Promised Messiah, Jan. 11

The Promised Messiah: Visible Dr. Chris Montgomery Matthew 3:13-17 | Jan. 11, 2026 (Matthew 3:13-17) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:1-2) In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Did Jesus ever sin? • (2 Corinthians 5:21) He knew no sin… • (1 Peter 2:22) He committed no sin… • (Hebrews 4:15) [He was] tempted in every way, yet without sin… • (1 John 3:5) In Him there is no sin… Why was Jesus being baptized by John? 1. Confirmation: Jesus was confirming that He is the Messiah, and that John was the forerunner to the Messiah. (Matthew 3:5-7) Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism… (Matthew 3:16-17) And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” 2. Association: Jesus was classifying himself with us in our unrighteousness. (Isaiah 53:4-6) Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 3. Proclamation: Jesus was foreshadowing His death, burial, and resurrection. (Romans 6:4) We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 4. Identification: Jesus was showing us that righteousness is always visible. (Matthew 3:15) But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”