Lesson 11 – The Baptism of Jesus
Jesus was baptized to “fulfill all righteousness” so that our Baptism might give us forgiveness of sins and rescue us from death and the devil.
Opening
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
This lesson will use the Bible, the Bible Discovery Guide and the Lesson 11 Leaflet from the Student Pack. The front cover shows how the artist sees Jesus after being baptized. Also paper and pencil or crayons will be needed.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, we thank You for revealing to us Your Son, who came to earth to take away the sins of the world. Be with us as we learn today, and send Your Holy Spirit to teach us where we may see our Savior. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Read the Faith Words on page 4 of the lesson leaflet.
Listen to the hymn "To Jordan's River Came Our Lord".
God Speaks
In review, the birth of John the Baptist was foretold by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:5-17), Zechariah was struck mute because he did not believe (Luke 1:18-20), and at John's birth, Zechariah was able to speak again (Luke 1:63-66). Zechariah prophesied that John would prepare the way of the Lord (Luke 1:67-79). John would give knowledge of salvation to the people in the forgiveness of sins. This is the same John that is preaching and baptizing in this lesson.
John, who is Jesus' cousin, is known as the "forerunner"of Jesus. He came before Jesus to prepare the way or to "get things ready" for Jesus.
Luke 3:1-20 tells about John's ministry and preaching.
Read Luke 3:1-3
The fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, would be about AD 29. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea at this time (AD 26-36). The Herod mentioned here is the son of Herod the Great, who was king at the time of Jesus' birth. Annas and Caiaphas served as high priests around this time (AD 6-15 and AD 18-37 respectively).
The location of the Jordan River is shown on pages 8-9 in the Bible Discovery Guide and page 7 shows photographs of the Jordan.
Read Luke 3:4-9.
Crowds of people, including tax collectors and soldiers, came to hear John preach. What did he preach to the people? He told them to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins to prepare for Jesus. Being descendants of Abraham wouldn't matter anymore for their salvation.
Read Luke 3:10-18.
The people wondered what this meant and what they should do. They wondered if John was the Christ, the Messiah promised to them. How did John explain his message to them? John gave the people guidelines for how repentance expresses itself in daily life. John was baptizing with water, but the Messiah is mightier than John, and He would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. The Messiah would gather the believers together to be with Him forever.
Because sin entered the world at Eden with Adam and Eve, sinful people knew they needed a Savior, and they were looking for one. John was going before Jesus to prepare the people for His coming and His salvation.
Read Luke 3:19-20.
John boldly rebuked Herod, the ruler, for his sins. Herod became angry and had John thrown into prison. In Matthew 14:1-12, we read how Herod later put John to death.
Read Luke 3:21-22.
Jesus was among the people who heard and paid attention to the preaching of John the Baptizer and were baptized. John baptized Jesus. Why? Did Jesus need forgiveness of sins like the others that John baptized? The account of Jesus' Baptism in Matthew 3:13-17 tells us that Jesus was baptized to "fulfill all righteousness" [verse. 15), or to show that He was consecrated-set apart-to God and approved by Him. Jesus would be the one to fulfill all of God's requirements we sinners could not fulfill. The same account in John 1:31-34 tells us that Jesus was baptized to reveal Himself to Israel. Jesus was also baptized so that we could follow His example and be baptized.
What happened after Jesus was baptized that was so remarkable? After His Baptism, Jesus prayed. While He prayed, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven declared, "You are My beloved Son; with You l am well pleased”.
The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus to show those present that Jesus was the Son of God. The voice from heaven was God the Father. He was revealing to the people that this man, Jesus, is His Son and also true God. He was also strengthening Jesus for the work He had to do to redeem humankind.
This event is recorded in three of the Gospels. See also Matthew 3:13--17 and Mark 1:9-11. In John 1:29-34, John the Baptist tells in his own words that he saw the Spirit descend on Jesus, which probably was at Jesus' Baptism, although the text doesn't say that specifically. This event was an epiphany, where Jesus was revealed to the people. There is no question that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah for whom the people were looking.
Follow the directions under Preparing the Way on page 2 of the leaflet.
Statements that should have lines drawn to John are 1-3, 5-6, and 9-10. Statements that describe Jesus are 4, 7-8, 11. Statements that could go to John or Jesus are 9 and 10. The Luke text says both of these things about John; however, this was the essence of Jesus' preaching ministry.
We Live
This lesson explains how God revealed His Son as the Savior at Jesus' Baptism.
Why is it so important to talk about Baptism? Why do we need Baptism? What does your Baptism mean for you? Forgiveness of sin and the need for the blessings God has provided for them in Baptism. In Mark 16:16, Jesus tells us that whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.
Read The Sacrament of Holy Baptism on page 2 of the leaflet.
Then follow the directions for What Baptism Means to Me on page 3 in the leaflet.
Words to fill in for this activity are (1) water, God's, Word; (2) forgiveness, sins, death, devil, and salvation.
The water alone is not Baptism, but water connected with God's Word is Baptism, by His command and for the forgiveness of sins and for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
Read the Bible Words on page 4 of the leaflet. These these words were written by Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, during the first century AD. In Paul's time, the term "sons of God" carried an extra meaning. Only sons inherited property from their fathers. When Christians-men and women-say that we are "sons" of God, we are affirming that we are both adopted into His family and heirs of the spiritual treasure He offers of forgiveness, life, and salvation.
In Baptism, we receive the Holy Spirit, who gives us faith in the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. In Baptism, we in effect are clothed with Christ's righteousness. God no longer sees our sin, but sees Christ's holiness.
Read the text on the Living Wet picture at the end of this lesson. Review the countdown of ways to "live wet" that is, to remember and live in the blessings of Baptism.
We constantly want to remind ourselves of the difference our Baptism makes. We are no longer outsiders who are separated from God. Now we are part of God's family-heirs, sons. We have a sense of identity and belonging. We have a purpose for our lives. Through the gift of faith in Jesus, we inherit the gift of eternal life in heaven with Jesus. Because of our Baptism, we also exhibit the fruit of faith. (See Galatians 5:22-23.)
In stanza 2 of the hymn "To Jordan's River Came Our Lord”, the phrase "Son of God in flesh disguised" refers to Jesus' birth as a human being. Stanza 4 proclaims our conviction that Jesus is the Son of God, the promised Messiah.
Closing
In our Baptism, God makes us His children through the work of the Holy Spirit. God comes to us in His Word and Sacraments. In the water and Word of Baptism, God grants me faith and declares that l am His child through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Spirit at Jesus' Baptism to reveal Him as Your Son. Thank You for sending Your Spirit at my Baptism to give me faith to believe that Jesus is my Savior and for making me Your child. In Jesus' name. Amen.
