IT SHOULD BE DONE

Mat 3:13-15 (NLT) Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.  (14)  But John tried to talk Him out of it. "I am the one who needs to be baptized by You," he said, "so why are You coming to me?"  (15)  But Jesus said, "It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires. " So John agreed to baptize Him.

Jesus’ first step before beginning His earthly ministry of preaching the Kingdom of God is to do what He commands us to do. He is baptized. He who knew no sin and had no need to repent humbled himself and submitted to the baptism of John. Throughout His ministry He preaches humility and He exemplifies humility to us.

The NLT translates this, “we must carry out all that God requires.” Micah 6:8 says,   “No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Paul explains to us that Baptism shows the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and us. (Romans 6:4-11) It is a testimony of all Christ does for and in us.

Rom 6:4-11  For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.  (5)  Since we have been united with Him in His death, we will also be raised to life as He was.  (6)  We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.  (7)  For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.  (8)  And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with Him.  (9)  We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and He will never die again. Death no longer has any power over Him.  (10)  When He died, He died once to break the power of sin. But now that He lives, He lives for the glory of God.  (11)  So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

It was after His baptism that the Father said, "This is My dearly loved Son, who brings Me great joy." (Matthew 3:17)

Reasons to be baptized:

1.     Jesus said, “It should be done.”

2.     It testifies to what Christ has done for us.

3.     It obviously pleased the Father.

You have come this far. Remember the admonition from yesterday that those who listen and follow the teaching of Christ are wise. So have you followed Christ in baptism? If not, I urge you to do so. It is my experience that those who take the first step of obedience find the other steps empowered or easier to take. Don’t misunderstand. I did not say that it makes the Christ followers life easy. I said it makes the next steps empowered or easier.

(Unless otherwise noted all scripture references are from the NLT)