THE BAPTISM AND GENEALOGY OF JESUS
Luke 3:15-38
Key Verse: 21-22
“When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And he was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’”
John the Baptist proclaimed the message of repentance to awaken people from their sins. He demanded people show repentance by showing love towards others. Today, he introduced Jesus to the people. Jesus began his public ministry by being baptized by John the Baptist. God authenticated Jesus as his beloved Son when Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit. God was pleased because Jesus would fulfill his long-waited salvation work. Also the genealogy of Jesus points to all the way to Adam so that we may know that the Messiah Jesus would save not only the Jews but also all the Gentiles. May God bless us to repenting of all our sins and accept Jesus’ forgiveness of all our sins. Let’s welcome Jesus as my Messiah and King through this passage.
PART I. ONE WHO BAPTIZES WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT (15-20)
Look at verse 15. “People were waiting expectantly and were wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.” John’s message shook people’s conscience because he rebuked their superficial empty religious life. They confessed, “Wow! His rebuke convicted me of my sins. I felt good when I repented of my dirty sins. Yes, truly I lived like a brood of vipers. Now I must show the proof of repentance by loving others.” There were no prophets for four hundreds years in Israel and people were eager to hear the voice of God through his servants. People thought that John might be the Christ. It made sense because they were waiting for the Messiah and John was preaching the message of repentance. People’s response was overwhelming. But John was just a harbinger of the coming Messiah. He could have cashed in on his popularity and drew people to himself. But John kept his position as the forerunner of Jesus. How did he introduce Jesus? Look at verse 16. “John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” We see John’s humility. He compared himself to a servant whose job is to untie his master’s sandals. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. (Mark 1:5a) People thought that John was powerful. But John introduced Jesus as the one who is more powerful than himself. John’s water baptism leads people to repentance.
Now Jesus will baptize them with the Holy Spirit and fire. Let’s examine the baptism of the Holy Spirit for a moment. There are three stages for us to begin our Christian life-repentance, conversion, and regeneration. We recognize our sins and repent of our sins. Repentance is our part. Admitting our sin is the fist step of salvation of our souls. The prodigal son in Luke 15 first recognized his sins and then returned to his father. He was welcomed as the son again. (Luke 15:18-20) Peter confessed that he was a sinful man and it was a turning point to repent of his sins and come to Jesus. (Luke 5:8) Conversion and regeneration are God’s part. Jesus said in John 3:5, “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” Here “born of water” refers to the water baptism but “born of the Spirit” refers to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Conversion is man’s turning to God. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is essential to begin our Christian life. The Holy Spirit comes from Jesus. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit poured out to all people who repented their sins and believed in Jesus. The Holy Spirit enables all people to be the witnesses of Jesus to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8) Another role of the Holy Spirit is to indwell and illuminate us so that we can follow the truth. The baptism of the Holy Spirit transforms sinners into a new creation. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is necessary for the forgiveness of our sins and the spiritual growth in our spiritual life. John only baptized people with water in the River Jordan as a symbol of cleansing their sins. But Jesus baptizes them with the Holy Spirit to wash away their sins. The Holy Spirit burns our sinful desires and replaces them with holy desires. Also Jesus baptizes with fire. Here the baptism of fire refers to judgment which is associated with the second coming. Look at verse 17. “His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Here the “wheat” refers to the saved ones and they will gathered into the house of God but the “chaff” refers to the unsaved ones and they will be thrown into the hell with unquenchable fire.
From verses 19-20 John rebuked Herod. Who dared to rebuke the king? John did. John did not compromise with sin. Why did John rebuke Herod? (19) John rebuked Herod for his immoral life because he took Herodias, his brother’s wife. John was the voice of the nation. He rebuked the corrupted king. What should Herod do? He should have repented of his sins as a leader of his people. But he did not repent. His human pride and selfishness prevented him from repenting and receiving forgiveness. Herod tried to silence the messenger. But he failed to silence the message. He locked John up in prison. John paid the price to deliver the message of repentance even to the king. What should we do when we hear the message of repentance? We have to repent and receive God’s blessed forgiveness. What prevents us from repenting? Our human pride, selfishness, and shame and guilt and pleasure-seeking life prevent us from repenting of our sins. We only repent of our sins by the help of the Holy Spirit and the word of God.
PART II JESUS IS BAPTIZED (21-22)
Look at verses 21-22. “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And he was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’” As we know, water baptism is related to the forgiveness of sins. Jesus was sinless. Why was Jesus baptized by John? (21) First, Jesus wanted to identify with the people waiting for his kingdom. Jesus was fully God but at the same time he was fully man. He wanted to become like a man in order to understand man fully. Second, his baptism authenticated John’s message of “the kingdom of God is near” and the need for repentance. Jesus did not ignore John’s ministry of water baptism but wanted to succeed the ministry of John. John the Baptist represented the Old Testament prophets and the law. Jesus recognized the work of John as the work of God. John prepared the way of the Lord and Jesus accepted the work of John with great respect. Though Jesus was the Son of God, he began his work by being baptized by John. Jesus did not dismantle what John established but started from the foundation John made. God’s work is the work of continuation and co-working. John the Baptist served Jesus humbly by denying his human ambition. Jesus humbly accepted John as the prophet like Elijah. What beautiful humility and harmony they have! Jesus and John worked together to bring salvation to all men. In the political world it is imperative to put down others in order to survive. In the midst of the Hurricane disaster, FEMA blamed the Louisiana governor and then the governor and mayor blamed FEMA for their failures. Whenever the new President begins his ministry, his first job is to dismantle the policy of his predecessor.
But Jesus was different. He continued what John accomplished. Jesus appreciated John’s work and commented about John later in Luke 7:28b, “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John.” It is very important to recognize the work of God in others when we serve God’s flocks. God’s work is not a one man show. It is the ministry of working together with humility. God gave us different roles and talents in the body of Christ. Three senior missionary families are so precious to me. I recognize their love for Jesus and their sacrifice for God’s flocks. They always put other’s interest above their own interest. I recognize the contributions of senior American shepherds and shepherdesses. They stood firm in the middle of trials and temptations. They responded to God’s call for delivering messages and presiding. I recognize the zeal of junior missionaries. They are taking up multiple crosses to follow Jesus. I recognize the growing work of God among the YDJ members. They are loaded with God-given talents. Last Friday Paul L. served YDJ with creative ideas. These days YDJ meetings are very exciting and up-lifting and encouraging. We see many new faces among them. After Monday’s discipleship seminar, Tommy cleaned up the center late at night and set up the chairs for the early-morning prayer meeting. Belssi gives her heart for teaching young children with vision and hope. Third, it was to reveal Jesus to Israel and the world as the promised Messiah. Jesus declared his work of salvation officially. It was like the inauguration of the King Jesus. Last week Judge John Roberts was inaugurated as the chief justice of the United States of America in front of the American people. He pledged to defend the Constitution faithfully. Many dignitaries attended this inauguration ceremony. Who attended Jesus’ inauguration ceremony? The Roman Emperor or King Herod or Governor Pilate? No. Jesus did not need them. Look at verse 22. “And the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’” We see the presence of the Trinity-God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This shows the significance of Jesus’ inauguration. God waited for this moment to save fallen men from the power of Satan. Jesus the Son was inaugurated as the promised Savior of the world. God authenticated Jesus as his beloved Son. So he opened the gate of heaven to bring salvation to all mankind. Acts 2:21 says, “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” God also equipped Jesus with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was described as dove here which is the symbol of peace. This inauguration shows a glimpse of Jesus’ future ministry. Jesus came to destroy the work of the devil. Jesus came to drive out evil spirits with the power of the Holy Spirit. Led by the Holy Spirit Jesus met the temptation of the devil head on in Matt. 4:1-13. Though the first Adam failed to overcome Satan’s temptation, Jesus defeated the temptation of the devil and began his salvation work. Jesus’ work is the work of the spiritual battle not the physical battle. Jesus also will please God through his obedience unto death. God was pleased because his Son would stop the work of disobedience and rebellion and would begin the work of obedience and submission. This involves Jesus’ death on the cross. Hebrews 5:8-9 says, “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect. He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” His ministry involves suffering, rejection, and death on the cross. But his obedience brings salvation for all men. God was pleased with Jesus believing that he would fulfill God’s promise to crush the devil and save sinners from the bondage of sin and death. This is good news to all who are under the wrath of God. In this way Jesus was inaugurated as the King and the Savior of the world. Jesus is the Messianic King who came to fulfill the promise of God to save the world..
PART III GENEALOGY OF JESUS (23-38)
When did Jesus begin his public ministry? Look at verse 23. “Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry.” Jesus began his ministry at the age of 30. Joseph was thirty years old when he ruled Egypt. Jesus began the work of God in the prime of his life. Jesus offered his young life to serve the flock of God with compassion and love. Many young men and women are volunteering to serve King Jesus these days. I was thirty-one years old when I came to America and began to pioneer Washington ministry. I am thankful for using my life to serve King Jesus and bring his kingdom to many American students. What was his message? Mark 1:15 says, “The kingdom of God is near and repent and believe in the gospel.” Jesus came to bring the kingdom of God to all. We have to deliver the message of repentance and the kingdom of God to our fellow students and friends all the time. We cannot deliver just the message of health and wealth. Our message must focus on the kingdom of God. Look at Jesus’ genealogy recorded here by Luke (23-38). How and why is it different from Joseph’s genealogy recorded in Matthew? Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus focuses on the key turning points in Jewish history; it goes from Abraham to David to Jeconiah at the time of the Captivity, down through Joseph; he wrote for Jewish readers. Luke’s genealogy begins with Jesus, the Son of God, and traces back through Heli, the father of Mary, all the way to Adam. Luke emphasizes Jesus’ relationship to the whole human race, Jew and Gentile alike; it demonstrates Paul’s view that Jesus is the “Second Adam.” Luke the only Gentile author depicts Christ as the Messiah for all people. Many internet web pages advertise that they can find our ancestors. But why do we need their service? We know the answer. Our ancestor is Adam, the son of God. We are sons of God and Jesus, the second Adam who came into this world to bring us back to God.
In conclusion, Jesus wants us to repent of our sins and receive the Holy Spirit to be born again into his kingdom. He wants us to recognize the work of others and learn obedience from our suffering and follow his example by preaching the kingdom of God in our generation. May King Jesus be with you and give you his peace. Let’s read the key verses 21-22.