THREE BAPTISM STORIES (4 OF 5)
by Roger Thomas
Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20
This content is part of a series.
Three Baptism Stories (4 of 5)
Series: A Great Commission Church
Roger Thomas
Matthew 28:18-20
We are in a continuing series from what Bible students call ''the great commission''--Jesus' final words to his followers. Working our way through this passage requires that we talk about baptism.
As most of you know, many churches and denominations have differing views on baptism. One writer called it ''the water that divides.'' Partly to avoid conflict, some churches ignore baptism. Some play it down or leave it as an option. I am sometimes asked why we say baptism is more important than that. Instead of arguing, which seldom accomplishes much, I want to tell you the stories of three baptisms. All three are true. Each provides some clues about why Jesus thought baptism was important enough to include in his last words to his disciples.
The first took place three years before the events of our passage. Jesus walked nearly seventy-five miles on foot to the place where John the Baptist was preaching and baptizing in the Jordan River. Matthew's Gospel, the same book from which our text comes, records it this way. ''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'' (3:13-16).
Jesus had been dedicated as a child when he was eight days old according to the custom of his people. As an adult he affirmed his commitment to the will of heaven by being baptized himself. No one can accuse Jesus of asking us to do something he wasn't willing to do himself. He walked his talk. It is no surprise that when he instructed his disciples to recruit others to follow him that he included the act with which he began his own public ministry.
Peter, the first disciple to publicly invite ot ...
Series: A Great Commission Church
Roger Thomas
Matthew 28:18-20
We are in a continuing series from what Bible students call ''the great commission''--Jesus' final words to his followers. Working our way through this passage requires that we talk about baptism.
As most of you know, many churches and denominations have differing views on baptism. One writer called it ''the water that divides.'' Partly to avoid conflict, some churches ignore baptism. Some play it down or leave it as an option. I am sometimes asked why we say baptism is more important than that. Instead of arguing, which seldom accomplishes much, I want to tell you the stories of three baptisms. All three are true. Each provides some clues about why Jesus thought baptism was important enough to include in his last words to his disciples.
The first took place three years before the events of our passage. Jesus walked nearly seventy-five miles on foot to the place where John the Baptist was preaching and baptizing in the Jordan River. Matthew's Gospel, the same book from which our text comes, records it this way. ''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'' (3:13-16).
Jesus had been dedicated as a child when he was eight days old according to the custom of his people. As an adult he affirmed his commitment to the will of heaven by being baptized himself. No one can accuse Jesus of asking us to do something he wasn't willing to do himself. He walked his talk. It is no surprise that when he instructed his disciples to recruit others to follow him that he included the act with which he began his own public ministry.
Peter, the first disciple to publicly invite ot ...
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