Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Prayer Meeting Lesson Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/pm/pm20120502.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Matthew: Jesus As Israel's Messiah And His Kingdom
Part VI: Jesus As Israel's Messiah By His Interaction With Messiah's Forerunner
(Matthew 3:13-17)
  1. Introduction
    1. If Jesus is Israel's true Messiah sent from God, then His interaction with the Messiah's Forerunner ought to verify that fact in very clear, sure terms.
    2. This is what occurred according to the testimony of Matthew 3:13-17, and we study it for our edification:
  2. Jesus As Israel's Messiah By His Interaction With Messiah's Forerunner, Matthew 3:13-17.
    1. We found in our previous lesson in this series that John the Baptizer was truly Messiah's forerunner.
    2. That being so, his interaction with Jesus indicates Jesus Christ is the Messiah, Matthew 3:13-17:
      1. First, when Jesus came to John to be baptized by him, John initially tried to avoid baptizing Jesus, claiming he as a sinner needed to be baptized of Jesus for the baptism of repentance rather than Jesus needing to be baptized by John as a sinner, Matthew 3:13-14 with 3:5-6. This is a strong implication that John meant Jesus was sinless, something true only of God! (Romans 3:4a, 20, 21-23)
      2. Second, Jesus replied it was necessary for John to baptize Him "to fulfill all righteousness," Matthew 3:15a; Bible Knowledge Com., N. T., p. 25, a statement clarified as follows:
        1. The Law had no requirement for baptism, so Jesus' baptism could not have fulfilled the Law, Ibid.
        2. However, John's ministry included the prediction of the Messiah to come (Matthew 3:11-12), and those baptized by him anticipated Messiah's arrival and establishment of a righteous kingdom, Ibid.
        3. Since people preparing for the Messiah's kingdom were identifying with that kingdom by their baptism unto repentance, it follows that Messiah would need to be identified by John with sinners, Himself being righteous, so this is the meaning of the "fulfill all righteousness" phrase, Ibid.
      3. Third, since John then consented to Jesus' call that he baptize Jesus, the fact that he baptized Jesus shows his agreement with Jesus' statement about fulfilling all righteousness, implying John was thus consenting to the idea that Jesus was the Messiah, Matthew 3:15b.
      4. Fourth, when Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened, and "he" saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and landing upon Jesus, Matthew 3:16. We know from John 1:32-34 that this "he" who saw the Spirit was John who testified that the Lord who had commissioned him to be a prophet had directed that upon Him Whom he saw the Holy Spirit descending and remaining, the same baptized with the Holy Spirit! Since John in John 1:32-34 clarified that this One was the "Son of God," a claim to deity (cf. John 5:18), Jesus is both the Messiah of Israel and God Incarnate!
      5. Fifth, when Jesus was identified by the Holy Spirit's coming to land upon Him in the form of a dove, John also heard the voice from heaven saying, "This is my Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased," Matthew 3:17. This was the voice of God the Father, testifying that Jesus was deity.
      6. Sixth, if Jesus is God's Son, we have a clear testimony of the Triune God in Matthew 3:16-17, and further testimony of the validity of Jesus as God's Messiah:
        1. God (1) the Son was coming up out of the water while (2) God the Holy Spirit was descending upon Him all while (3) the voice of God the Father up in heaven was speaking, Matthew 3:16-17.
        2. The fact that these three Persons are here seen as being separate from one another in location at the same time reveals the reality of the Trinity! (Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Matt. 3:16-17)
      7. Seventh, God the Father's claim that Jesus was His Son in Whom He was "well pleased" indicates that from God the Father's view, Jesus was sinless and thus He fully qualified to be the Messiah and Son of God in accord with the testimony of John in Matthew 3:14!
Lesson: John the Baptizer as the established Forerunner of the Messiah so interacted with Jesus that it is evident that He is the true Messiah of Israel and the Son of God.

Application: (1) May we believe in Jesus as Israel's Messiah. (2) May we believe Jesus is God as the Son of God. (3) May we believe in the doctrine of the Trinity opposite distortions or denials of it, for it is clearly, undeniably presented in Matthew 3:16-17 [and elsewhere].