Pastor's Sermon - January 11th, 2026 - The Baptism of Our Lord Sunday
Matthew 3:13-17
We’ve left the Christmas Season behind and in that season we were blessed to see through Scripture how Jesus fulfills… well… everything! His birth in Bethlehem fulfilled Micah, Isaiah, and all the prophets. His presentation at the temple and Simeon’s moment of holding the Christ-child fulfilled God’s promises. In the temple as a twelve-year-old we saw how Jesus was about obeying and fulfilling the Word of God even in His youth. And now, having left the Christmas Season behind us for the year, we skip ahead to Jesus’ adult years. And what is He doing? You guessed it, He’s fulfilling righteousness by being baptized by John the Baptist.
And this is no small moment. The Baptism of Jesus Christ is a huge deal. If it wasn’t, I don’t think Jesus would have insisted upon being baptized and then after commanded His Church to go to all nations baptizing. Yet, I’ve received criticism in my life that the Lutherans put way too much emphasis on the Sacraments. We stress Baptism far too much!
And part of that statement is correct. The Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod, you and me, we definitely do put a lot of emphasis on Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We are rightly labelled a “Sacramental Church”. In our sanctuary, the baptismal font is in the center of the walkway that everyone would pass by it upon entry. At the birth of a child, we urge baptism young and early. In Bible Study we toss Baptism around constantly. In our doctrine, Baptism is mentioned repeatedly. In our sermons, we talk about Baptism frequently. And at funerals, we preach and are comforted by the promises given in baptism for the deceased and for ourselves. Yes, we put a lot of emphasis on Baptism. It’s a big deal!
So, in our text, what exactly is happening? Why is it such a big deal? First, let’s acknowledge that Christ Himself says that in being baptized He fulfills all righteousness. Jesus Himself, by saying that, is making baptism a big deal.
But what does He mean? What’s happening?
When Jesus says that He must fulfill all righteousness, He’s proclaiming that in doing this act of being baptized, He is fulfilling the Father’s Will. This is what God has planned for the salvation of man. Though sinless Himself, by being baptized by John in a baptism of repentance and forgiveness, Jesus is identifying Himself with sinners. Though He is not sinful like us, He has willingly lowered Himself to be one of us, taking on our sin that He might save us and make us righteous.
We see that this is pleasing to the Lord because the moment Christ comes up from the water, Matthew tells us that the heavens opened, a dove, who is the Holy Spirit descends upon Christ, and a voice speaks saying, “This is my Beloved Son with Whom I am well pleased.” Absolutely, Baptism fulfilled all righteousness and is a big deal. In this act, Christ was again, and without doubt, publicly identified by God Himself, as the Son of God and the Savior of the world. He was affirmed as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, as John had rightly called Him.
In being baptized and identifying Himself as one of us, we see that we have a God who is not distant. He’s not aloof. He’s not standing high above us in apathy. He is one who willingly comes down to us and stands in our place. This is the beginning of His substitutionary work that would be fulfilled on the cross and out of the tomb. Christ’s baptism is not simply a show of obedience, though it is that, but so much more. It is a true act of redemption- a first step toward mankind’s undeserved salvation. And by His own words, God is pleased by this.
But what does this have to do with us?
In being baptized, Christ sanctifies baptism for His people. For you and me. It isn’t just something that we watch be done to Jesus and that’s the end of it. In being Baptized, Christ invites us and gives us real reason to be baptized. This isn’t just a symbolic ritual with no true meaning underneath. It’s not just a memorial in which we remember something nice that Jesus did for us thousands of years ago. Christ sanctified these waters for us and for our real good.
The truths of Christ’s baptism become the truths of our baptism. What I mean by that is that when Christ was baptized the Lord proclaimed that Jesus is His Son and that He is pleased with Him. That is exactly what happens when we are baptized. Yes, I recognize that we don’t witness the heavens open, a dove, or a powerful voice from heaven. God doesn’t work that way. Rather, He works in His Word, and through the hands and mouth of men on this earth.
But the same truth exists. When you were baptized, God’s Word promises that God then called you His own. By placing His Name, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, upon you, God named You His own. You are now His beloved son. His beloved daughter. And even better than that, God claims that He is well-pleased with you, too!
You might wonder how He can be pleased with you since each of us knows how deep our own sin runs. That’s why baptism is such a real blessing. In baptism, Christ fulfilled all righteousness, obeying God perfectly, and by sharing in His baptism, as Paul claims that we do, we share in His righteousness. Our sin is removed in baptism- forgiven! And the holiness and righteousness of our perfect brother and savior Jesus Christ is placed upon us. When God looks upon us in our baptism, He proclaims us to be perfect and righteous in His sight by the blessing of forgiveness.
And what’s more, is that just as the Holy Spirit descended upon Christ in His baptism, Scripture assures us that we also receive the Holy Spirit in baptism. Not in the form of a dove or some other means that our eyes can see. Rather, this is a gift received in earnest by the promises of God’s Word, but trusted by faith. And this Holy Spirit works now in us to keep is faithful and righteous before God.
All of this then finds its climax at the cross. Like everything we’ve talked about over the last few weeks, Christ’s baptism points us to the cross. Where, having taken on our sin in baptism and identified Himself with us, He took all of our sin to the cross where He and sin were put to death. Paul rightly tells us, that if we have been baptized into Christ’s death, that is, His death on the cross, our sins being eradicated in that divine moment, then we are certainly also baptized into His resurrection. Meaning, that in baptism, we are given a real and assured hope. Baptism isn’t an empty act or a sentimental memorial. It is the power of salvation gifted to us in humble water and words. And by it, we are promised forgiveness, and therefore, life everlasting with God in Heaven.
It is for these reasons that we Lutherans place so much emphasis on Baptism. It’s not that we believe it’s the only means to Heaven. Rather, we cling to it because it is a sure and tangible gift from God for salvation. It is something that we can trust. Whether this be at the beginning of life, or at someone’s end, the promises of baptism are truly hopeful and give confidence in the life promised in Christ.
If ever there is doubt in your forgiveness. In your salvation. In your sonship or daughtership. Then, look at the baptismal font. Remember your baptism. Remember the Lord claiming you as His own in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And be comforted. Knowing, as Christ proved as He rose from death back to life. By this blessed gift, we can confess as Paul teaches us, that no power in heaven or on earth, no angel or demon, no danger of this world, not even life or death, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Baptism is truly a gift that frees us from worry and fear. It is the promise, that on judgement day, when we stand before our almighty God. We will stand before Him just as He claimed, as His beloved sons and daughters, with whom He is well-pleased.
In Christ’s Name,
Amen.