John’s Encounter (Luke 1:39-45; Matt. 3:13-17; John 1:14-36)

Is one of your purposes in life the same as John’s.. to point others to Jesus? Yes______ No______

John 1: 33 NASB

And I [John] did not recognize Him [Jesus], but He [God The Father] who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’

Matthew 3:13-17 13 GW

Then Jesus appeared. He came from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to stop him and said, “I need to be baptized by you. Why are you coming to me?”

15 Jesus answered him, “This is the way it has to be now. This is the proper way to do everything that God requires of us.” Then John gave in to him. 16 After Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up from the water. Suddenly, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down as a dove to him. 17 Then a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love—my Son with whom I am pleased.”

Through Jesus’ baptism:

We have, in one compressed moment, the movement & image of the entire Trinity, The Father speaking, Jesus in the water, & the Holy Spirit descending

Here’s Two Truths about Jesus’ baptism

1) Jesus wasn’t accepting John’s message of the soon-coming kingdom. Jesus was its king, announcing its presence.

2) Jesus had no personal sins from which to repent.

- Jesus was not baptized for any sin he had committed, because he hadn’t committed sin

2 Cor. 5:21 GW

God had Christ, who was sinless, take our sin so that we might receive God's approval through him.

Two ideas to consider when reading the Gospels:

1) The Gospels are to be read with the cross in mind. Every story should be seen in the shadow of the cross.

2) In Jewish culture & history, the leader of a nation, took responsibility for the actions of his/her citizens.

-Jesus was baptized for the sins of the nation, which were many, but not for His own sins since He didn’t have any.

Jesus’ Baptism:

-Jesus begins His ministry and foreshadows the cross (Romans 6:3-6)

-Jesus is empowered by the Holy Spirit.

-Jesus is approved by God.

-Jesus confirms that He will be the sin-bearer for His/All people

John’s response to the encounter (Matt. 3:15; John 1:27, 29, 30, 35)

1) To declare: John tells the priests what he saw when Jesus was baptized & the sign God had told him to look for (the Spirit) John 1:27, 33

2) John recognizes his pay grade

John 1:27 NASB

It is He who comes after me, of whom I am not worthy even to untie the strap of His sandal.”

What does that look like in my life?

He must increase, I must decrease looks like a priority shift.

In what areas of my life do I need to decrease and Jesus needs to increase?