Sermons
THE HEAVENS WERE OPENED
Series: The Glory of ChristTHE HEAVENS WERE OPENED
Pt.5 - “The Glory Of Christ”
Sermon Outline By Terry Siverd
Cortland Church of Christ / February 22, 2015
The public ministry of Jesus began with His BAPTISM - - when “Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age” (Lk.3:23).
Jesus was baptized by John in the river Jordan.
Like ours, His baptism was an immersion in water.
Jn.3:34 notes that 4 John was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there…
This “John” is not the apostle John who wrote five books of the New Testament
(John’s Gospel … Three Epistles – 1st, 2nd & 3rd John … and the book of Revelation).
This John is known as4 JOHN THE BAPTIZER.
John’s prophetic work began shortly before the ministry of Jesus. He came as a harbinger … a herald … a forerunner.
He came as “a voice crying in the wilderness, make ready/make straight/prepare for the LORD” (Lk.3:4).
Lk.3:1-3 tells us4 “in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar, when Pilate was the governor of Judea,
and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis,
and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abliene, in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas…
the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And He came into
all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”
John’s preaching and baptizing created quite a stir among the people of Israel.
It excited the common people, but it enraged the Jewish leaders.
John’s style evoked memories of the stories of prophets of Old Testament times.
Mt.3:4 tells us that he wore a garment of camel’s hair with a leather belt about his waist.
His diet consisted of (or at least included) locusts and wild honey.
In particular there was much about John that was reminiscent of the prophet ELIJAH. cf. 2Kgs.1:8
The last prophetic utterance in the last book in the Old Testament (Malachi / written about 400 BC) included these words:
“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible
day of the Lord. And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts
of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.” / Mal.4:5-6
In the minds of the people of Israel, this OT prophecy linked the reappearance of Elijah with the coming of the Messiah.
As Jn.1:19-23 reveals, John was not actually Elijah (not the reincarnation of Elijah), but he came “in the spirit of Elijah”.
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¡ In Mt.11:7-15 Jesus affirmed that John was indeed the prophet predicted by Malachi.
¡ At his conception, an angel told his father Zechariah, “he will go forth in the spirit & power of Elijah.” / Lk.1:17
John’s role as a forerunner to Jesus is described in Lk.3:3-18.
He was a FIREBRAND, who pulled no punches. He did not obfuscate. He was plain-spoken and out-spoken.
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vs.4 – he was a voice crying in the wilderness (turn or burn) - - “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” / Mt.3:2
vs.7 – he didn’t hesitate to call the leaders of Israel a “brood of vipers”
vss.8f – he called for radical and genuine change urging the people to bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance.
to multitude 4 “share” … to tax-collectors 4 “be fare & honest” …
to soldiers 4 “don’t extort; don’t falsely accuse; and be content with your wages.”
John’s strongly-delivered warnings were seasoned and spiced with two specific images - - both of them dire.
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¡ Mt.3:10 / the axe is at the root - - every tree that does not bear fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire
¡ Mt.3:12 / God’s winnowing fork is in His hand - - the good wheat will be gathered but the chaff will be burned
John did not invent the idea of baptism.
The Jews had practiced various purification rituals (cleansings/washings) for many, many years.
? In the case of GENTILES who converted to Judaism (proselytes) they had to undergo a special baptism.
This baptism by immersion what an entry way into Judaism for all outsiders.
They were pagans and sinners and the only way they could gain entrance in God’s covenant was through baptism.
But John was calling for ALL to be baptized.
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This was what outraged the Jewish leaders (it would have been okay to call the Gentiles to be baptized, but ALL?).
The Jews had mistakenly concluded that they were already in good standing with God by virtue of their “genes”.
Note Lk.3:9 4 “you think you can say to yourselves, ‘we have Abraham for our father’…”.
John had arrived in the desert - - d-e-m-a-n-d-i-n-g that the JEWS submit to baptism.
Jn.1:25 tells that the Pharisees came to John asking, WHY ARE YOU BAPTIZING?
Essentially John was saying: Your Messiah has come and you’re not fit for His presence. You’re unclean & need purified.
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Jn.1:29 states that when John saw Jesus coming to him to be baptized, he declared,
“Behold, the LAMB OF GOD who takes away the sin of the world.”
This announcement and the events accompanying the baptism of Jesus give us another glimpse into the glory of Christ.
John is proclaiming that JESUS is the MESSIAH … the SUFFERING SERVANT of Israel prophesied by Isaiah (Isa.53).
What follows John’s announcement is shocking ?? The sinless LAMB OF GOD presents Himself for baptism.
At first John utters a protest … resisting …
Mt.3:14 states 4 “John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I have need to be baptized by You and do You come to me’?”
But Jesus responded saying (Mt.3:15), “Let is be so; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”
With the preaching of John, God added a new requirement to His covenant people, that they be cleansed by baptism.
WHATEVER ISRAEL WAS REQUIRED TO DO, THE SERVANT OF ISRAEL WAS ALSO REQUIRED TO DO.
Here again, we are reminded of Heb.2:17 4 “(Jesus) had to be made like His brethren in all things…”
In the near future, Jesus would be crucified - - become a CURSE for us (the sins of all people). cf. Gal.3:13
For Jesus to become our RIGHTEOUSNESS He had to fulfill every command of God.
John preached “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” / Lk.3:3.
Jesus, who knew no sin, bore OUR SINS! / 1Pet.2:24
This corresponds with the words of Paul in 2Cor.5:21 7
“(God) made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Here on the muddy banks of the Jordan river we witness an intersection of the humiliation of Jesus with His glory.
Read from Lk.3:21-22
These verses must not be read superficially - - this was an earth-shattering event.
The Heavens were opened! The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove. And God’s voice thundered from above.
The latter (God’s audible voice) only occurs three times in the gospels and all three are very important occasions.
From this point onward, Jesus, leaves behind the carpenter’s shop.
He is about to begin His ministry, but first He must undergo the testing in the wilderness (next Sunday’s sermon).
