Jesus Is God’s Son

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.

¹⁴ But John tried to deter (prevent) Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” ¹⁵ Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness (all God requires).” Then John consented. ¹⁶ 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 lighting on Him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:13-17 (NIV)

The baptism of Jesus was a significant and necessary event. Matthew’s Gospel tells us that when Jesus presented Himself for baptism, John protested and tried to discourage Jesus from baptism for John knew Jesus was the Coming One and the Lamb of God (Matthew 3:11-14; see also John 1:29-35). Rather, John said that he needed to be baptized by Jesus (Matthew 3:14). Jesus replied to John that His baptism was necessary to fulfill all righteousness that God required (Matthew 3:15). With His baptism, voluntarily identifies Himself with sinful humanity and fulfilled all the righteous demands of the law (e.g. see 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus fulfilled all the righteous requirements of God, and God was well pleased with Him (Matthew 3:17).

Having passed through the baptismal waters, Jesus is revealed as the unique Son of God by the voice from heaven and the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17; see also Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 42:1). All three Persons of the Holy Trinity are clearly revealed with Jesus’ life and baptism (Matthew 3:16-17; see also Colossians 1:19; Colossians 2:9). Jesus’ baptism was not to overcome sin because He was already sinless (see e.g., Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22) but to equip Him for His work as the Messiah-King. The baptism of Jesus inaugurates and empowers His public ministry.

The title “Son of God” is especially important. Matthew has already revealed that Jesus is the Messiah-King of Israel, the Son of Abraham, and God with us (Matthew 1:1, 16, 23; Matthew 2:2; see also Luke 1:68; Luke 7:16). Jesus was conceived by God’s Holy Spirit and therefore, He is God’s unique Son (Matthew 1:18, 20, 23; see also Matthew 3:16-17; Luke 1:35; John 1:18). As the unique Son of God, Jesus is God (Matthew 1:23; see also John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus’ life revealed the righteous life God required – a life wholly devoted to God and love for others (see Matthew 22:34-40). Through our faith and acceptance of Jesus’ righteousness, we are also saved and declared righteous (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:3-4, 9-13) and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live righteously as God requires (see Romans 8:1-4).

To prepare the way for the ministry of Jesus, John the Baptist appears in his appointed role of “forerunner” (Matthew 3:3; Matthew 11:10). As forerunner, John is “Elijah” in the sense and he prepares the way for Jesus’ public ministry (Matthew 11:14; Matthew 17:10-13). The mission of John is to “restore all things” (Matthew 17:11). To accomplish this mission, John proclaims the message of repentance (Matthew 3:1-2). At the heart of this summons, John acknowledges that Israel has lost its way, and Israel needed to turn from evil and place their wholehearted trust and obedience in God (Matthew 3:1-2; see also 1 Kings 18).

With John’s preaching, many people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear Him (Matthew 3:5). Some of the people came to John with sincerity of heart while others came as spectators (Matthew 3:6-7). John urged the people to prove by their daily lives and their good fruit that they have genuinely repented and faithfully turned to God (Matthew 3:3, 8; see also James 2:14-26). In other words, John encouraged the people to think differently and change their conduct for God’s Kingdom has come with Jesus!

References

ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Kingsbury, Jack. Matthew As Story (Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press, 1988).

Ross, Mark E. Let’s Study Matthew (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2009).