Quinquagesima Service
Quinquagesima-Baptism of Jesus/St. Matthew 3:13-17
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized 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 fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and 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.”
Dear Fellow Redeemed:
God had revealed Himself on Mt. Sinai with Commandments, requirements for people—even requirements beyond their ability to fulfill.
There was good reason for them to have the burden of these commandments staring them in the face.
For one thing, in addition to their conscience, they could know (now in writing) what true godliness actually looks like.
Also, they needed to be brought to see who they really were (sinful heirs of their first parents), and to recognize that the One God was sending was necessary for them.
You know, Jesus told that parable of the tenants, in which a landowner leased His vineyard out to tenants. When he sent servants to receive payment, they were beaten and killed (the prophets are the ones the servants represented). Then, the landowner sent his own son, who they also killed (this represented what Jesus’ listeners were preparing to do to Him).
But God gave His law that shows people their sinfulness because it was critical that they receive this Chosen of God, and trust in Him as their righteousness before Him—the one Who brings forgiveness and salvation (otherwise, how could they be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth as is God’s desire?). They needed to know that they weren’t going to be in God’s eternal kingdom without this Savior God was sending.
In our Old Testament lesson for this morning, God is reiterating through the prophet Isaiah, that He sends His chosen, Who says among other things:
“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you.”
It’s all good that He’s saying about this One Who is coming (who wouldn’t want that kind of interaction with God—especially knowing what we really deserve from Him?). He will be humble and patient with sinners, this prophecy foretells. He will bring justice and liberty to those who are imprisoned by their sinfulness.
Isn’t it pretty clear, also, that God’s revealing of Himself at Jesus’ Baptism is a Gospel revelation. It’s a statement to people:
Do you want to have God’s goodness and mercy rather than His anger and punishment? Here is where it is to be found; it’s to be found in this one upon Whom the Spirit descends as if to say, “It’s this One’s righteousness that I can bestow on any sinner who desires to have it. It’s in this one about Whom the Father says, ‘I am well pleased.’” And, after all, if with this one the Father is well pleased, then so is He well pleased with anyone who is clinging to Him.
Do you want the Father to be well-pleased with you, dear sinners? Then cling to this Jesus.
This is made plain in Scripture: But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12). And a little later in that same chapter of John’s Gospel: whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life (3:16).
So, we have Jesus’ Baptism in our text on this Sunday known as Quinquagesima (or, about fifty days before Easter). Jesus comes to John, who has for some time in the Jordan River, been baptizing people who have heard his preaching about repentance, and about the Christ—God in human flesh, who comes to take them by the hand and keep them. By the work of the Spirit through this preaching, the people have come to desire God’s forgiveness for their sins, and to trust in the coming Christ. They have come to be baptized because they have sins they need to have removed from them. They need the good conscience before God (St. Peter says in our epistle that Baptism brings this—1 Peter 3:21).
But Jesus comes to John already having that good conscience.
That’s why our text says, John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
It’s kind of an interesting moment, isn’t it? Jesus is doing something that we only do because we’re sinners; and yet, He has no sins that require it.
What gives? Why is He coming to be Baptized?
We know that He took upon Himself our human flesh, even born in the natural way (though conceived by the Spirit in righteousness; we said that in the Creed earlier). He comes to be baptized just as we do. But it’s true that the purpose of His Baptism isn’t identical to ours. He doesn’t need the forgiveness, or the deliverance from death and the devil, or the salvation that the Catechism says are the benefits we get in our baptisms.
But, here’s the thing: on the cross the Father is going to consider every sin to be His sin. God’s perfect Son takes your burden, and my burden, and the burden of every sinner, even undergoing, therefore, their baptism. Sinners are baptized; so is this one Who not only became flesh (John 1:14), but through a great exchange with the world, by God’s grace according to an eternal plan, became the most heinous sinner ever (guilty of every person’s sin, though He has none of His own).
When you were Baptized, you were baptized into Him. The Bible says you were baptized into His death (Rom. 6:3), meaning that the forgiveness that He earned at the cross He earned also for you. The Bible says that in your Baptism you have put on Christ (Gal. 3:27) like someone would who was putting on a garment of righteousness to cover his sinfulness. God has made a commitment to you in your Baptism. He has caused you to enter into a fellowship with Christ and to become His child. Everything is taken care of, you see.
Now, this is not pleasing to the devil, who would just as soon have you for all eternity. He would have you doubt this connection to Christ that He has established with you in your Baptism. He would have you doubt it on account of your continuing sinfulness.
How can that Baptism be worth anything, he asks you, when after God has made you His own dear child and caused you to enter into a fellowship with Christ you have continued to
—think those hateful thoughts about your neighbor, and
—make His Word such a low priority in your life, and to
—be so selfish and unappreciative of His blessings, and to
—be so untrusting of Him in the more difficult moments of life?
You have ruined this covenant. It no longer applies. God gave you a very generous opportunity; you have destroyed it.
Isn’t this the epitome of where guilt leads? Doesn’t it lead to our questioning of our place before God in light of our sins?
Surely your Baptism can’t withstand this. Surely there was a responsibility on your part to hold up your end of the bargain, to succeed fully in the new life of the Spirit that was supposed to come from it. But you have failed in it over and over and over again.
Certainly, that is the case. He’s right. And if you have been reluctant to admit that to yourself up to this point, then hear the words of the Psalmist, who says: They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one (14:3), and again: Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you (143:2). If your plan is to storm the gates of heaven in your own name—insisting that God should consider you righteous on your own merits, then prepare to find there, God’s anger, and judgment, and condemnation. It surely waits for you if that is your plan.
But if it’s God’s mercy that you want, then think of what He says through the prophet Isaiah in regard to His covenant:
For the mountains may depart
and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you (54:10).
God’s clear Scriptural message to the humble who despair of their own righteousness, who recognize their guilt and helplessness, is exemplified in the prophet Jeremiah’s words:
“‘Return, faithless Israel,
declares the Lord.
I will not look on you in anger,
for I am merciful,
declares the Lord;
I will not be angry forever.
Only acknowledge your guilt,
that you rebelled against the Lord your God
and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree,
and that you have not obeyed my voice,
declares the Lord (Jeremiah 3:12-13).
This is the God of Whom the Psalmist writes:
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared (Psalm 130:3,4).
And, again, from our Old Testament lesson this morning:
“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you.” Those are the words of the one Who is baptized in our text on your account, and on account of every sinner in the world’s past, present, and future. This one proclaimed by the Father and the Spirit at His Baptism is the one into Whose death you are Baptized, into a fellowship with Him that makes you God’s child despite your sinfulness. You have God’s goodness and mercy rather than His anger and punishment. You have His forgiveness in Christ.
Receive it, then, with joy this morning at the communion rail. Christ takes your hand there, that He might keep you. You are a citizen of God’s eternal kingdom because of this One He has sent. God be praised. Amen.