Behold Your Redeemer's Glory!

Matthew 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased."

Epiphany is a time in the church year that gives us opportunity to see our Savior as the One in whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily! To see Him as the eternally blessed God; who came to save mankind. Epiphany gives us the opportunity to see the glory, majesty, and power of our Lord before we see His death march to Calvary! Jesus’ baptism was a miraculous event that revealed His glory and divinity. It marked the end of John the Baptizer’s ministry and the beginning of our Savior’s ministry of reconciliation to bring mankind back together with God! It was a bitter and rough road that the King of kings would travel but Jesus, knowing His Father was with Him, with absolute resolve born of unconditional love, began His journey to the final battle for salvation! Jesus left the disguise of His obscure life walking out of the shadows into the spotlight. He would no longer be anonymous or faceless to the masses; Jesus, the eternally blessed God; would now be the most prominent figure in all of history as well as the most persecuted.

When John was at the very height of his ministry Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. Isaiah had prophesied long ago concerning John; The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. John was the road builder, he paved the way for the Messiah, but he never forgot that Jesus came to save him as well! John knew he also needed the redemption that only Jesus can give! John said that he was not worthy to untie Jesus’ sandal strap much less baptize Him. John tried to prevent Him, saying, I need to be baptized by you! That was a confession of faith, he knew and proclaimed Jesus as the Redeemer! He pointed the people away from himself to their only Way of salvation!

----Jesus said of John; among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist. John could’ve let that go to his head and become proud thinking too highly of himself. But John understood his role, and so should we. John said; Jesus must increase, but I must decrease. That’s something we need to remember as well! We want Jesus to increase in us and through us. All we do, our thoughts, words and actions should glorify our Lord! We are to be a light to the world and let our light shine to lead people to their Savior! Jesus must increase and we must decrease; that is think less of ourselves and our desires and more of our Lord and serving Him, keeping Him first in our lives. We’re not here to serve ourselves but to serve our Lord Jesus in any way and every way we can. We’re to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, knowing everything we have need of will be given to us as well. There’s a saying that might help us put this in perspective; If you meet me and forget me, you’ve lost nothing. But if you meet Jesus Christ and forget Him you’ve lost everything.

John understood, he felt unworthy to baptize Jesus and it’s not hard to understand how he must’ve felt. How can I, a mere sinner, baptize the King of Glory? Why would my God and Savior come to me seeking Baptism - why would Jesus need it? John knew there was no sin in Jesus for Baptism to remove but everything the Father asked of Him, Jesus willingly did! Down to the smallest detail Jesus fulfilled everything necessary for our salvation. Jesus gently, but firmly, assured John It was the proper thing to do. Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness. At the Savior’s Word John Baptized the Lord of Glory! As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened. An incredible and miraculous event! The Holy Spirit descended like a dove. The Father is revealed in a voice from heaven; this is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. He gave the seal of approval upon the Savior’s work of redemption! It was the Father’s full and undeniable consent and blessing upon Jesus’ ministry of reconciliation.

God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were present at Jesus’ baptism. It reveals the majesty and divinity of our Savior. Jesus - who is over all the eternally blessed God – had begun the fulltime work of mankind’s salvation! Jesus would take as His own the sins of mankind and in love allow Himself to be crucified in our place to pay for them. The greatest act of love in all eternity! No wonder we hear; this is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!

Not very many today can see Jesus’ glory, only those to whom it’s been revealed. Think of what that means and then rejoice that you can see His glory through eyes of faith! Contemplate that fact, let it sink deep down into your hearts, you’re among those who’ve been redeemed by Jesus! Our Savior has made us His very own for life and eternity! That’s why we thank and praise Him and it’s why we want to serve Him!

Amen!