Today we are starting a new series for March leading up to Easter on the last Sunday of the month.

I believe the Easter Message this year is going to challenge you in a way that moves you into a deeper walk with Jesus, trusting him more, believing more fervently in his faithfulness, and also to challenge you to step into the life God called you to live.

But leading up to Easter and that moment of his resurrection, there are specific moments in the life of Jesus that changed everything, not just for the people of that time who witnessed these things first hand, but for you and I as well.

Over the course of the next few weeks, I want to highlight four moments that changed us, culminating in the fifth moment that changed everything.

We’ll highlight the Sermon on the Mount, the Transfiguration, Jesus’ miracles, specifically Lazurus, Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, but today I want to talk about his baptism.

I want you to understand from the jump two things:
- first, we have the baptismal ready to go if you believe God is directing you towards this next step, but
- second, I don’t want you to check out if you’ve already been baptized.

There is more to baptism than getting dunked in a tank of water.

As I began to pray about this series, I felt the Lord direct me to these five specific moments, and when I was thinking about baptism, I had some questions about baptism and why Jesus was baptized.

You may have ready the story, but let’s read it together today.

Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 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; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

When I got baptized all I heard was, “Here’s a towel.”

At Freedom, we believe there is a purpose for baptism that goes beyond, “an outward sign of an inward change.” We believe it is exponentially more than that.

When you are baptized, it's more even than just following Jesus’ example. When you say yes to Jesus, making him Lord, the Bible teaches that your old nature is crucified with Christ. As you are crucified with Christ, the old nature dies.

2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “…the old has passed away, behold, all things have become new.”
You are literally a new creation in Christ Jesus, but something has to be done with the old nature that was crucified on the cross with Jesus. That old nature is buried in baptism, and as you come out of the water, the old nature stays in that watery grave never to have any further impact on your life.

We believe this is the biblical explanation of the sacrament of baptism. More than just something you do, but a spiritual transaction that takes place. Baptism doesn’t save you, but it is the cutting away of the old nature so you can be raised (think resurrected) into new life. This is what the Bible teaches.

Romans 6:4
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Now, since this is what the Bible teaches, then my first question was:
Why did Jesus need to be baptized?

After all, wasn’t he perfect, sinless? That in and of itself is a miracle. You mean he never talked back to Mary when she said, “Jesus, will you take out the garbage,” or, “Could you clean up your room?” Never an evil thought, word, or deed? Never a moment of weakness when he faltered? The Bible doesn’t talk much about his childhood, but the few glimpses we do see reveal a young Jesus who was very aware of his purpose. (Reference boy Jesus at the Temple)

2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

If he was sinless, why then the need to be baptized?

A question that immediately popped into my head before the Holy Spirit could even answer the first is:
Where did baptism come from anyway?

We don’t really see baptism like we know it today in the Old Testament or in Jewish tradition.

Scholars believe that the Essenes, one of the three Jewish sects in the time of Jesus along with the Pharisees and Sadducees, practiced ritual washing. Josephus writes that the Essene sect, a group many scholars consider to be those living at Qumran (location of the Dead Sea Scrolls), rose early and bathed frequently with water to purify themselves. Some scholars even believe they influenced John in his baptism theology.

Regardless of the Essenes and their potential influence, God has used water across the generations as a metaphor and sometimes an actual tangible tool for miracles to indicate purification and that purification process.
- The Flood to raise the Ark
- Naaman who cleaned from leprosy, purify him
- Moses in the Nile
- Parting the Red Sea
- Aaron and the priests being purified
These water stories show us how God uses water to do great things.

While water was used to heal people, provide a way of escape, and to purify, water was also used to destroy the enemies of God, to remove evil from the earth, and to eliminate those who chased God’s people to destroy them.

These water stories do more than just encourage us that God protects, rescues, and purifies us, but also that He uses water to drown that evil in us that seeks to destroy us, much like we do as we bury our old nature in baptism.

While these are incredible stories that encourage us, it still doesn’t answer the question of where baptism came from and why Jesus had to get baptized.

One of these I mentioned does, however: Aaron and the priests being purified.

Exodus 30:17-21
17 The Lord said to Moses, 18 “You shall also make a basin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it, 19 with which Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet. 20 When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn a food offering to the Lord, they shall wash with water, so that they may not die. 21 They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die. It shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his offspring throughout their generations.”

So there’s the answer to the why did Jesus get baptized question.

1. Jesus was being purified for sacrifice.

This is why Jesus was baptized. This was exponentially than just a ritual. John was preparing the way and Jesus walked in it. I read before from Matthew 3 where Jesus was baptized, but let’s look back at the verses leading up to that baptism:

Matthew 3:3-12
3 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” 4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

What John was doing was exponentially different than the religious life Israel had been following. John was doing way more than simply baptizing around the countryside. John was preparing the way for the Lord.

The verse says prepare the way, but look at the entire passage from Isaiah 40:3-5
3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

John was called to prepare the way for the Messiah, for the Lord, and beyond the preaching of repentance and the Kingdom being at hand, baptism was a part. So when John baptized Jesus, it was more than a dunk in the Jordan…

Jesus was being purified to become our High Priest and offer a sacrifice once and for all.

Hebrews 9 describes the Temple setup. Outer court with the brazen sea and altar. The holy place with the lamp stand and showbread. The holy of holies with the Ark of the Covenant. The priests would wash then perform the sacrifice.


Hebrews 9:6-15
6 When these things were all in place, the priests regularly entered the first room as they performed their religious duties. 7 But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use. 9 This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them. 10 For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established.

11 So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. 12 With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.

13 Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. 14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. 15 That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them.

Hebrews 9:6-15, 24-28
24 For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. 25 And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. 26 If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age[k] to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.
27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

Jesus’ baptism was to prepare himself to sacrifice so that you could be saved, and he invites you to be baptized as well.

Matthew 28:19
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:38
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 22:16
And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

If you haven’t been baptized, then what are you waiting for?
Baptism doesn’t save you. Only Jesus can do that. But baptism is something Jesus did and it is something he wants you to do.

One last thing on this:
Of all the moments Jesus had on earth, why this one?
Why is this one of the 5?

I want you to see baptism beyond the scope of a post salvation, one time event, but that baptism is purification as much as it is the burying of the old nature.

This was a big even for Jesus because it was the ceremonial washing to prepare for a sacrifice. Remember, John protested, telling Jesus, “I need to be baptized by you!” But Jesus responded: Matthew 3:15
Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.

Fulfill what righteousness? Purification for a sacrifice.

Now, for those who have listened up to this point, hopefully you realize that Jesus’ baptism was a big deal because it purified him to serve as out high priest.

But what does all of this mean for you?

I encouraged you a moment ago that if you haven’t been baptized, but you’ve confessed Jesus as Lord, you should get baptized. Maybe you were baptized before and you believe God is calling you to it again, along with a fresh commitment. But beyond a next step after salvation, i need you to see the power of baptism in terms of purification, but for what?

For Jesus it prepared him, but what about for you?

2. We are purified for relationship and service.
It might have been some time since you were baptized, but how long since you were purified?

We often miss out on God’s best through a lack of daily confession.

What do I mean by that?
We confess Jesus as Lord at some moment in our lives.
We are filled with the Spirit at some moment in our lives.
We are baptized at some moment in our lives.

And we actually argue about the moments in some of those, as well. When are you filled with the Spirit, at salvation or at a separate event? This was a point of contention at university because there are different’ beliefs circling it. Same thing with once saved always saved. Rather than worrying about when we are filled or if we are saved, why not confess him as Lord now and ask the Holy Spirit to fill us now?

In fact, why do we see these events as moments in our past rather than a daily confession? Every morning we need to be confessing Jesus as Lord. Every morning we need to be asking the Holy Spirit to fill us. And every morning, we need to follow Jesus’ example in baptism.

Now, I am not saying run off to Potetz and get a watering trough like ours and baptize yourself every day. But what would happen if we engage in daily baptisms for purification? If every day we were baptized for the purpose of purity?

What does that even mean?

Look at the idea of “continually” in the Bible.

Psalms 105:4
Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.

Psalms 34:1
I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalms 71:14
But as for me, I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more.

Psalms 16:8
I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Acts 2:42
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 13:52
And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

How do you get to continually in your life with Jesus?
Good morning Jesus!
I confess you as Lord today.
You are all I need and I trust in you.
Fill me with your Holy Spirit fresh and anew.
Lead me and guide me Holy Spirit.
Help me produce your fruit today.
Search my heart today Lord.
Purify me and wash me clean.
I am yours Jesus.
In your name Jesus, amen.

Don’t lose the power of a daily confession.

In under a minute, I have re-upped my commitment to Jesus, confessing him as Lord, been refilled with the Holy Spirit, submitted to his leadership and guidance, and have asked the Lord to search me, purify me, baptize me.

We are purified for relationship with God.
Jesus paid it all to bridge the gap sin created, but you were created for more than bridge walking.
You are a son or daughter of God, created for relationship with your Father in Heaven, fellowship with his Son, and communion with the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 1:16
Be holy, for I am holy.

How are we made holy?
Through the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ.
Through constant engagement with his Word and in prayer.
Through submitting to the Holy Spirit as he leads us.

These processes purify us! This is baptism!

We are purified for service.
God has a plan and purpose beyond a relationship as well.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

You can’t do good works with dirty hands.

So we allow God to purify us as he sanctifies us and prepares us for relationship and service.

Could it be that you haven’t realized God’s plan for your life because of a purity issue?

Psalm 24:3-6
3 Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. 5 They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior. 6 Such people may seek you and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.

Look at the product of purity: Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Jesus’ baptism was a big deal. It was a single moment for Jesus but that single moment changed the world. Jesus was preparing himself to offer the sacrifice that made a restored relationship with God possible for you today.

While for him it was a one time event, I am inviting you to embrace the power of a daily confession:
Jesus you are Lord of my life
Holy Spirit fill me to overflowing
Lord, baptize me into purity

At the beginning of this message, I asked a question: Where did baptism come from?

I want to leave you with one last passage today that not only explains where it comes from definitively, but also why your purity is so important.

Ezekiel 36:25–26
And I will sprinkle on you pure water, and you will be clean from all of your uncleanness, and I will cleanse you from all of your idols. And I will give a new heart to you, and a new spirit I will give into your inner parts, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh, and I will give to you a heart of flesh.

The Lord is calling you to purity today. Perhaps that means baptism by water, which we can do today.

But for sure, baptism in your heart.

Let’s pray.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?

How does he want you to respond?