really is the appearance of John the Baptist. And then in verses 13 to 17 you have the appearance of Jesus.
Verse 13 reads, then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptised by him. John would have prevented him saying, I need to be baptised by you. And do you come to me? But Jesus answered him, let it be so now for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.
Then John consented. When Jesus was baptised, immediately he went up from the water and behold the heavens were opened to him.
He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him. And behold a voice from heaven said, this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.
When you read the Bible, one of the things that you need to look for is you need to look for things that don't fit.
You need to look for things that jar.
You need to look for things that seemingly don't go together.
And I don't know whether you've picked that up between the first half of John 3 and the second half of John 3, but there's something there which doesn't fit.
There's something there which doesn't go together.
It's how you should feel when you come to the Lord's baptism.
John the Baptist in the first half of the chapter has said, Jesus will baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
That this coming one, he is going to be the baptiser.
And yet Jesus comes to the Jordan, to John, to be baptised by him.
What's going on?
I thought Jesus was the baptiser.
That's what John the Baptist's message is.
How come the baptiser is to be baptised by the Baptist?
It doesn't seem to fit together.
What are we to make of this baptised baptiser?
What can we see in this baptised baptiser?
First of all, Matthew chapter 3 shows us the emergency Jesus creates.
The emergency Jesus creates.
And the reason for the emergency is found in verse 2.
It's one word.
John's word in verse 2.
It is repent.
Repent.
For the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The kingdom of heaven has come near.
Now when it says the kingdom of heaven, it doesn't mean heaven exactly.
It means the kingdom that has its origin in heaven.
The kingdom that is from God who is in heaven.
And the kingdom of God has come near because the king of the kingdom is about to come near.
Jesus is about to come to do his ministry and in his work.
And that creates an urgency and an emergency.
Their response must be they must repent.
Israel was familiar with this Old Testament idea.
The last book of the Old Testament, the book of Malachi.
Malachi.
The people in Malachi said they were really upset about their lot.
They were upset the way things were and how things were going.
And they said, where is the God of justice?
Where is the God of justice?
As if to say that the Lord needs to come and put things right and sort things out.
And the Lord's response in Malachi 3 is, behold, I send my messenger.
And he will prepare the way before me.
And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple.
And the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
But then there was this issue.
When the law that was promised in Malachi 3 actually arrived, here's the problem.
Who can stand when he appears?
And he says, I will draw near.
I will come for judgment.
The Lord's coming isn't all good news.
There's this element of emergency and crisis.
He's saying to the people in Malachi's day, he's saying, are you really sure that you want the Lord to come?
Who can endure the day of his coming?
There's this crisis and emergency.
And the response that you need to make to his coming, John the Baptist says, is repent.
Because the kingdom of heaven has come near.
Now what does it mean to repent?
It doesn't really mean just to be sorry for something.
That is part.
But to say sorry is not really repentance.
In fact, the word sorry is not found in the Bible at all.
It's not really just to change one's mind.
That's what it's sometimes said.
But that is from the essence.
To repent is to turn the whole person from a wrong direction to a right direction.
The classic statement is what we often use for our assurance of pardon in Isaiah 55.
Where Isaiah says to the people, he says, seek the Lord while he may be found.
Call upon him while he's near.
And then let the wicked forsake his way.
And the unrighteous man is false.
And let him return to the Lord that he may have mercy on him.
And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
That is the idea of repentance.
It is a forsaking.
It is a leaving of your wicked ways and your sinful thoughts.
And a returning wholeheartedly, whole life to the Lord.
And God wonderfully will have mercy.
And abundantly pardon.
And this repentance that John speaks with, speaks about, begins with this acknowledgement.
It begins with this acknowledgement that I am unfit for the kingdom of heaven.
That I am unfit to meet this king of the kingdom that is coming.
That's what repentance is.
Now you've got some picture of this emergency that John gives us.
He gives us some snapshots.
And he gives them to us in verse 10 and verse 12.
He says, this emergency, this crisis is something like, let's call the picture in verse 10, Jesus the axe man.
Look at verse 10.
Even now the axe is laid to the root of the tree.
Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
That's what Jesus' coming is like.
He comes with an axe in his hand.
It's going to be like the tree in Sphagata.
Who comes with his chainsaw.
And looks at the tree.
And sees the tree is no longer bearing fruit.
And he fires it up.
And cuts down the tree.
Any tree that doesn't bear fruit.
That doesn't reflect repentance.
Will be cut down.
And already that's the case.
Well let's see the second picture.
Jesus the axe man.
And then Jesus verse 12.
Jesus the thresher.
We're not farmers we.
But verse 12 is the picture of a threshing floor.
And there's a shovel.
A winnowing shovel.
And the farmer takes the grain.
That's been cut up.
And is on the threshing floor.
And he throws it up into the air.
And because it's a windy day.
The wind blows it.
And it carries the chaff off.
But the grain falls to the ground.
Because it's heavier.
What's that a picture of?
It's a picture of separation.
And John says.
Here is one who is stronger than I am.
And he's going to do that kind of cutting down.
And separating.
He's going to bring division.
He's coming to bring.
And to gather a people to himself.
He gathers his wheat into the barn.
But as he gathers his wheat into the barn.
He separates it from the chaff.
And he throws the chaff into the fire.
So you've got these pictures.
Of an emergency.
Whose emergency is this?
Who needs to be concerned about it?
Well verse 5 is the shock isn't it?
Then Jerusalem.
And all Judea.
And all the region about the Jordan.
Were going out to him.
They were going out to him.
And the reason they were going out to him.
Is because they were baptised by him.
In the river Jordan.
Confessing their sins.
That's strange.
Jews.
There's a practice.
In Sydney.
In evidence probably at this time.
And before called proselyte baptism.
The Jews had a practice.
If you were a Gentile.
Or you were a pagan.
Who wanted to become a Jew.
Someone who wanted to convert to Judaism.
You had to go through this practice.
Where the person.
Could go through a certain procedure.
In order to become a member.
Of the covenant people.
In later times.
Even as early as John the Baptist.
It consisted in three steps.
If it was a male convert.
There would be circumcision.
And then there would be a baptism.
A proselyte baptism.
And then you would make an offering.
And then the person.
Having done those three steps.
The circumcision.
The proselyte baptism.
And the offering.
Then that person was counted.
As a partner people of God.
The covenant people.
And that's what happens.
When pagans.
Wanted to join.
Israel.
It was pagans.
Who were baptized.
In order to join the people of God.
Pagans.
But what do you have here?
Can you see it?
In verse 5.
It is.
The people of God.
You have God's covenant people.
You have Jews.
Who.
Being baptized.
Confessing their sin.
They were the ones.
Who were saying.
We're not fit.
For this kingdom.
That is coming.
And we acknowledge.
That that is a strange thing.
Of course.
It's difficult.
Isn't it?
To get Israel.
To see that.
And John seems to be.
Very concerned.
About the group.
In verse 7 to 9.
He sees the Saradices.
And the Pharisees.
And he addresses them.
Because these people.
Think that they don't have.
Any need for repentance.
They look down.
On John the Baptist.
I think John the Baptist.
Who is he?
He's a Johnny.
He's coming from nowhere.
Isn't he?
They look down.
It's too bad.
That John the Baptist.
Wasn't educated.
Or he only had a few years.
In our.
Semory.
It might have refined him.
A little bit.
It might have polished him up.
Otherwise.
This guy.
John the Baptist.
Everywhere he goes.
He creates friction.
Everywhere he goes.
Doesn't he?
And so John sees.
These Pharisees.
These lay.
Spiritual leaders.
And the Sadducees.
The priestly ones.
The clergy.
And when he sees them.
Coming to his place of baptism.
He says.
Do you know what you are?
You're a bunch of snakes.
Who warned you.
To flee from the wrath to come.
Do ministers and elders.
And deacons.
Like to be spoken to like that.
He says to them.
You need to bring forth fruit.
Fruit that reflects.
Repentance in your life.
Do you remember what repentance is?
It is a sorrow.
It is a forsaking.
It is a turning away.
And a turning to God.
You need to show that in your life.
And don't you dare begin to say.
We've got Abraham as our father.
For I tell you.
God can raise up children from Abraham.
Out of these stones.
There was probably nothing.
In the popular mindset.
Of Jesus' day.
So automatic.
As the merit.
And the benefit.
That Abraham conveyed.
On his people Israel.
That's not everyone.
But there was an element.
In the popular Jewish mindset.
Of the day.
That all Israel.
All Israel.
Had a share.
In the world to come.
And the reason why.
Israel had a share.
In the glory of the world to come.
Was because their connection.
To Abraham.
There was one little rabbi.
He drew a picture of Abraham.
Seated at the gate of Gehenna.
Of hell.
Just in case.
Some Israelite.
By mistake.
Might be consigned.
To Gehenna.
And Abraham was seated at the gate.
In order.
To keep any Jew.
From having to enter hell.
If you have Abraham.
As your father.
If you are descended from him.
Among the people.
You are immune.
From any judgment.
Or any need.
From repentance.
Gents.
And John the Baptist says.
No.
This is your emergency.
You need this.
He's trying to get through to them.
Do you remember.
When you'd play as children.
And you'd play a game of children.
You'd be shooting guns and arrows.
Or.
I don't know what else you'd do.
But you'd be playing there.
And then suddenly.
Would kind of.
They would.
They would put on a pretend.
Bulletproof vest.
Wouldn't they?
And so.
It was like their.
Their.
It was like their bullets.
Couldn't hurt them.
You see it don't you.
In the Incredibles.
Have you seen that film.
Children in the Incredibles.
There's a shield.
That one of the children.
He puts over him.
And so.
Nothing.
Can.
Nothing.
Can.
I think we need to pray.
To.
Janet.
Is not.
Very well.
Let's bow our heads in prayer.
I want to do.
Would you.
Have a look.
Let's pray.
Let's bow our heads in prayer.
Heavenly Father.
We.
Want to pray.
For your help.
And your care.
For our sister.
Father.
We thank you.
For those.
Who have.
Medical skills.
We pray.
That you would.
Bless.
Them now.
And we thank you.
So much.
For your loving care.
And your concern.
We pray.
That.
You would.
Be with.
Uh.
Chan it now.
For we pray.
In Jesus name.
Amen.
Let's just take a moment.
And.
let's lift the Lord in prayer again
let's pray
Holy Father we have
already confessed this morning that all things are in your hands
and we thank you that there is nothing that is outside of your control
and we thank you for your love and care, we thank you for Terry and Janet
for the blessing that they are
and we pray that this issue would not be a major one
we pray that it would be
Janet would be able to get the care that she needs
we pray particularly for Terry that you would strengthen him
and be with him
keep them from anxiety
Holy Father we pray now that as we continue to look at your words
that you would speak to us
our hearts are worried and concerned for our sister who we love
but we pray that you might speak to us through your word
and you might help us
help us and speak to us, bring us comfort and strength
for we pray in Jesus name
Amen
and so they thought didn't they that repentance didn't apply to them
and the danger is for you and I that actually we can feel the same
can't we
we can think I've been baptized
I'm a Presbyterian
I'm a Baptist
and it doesn't really apply to me
I have Calvin as my father
and we need to realise don't we that God can raise children out of the chairs that you're sitting on
out of these walls
God can raise Presbyterians out of this floor
and we must never think
that this repentance
doesn't press in upon us
and so I need to ask you today
I need to ask you
have you ever done this?
have you ever repented?
you know the word in verse 2
it says isn't it
repent for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand
and that is present continuous
it's not just initial
it's live a life of repentance
and that is what John is calling us to
and Jesus said the same thing
Jesus is calling you and I
to a life that is a constant turning away from wickedness
and turning away from our iniquities
and turning to God
and one of the things we learn as Christians
that we realise
and as we face Jesus coming
we realise that we are not fit for the kingdom of heaven
and I am not fit to meet the king
and it is only by his mercy isn't it?
it's only by his mercy
that I have any reason to stand before him at all
and as you grow in grace
and as you grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus
and the better that you get to know him
you will probably find that sense more and more
that you need repentance
it seems an interesting mark isn't it?
that when you grow in grace
you have a clearer and deeper insight
into how corrupt your heart is
Archibald Alexander in the 18th century
19th century
he gave it the Christian life as a picture of a room
and the room is completely dark
and it's utterly filthy
and you know that you're standing in the room
and you know that it's dirty
and there's a little stream of light
and you can see some of the filth
enough of the filth
to know it's dirty
and the more light that comes in
the more you see how stinking it is
and the amount of filth you see
is related to how much light comes in
and isn't that the way of the Christian life?
the more light that we have
the more nearer we come to the Lord Jesus
the more we know of his word
the more we see of our sin
and we see how unfit we are
and how unworthy we are
to be in the kingdom of God
now we need to watch that don't we?
we need to watch that
because it's really easy to fake it
and there are phonies out there
spiritual phonies
that are constantly telling you
about how terrible and evil they are
they're a plague
and they do it to kind of carry favour with men
so we think oh aren't they godly?
we don't have to share in that
but I do think we need to realise
as Christians that the longer we go on
it is a life of repentance
you are not for this kingdom
the second thing I want you to see
is in verses 13 to 15
just look at the place where Jesus stands
he stands by the Jordan
and he comes to John to be baptised by him
and this puzzle
John says
what are you doing?
verse 14
coming to me to be baptised
I need to be baptised
by you and your coming to me
it doesn't make sense does it?
you don't need to be baptised
I need to be
and Jesus explains to him
no no no
in one sense you're perfectly right
but you see John
it is necessary
for us at this time
to carry out God's will
to fulfil righteousness
to let it take place
and the place where Jesus stands
why is that such a problem?
well look at verse 6
look at the text
verse 6
and verse 11
who is this baptism of John the Baptist for?
it is for sinners
those Jews that went out to him for baptism
they were doing something
they were confessing their sins
and John says
in verse 11
I baptise you with water
for repentance
and so what on earth
is Jesus
the sinless lamb of God?
sorry
good news
Janet is
I think
they don't think it's a stroke
just too hot
and
not as bad
as we fear
is that alright?
can we have a bit of air in this room?
I don't want that to happen again
is that alright?
let's turn it down
you don't
right
now you've not listened to the last 10 minutes
but we'll try and get back there
okay
so who was the
who was the baptism of repentance for?
it is for those who
had sin
a story about Shamil
isn't it?
Shamil was a guerrilla
fighting against the
Tsarist regime in Russia
in about 1870
and Shamil
it wasn't just Shamil
and his men
it was their
wives and their families
there was this whole
kind of little community
fighting against the Russians
and there was this
tight little universe
of kind of bandits
outlaws
but something happened
in Shamil's society
someone stole
and in a tight little community
no one knew it
no one knew who did it
everything was coming
unglued
by suspicion
Shamil issued a law
thou shalt not steal
and there was a penalty
he says
whoever is caught stealing
there will be a hundred lashes
for the one who is found stealing
well you know the story
a couple of days later
it is found to be his mother
and so there is a dilemma
he has to make sure
his law stands
he can't say
that's my mother
it can't happen to her
but he also loves his mother
doesn't he
he has affection for her
he doesn't want her
to undergo the lashes
so he shuts himself up
in his tent
in the middle of this kind of
outlawed tent
for three days
and after three days
he comes out of his tent
and he says
the law must be upheld
and she must be punished
and she must receive
the hundred lashes
and rightly so
because you can't ignore
the demands of the law
and so there is justice
and after she received
three lashes
Shamil has
his real solution
was that he took
his mother away
and he
the leader of that community
took
the ninety-seven
lashes
himself
he commanded
that all of those lashes
would be given
but he would bear them
so the law was upheld
the law was upheld
and love was satisfied
but it was because
Shamil stood
in the place
of the offended
and you might say
well that's a really good
illustration of what
Jesus did on the cross
but what you need to see
is that is what
Jesus is doing
that is baptism
don't you see baptism
is what sinners
need to have done to them
and in verse eleven
and verse six
when Jesus
who didn't need
to be baptized
because he's not a sinner
when he comes
and says
John baptized me
he says
I'm standing
in the place
of sinners
John White
in one of his books
refers to
one of the experiences
he had as a medical student
I've told him this story before
he missed
a practical class
on sexually transmitted diseases
and because John White
had missed the class
he had to go to the class
at night
at a time when students
didn't normally go
to the STD clinic
and as he entered the clinic
a male nurse met him
there was a line of men
there waiting for treatment
and he said to the male nurse
I want to see the doctor
that's what everyone wants
stand in line
said the nurse
ah but you don't understand
I'm a medical student
doesn't matter
you've got it
the same way as everyone else
stand in line
in the end
he says
I managed to explain to him
while I was there
but I can still feel
that sense of shame
that made me balk
at standing in line
with men who had BD
and yet Jesus stood in line
as he lined up
on the Jordan River
the Holy Son of God
the Holy One of God
lined up with a bunch of sinners
waiting to be baptized
and he identified himself
with us
he publicly identified
with those he came to save
he was no sinner himself
but he identified
with sinners
and took his first step
on that career
that was going to take him
to the cross
it's as if Matthew
could have put in
a verse
at this point
it's as if Matthew
could have put in
the verse
in order that the words
of the prophet
might be fulfilled
he was numbered
with the transgressors
note the place he stood
thirdly and lastly
note the assurance
Jesus receives
verses 16 and 17
there's two things
immediately after
Jesus is baptized
there's the equipping
with God's power
by the Holy Spirit
the dove comes down
the Holy Spirit
comes down
in the form of the dove
but I want us to focus
in verse 17
on the expression
of God's favour
that voice said
this is my son
the one I love
and I'm delighted
with him
and I wonder
what those words
would have meant
for the Lord Jesus
maybe you don't often
think God speaks
in such a positive way
or perhaps
maybe you're not used
to seeing that tone
of delight
in God's voice
but did you hear
what he said
he said
here is my son
whom I love
and I am delighted
in him
it's a bit like
Genesis 1
do you remember
Genesis 1
in the creation
account
it's a phrase
that keeps on
being repeated
isn't it
and God saw
that it was
good
and several times
and God saw
that it was
good
and God saw
what he'd made
and it was good
and in chapter 1
verse 31
God stands back
and he sees
everything that he's
made
and he says
that is very
good
if you can put it
in picture form
it says
it's almost as if
God the creator
and the designer
and the artist
he stands back
from his work
and he looks at it
and he says
that is great
that is very
very good
I like that
I really like that
here's my son
the one
I love
I delighted
him
was that not
a great
source
of assurance
for Jesus
imagine how
he must have
felt
when he heard
those words
but it seems
to me
that it's
no wonder
that when you
come to
John's gospel
in John
chapter 16
verse 32
John 16
verse 32
this is what
Jesus says
he says
behold the hour
is coming
indeed it has
come
when you will
be scattered
you disciples
you will leave
me
you will be
scattered
each to his
own home
and you will
leave me
alone
yet I am
not alone
for the
father is
with me
I think
that is
the fruit
of a
deep
assurance
that he's
been given
in his
baptism
and is
this written
for his
sake
alone
is it
only for
Jesus
that this
is written
this is
my son
whom I
love
with him
I'm
well
pleased
doesn't
it also
include us
I know
that we
are not
sons and
daughters of
God
in the
same way
that Jesus
is the
unique
son of
God
but it
is true
isn't it
that we
are the
adopted
children of
God
the Bible
does call
us
sons of
God
Romans 8
14 and
15
and it's
true
that just
as God
calls Jesus
the one
he loves
or the
beloved
in verse
17 of
Romans 8
the apostle
Paul
writing to
the Christians
in Rome
he writes
to those
plural
who are
loved
by God
beloved
by God
it's the
same word
and so
the father
who loves
his only
son
especially
loves his
sons and
daughters
who his
son has
brought to
him
there's
something
about that
type of
assurance
that nothing
can erase
I don't
think this
verse is
here to
tell
parents
to tell
children
how much
they love
them
that is
a great
thing to
do there
isn't it
my father
is here
this morning
I don't
really
talk to
him as
well
but there
are times
aren't there
when a
father or
a mother
expresses
their love
and appreciation
for a
child
and we
remember
it
that wasn't
in your
family
I'm
terribly
sorry
but the
wonderful
thing about
the gospel
is maybe
it wasn't
in your
family
but God
says to
you this
morning
if you
have faith
in the
Lord Jesus
Christ
that is
my son
that is
my daughter
with whom
I'm
well
pleased
there's
something
about that
type of
assurance
that nothing
can erase
you never
know do you
the sense
of security
and assurance
that a mere
word of
relationship
can give to
someone
many of us
can bear
testimony to
that the
assurance
that we
received
and the
sense of
security
that we
ought to
have
and yes
that comes
better less
or more
with a
parent
but it
comes
powerfully
to us
from God
by adoption
through Jesus
Christ
that he
has called
you a son
or a daughter
and then in
the light
of that
assurance
and security
in the midst
of darkness
and trial
and fear
and anxiety
which you
may even
be feeling
right now
can you
not say
as Terry
and Janet
can say
this morning
I am
not alone
for the
father is
with me
and all
of this
you have
and enjoy
because the
baptiser
is baptised
let's pray
holy father
we will
remember
this sermon
for a long
time
and yet
we want to
pray that
this assurance
that you
give
you give
to your
son
whom you
love
whom you
are delighted
in
we pray
that by
faith
we might
claim those
words as
our own
that we
would be a
people that
repent
turn from
our wicked
ways
and turn
to you
but also
we would
know that
as your
people we
are loved
that we
live with
that tension
and we
delight
in that
father again
we pray for
terry and
janet we
pray that
you would
be very
near them
we pray
that you
would draw
near them
and strengthen
them and
restore them
fully to
health in
jesus name
amen