Sermon Cloud

Intro/Opening: 

(1) Your view of Jesus Christ is the most important thing about you. It defines who you are: 

2 Cor. 5:16 “from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh … if anyone is in Christ he is a new creature: the old things have passed away; behold new things have come” - 

(2) That Jesus is who He said He is, is the most important reality in life. 

That He is the Son of God, God in human flesh, is essential. 

John 8:24 “Unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins”

That He rose from the dead, is crucial to believe. 

1 Cor. 15:17 “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still dead in your sins.”

That you are a sinner; Jesus Christ alone is the acceptable sacrifice that can reconcile you to God, that you need to repent and believe is non-negotiable: 

Heb. 10:26-31 “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Any who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the SOn of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” 

(3) There are a host of religious options in the world. Each traveling on a broad path to destruction. Only one lead to life and that is Jesus Christ and God has borne overwhelming testimony to Him. In Jewish culture it took 2-3 witnesses to confirm a matter; here God provides more than necessary and ones with infinitely greater reliability!

4 Testimonies to Christ as the acceptable sacrifice so that all would believe in Him. (Really five, could have added Scripture).  

(1) John testifies to Jesus’ sinless humanity

(2) Baptism testifies to Jesus’ absolute submission

(3) Holy Spirit testifies to Jesus’ supernatural power

(4) Father testifies to Jesus’ divine perfection

READ: Matthew 3:13-17. 

(3) Holy Spirit testifies to Jesus’ Supernatural Power (16).

“And after being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water” - and He came up from the water because He had been in and under the water. John did not sprinkle Him, He baptized Him! (John 3:23). 

Imagine the scene: a large crowd gathered around the edge of the Jordan, the water swiftly moving down the river, a hushed silence among the people, and every eye fixed in wonder, curiosity, and anticipation on the lone figures in the middle of the river. 

“and, behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descend like a dove and remaining on Him”

Having been immersed by the prophet of God he now rose up, water still dripping form His head as He ascends of the Jordan river. Suddenly, there appears in the sky an opening, as if the transparent blue sky was only a screen hiding another world. And “the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descend like a dove and remaining on Him.”

Now this is amazing!  What exactly happened? Don’t know, but this is not an unprecedented event: 

Ezek 1:1 “while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God”

Acts 7:56 “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Acts 10:11 “[Peter] saw the sky [heaven] open up”

The Bible describes some pretty amazing things taking place in heaven.  

Revelation 4:1-11 “Behold, a door open in heaven … behold a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne ... Out from the throne come flashes of lightening and sounds and peals of thunder … and day and night they do cease to say, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come … Worthy are You, our Lord, and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.’” 

(5:11-14)“Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy s the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.’ And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, ‘To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.’ And the four living creature kept saying, ‘Amen.’ And the elders fell down and worshiped.”

The next time the heavens will open up for the Lord Jesus Christ it will be for His return: 

Rev. 19:11-16 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and rue, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a rove dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God ... And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name write, ‘King of kings, and Lord of lords.”

But this is all yet to come. First, Jesus has the work of the cross.  Not a man standing here, but eternal God, for a moment veiled in human flesh. 

John knew the Messiah was eternal God for he himself testified that “He existed before me” “I am not worthy to untie his sandals”

And here He is, full deity veiled in full humanity, made a little lower than the angels, “He has no form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him” (Is. 53:2-3) standing in the Jordan River to be baptized, but with heaven opened to give testimony to His glorious role and mission and Messiah.  

John Broadus, quotes one old writer, “Just as the veil of the temple was rent in twain (i.e. Torn in two) to symbolize the perfect access of all men to God … so here the heavens are ‘rent asunder’, to show how near God is to Jesus and Jesus is to God.” 

Reminds, also, that there is more to life and our existence than what we can see with out eyes (in contradiction to materialists/humanist). God is real. Heaven is real. Hell is real. Jesus is who He said He is.

Who saw this vision? Here, “He saw” could refer to either Jesus or John. Mark 1:10 attaches the seeing to Jesus. John 1:33 notes that the events were intended for John to see. So, I believe here in Matthew it is best to take the reference as referring to John the Baptist. 

Notice He says, “This is My Beloved Son …” both Mark and Luke record the voice as saying, “You are My Beloved Son …” So, here in Matthew the focus clearly seems to be on the John the Baptist, who “saw the heavens opened …”

Did the crowds see it? Not likely. It is hard to imagine it would not be mentioned again by the people if they would have seen the “heavens opened” “split asunder” (Mark). Matt. 12:28 God the Father spoke and the people thought it was thunder, but there is no mention of anything like that here - though it is possible.

What did Jesus and John see? “The Spirit of God descending like a dove and remaining on Him”

Now many commentators have labored over what is meant by the dove. Was it in the form of a dove? Was it the manner He appeared? Did He float and flutter like a dove? Lk. 3:22 answers the question - He came in the “bodily form” as a dove. 

Why a dove? Who knows; could be an allusion to Gen. 8:6-13. Or, it could be, as some suggest, that the “dove” represents the common sacrifice of the poor who could not afford a Lamb. However, John had no problem referring to Him as the “Lamb of God.” Also, that doesn’t seem to be the point

John Calvin seems a bit closer, noting the gentle meekness of the Savior in His ministry of sacrifice. As opposed to the symbol of fire John may have expected, which will come in His ministry of judgment. 

Jesus was marked by tenderness, just as the prophet Isaiah looked forward to “He will not cry out or raise his voice, nor make His voice heard the street A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick he will not extinguish.” This same is repeated in Matt. 12:18-21. 

It is the gentleness that is reflected in His tender call to “Come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30). 

The dove would be a fitting symbol for the Spirit who would fill Him with the fullness of God and produce the perfect fruit of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23).

Luke 4:22 “All were speaking well of Him and wondering at the gracious words, which were falling from His lips” (of course, in 6 verses they would want to throw Him off a cliff). 

Acts 10:38 (Peter in his sermon to Cornelius’ household) “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

It seems best then to see the dove as a symbol of the meek and gentle character of the Savior’s ministry who came “like a lamb led to slaughter … did not open His mouth.”

However, the important point is that the ministry of Jesus is confirmed as being under the power and direction of God the Holy Spirit. 

After His ascension He will be the One sending the Holy Spirit to His people. But here is in need of receiving the empowering ministry of the Holy Spirit to perform His role as Messiah. 

Why did the Holy Spirit need to come and remain with Jesus? If Jesus is fully God, eternal, infinite, omnipotent, omniscient, God why did He need the Holy Spirit? 

Because He was also fully human. Though He was and is equal to God, He came in the form of a servant. He took on flesh and blood. He experienced fatigue, hunger (4:2), lack of information (Mk. 13:32), normal human growth in wisdom and stature, He prayed and trusted God, and He experienced physical death.

The demands of ministry were grueling. So much that He could effortlessly sleep in a boat during a raging storm. And the beating He endured before the crucifixion would have certainly killed most men. As fully God He did not need the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, however, as God who was fully Man He did.

Others in the OT particularly received the power of the Holy Spirit for ministry and service to God, but this is something infinitely greater! This utterly unique to the ministry of Jesus Christ.

John notes that in the case of Jesus (John 3:34) - “gives the Spirit without measure” - this could only be said of the God-Man (Col. 2 “fullness of Deity dwelled”); the Holy Spirit, who “searches the depths of God” (2 Cor. 2); now came and resided on the Son of God. 

Every aspect of Jesus’ ministry would be marked by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit: 4:1; 12:18-32. 

So, here He is. John pointing the way. The Spirit has come; His Messiahship now confirmed in the heart of John, the coronation not complete, the Holy Spirit now uniquely testifying to His empowering ministry, and the Father alone is left to give His approving nod. 

(4) Father testifies to Jesus’ Divine Perfection (17).

“Behold, a voice from heaven” - 2^nd time he uses this emphatic term! “Listen up” Everything God says is important because it is true, it is important, and it is authoritative. But somethings are more important, and demand even greater attention. Such is the case such is the case here. 

“This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased!”

There it is! A Divine confirmation of the Person and work of Christ, straight from the mouth of God the Father Himself. 

Anyone who claims to believe the Bible and yet denies the reality of Christ’s Deity, His Person, His work, here confirmed by the Father is engaging in foolish, meaningless, and senseless talk. 

This is the crescendoing moment in the revelation of Jesus Christ. It is a final, absolute, unquestionable, unequivocal, confirmation of The eternal Son of God, now clothed in humanity, in the one Person of Jesus Christ; the Messiah, the Suffering Servant. 

If no other proof were ever produced regarding the Person of Jesus Christ, this alone would be more than sufficient evidence whereby we could entrust our eternal souls to Him. 

This also means that every soul is accountable; what more could God do to testify to Jesus? To try and make Jesus one among many is ridiculous, ignorant, and willful rebellion to the plain presentation of Scripture. 

ILLUST: Woman - God doesn’t judge; Christ is not only way. 

Jesus is God in human flesh - it is impossible to know God apart from Him (John 14:6). “If God were your Father you would love Me” John 8. Do you believe Him? Do you want to believe it? 

This statement is repeated 2x in the NT. Once here at the baptism of Jesus, which marks the initiation of His public ministry. And the other is at the Mount of Transfiguration. Two of the most significant moments in the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. 

Here it marks the inauguration of His public ministry; at the Mount of Transfiguration it marks His single-minded journey to Jerusalem to be rejected, crucified, and raised on the third day. The consummation of it. 

Here it is to encourage Christ & confirm Him to John as the Messiah who was preparing His way. In each of the synoptic gospels the Mount of Transfiguration follows the great confession of Peter, “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the Living God! 

Here the Father testifies that this is His “Beloved Son in Whom He is well-pleased.” At the Mount of Transfiguration He says, “This is My Beloved Son, with Whom I am well-pleased, Listen to Him!”

With this statement we also have unmistakable identification with the Suffering Servant of Isaiah, “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen One in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations” (Is. 42:1). This prophecy of Isaiah is again repeated in Matt. 12:18-21. 

Some try to attach the reference of “My Beloved Son” to Ps. 2:7 - it is possible to hear the echo of it, however, Ps. 2:7  is repeatedly referenced to the resurrection of Jesus. 

This is a Divine confirmation of the Deity of Jesus Christ. In calling Jesus  “My Beloved Son” He is asserting Jesus’ equality with God the Father. 

This is exactly how the Jews understood this Father/Son language (John 5:17-18; 10:30; 17:1-5). If the Jews understood it that way in reference to Jesus’ statement, how much more when coming from the mouth of God the Father Himself! And, notice, He did not call John His Beloved Son, but only the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Those who belong to Christ are also called sons. We are sons by adoption; we are sons by virtue of being in Christ. He is a Son by nature. 

Notice, “Beloved Son” - It speaks of the eternal love that exist between God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. It is the same love that true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ participate in (John 17:24)!

There are no more comforting words that could be spoken to so magnify the eternal and perfect love that exist among the Godhead; and for those who are partakers of that love in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:26-39  [35-39]  “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? …”) *note the participation of the Trinity!

Notice what else He says, “In Whom I am well-pleased” - it would be harder to think of a more clear and authoritative declaration of the sinlessness of Jesus Christ than this. John gave testimony in his humanness, but here the testimony comes from God Himself. 

Why was the Father “Well-pleased?” (1) Because of His obedience to be a sacrifice, and (2) His sinlessness.  

(1) Because of His obedience in laying down His life: John 8:39 “I always do the things that are pleasing to Him;” John 10:17 “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.” Jesus is willingly, lovingly, laying down His life as a sin-bearing sacrifice for His people. The Father gladly accepting this sacrifice and laying the punishment of the sin of His people on Him (“God was pleased to crush Him if He would render Himself as a guilt offering … as a result of the anguish of His soul He will see it and be satisfied”). 

(2) Because of His sinless Perfection: The Father declares that in Him - in His very Person, His very soul, the very essence of His Being - “I am well-pleased.”

Is. 42:2 “My Chosen One in Whom My soul delights” - This would be impossible to say if Jesus had any sin in Him. Jesus Christ was, based on the reality of His own righteousness, able to stand in the presence of holy God and receive only Divine confirmation. This is impossible for any man - even John the Baptist realized he could not do this. 

This is absolutely spell binding to understand; and absolutely essential to affirm. Why? Why give such glorious confirmation of the Sinless perfection of Jesus Christ as the Holy God-Man Messiah? 

Now here is the significance: If Jesus Christ was not sinless in His very nature, then it is impossible for Him to be an acceptable sacrifice on our behalf; every Christian would still be dead in their sins. The resurrection would be a lie. And every human being, from Adam on would be forever in hell. And it would break the eternal unity and perfection of the Godhead. 

A sinner can only pay the penalty for their own sin! Therefore, it is impossible for any mere human being - any child of Adam. 

ROM. 5:12 “as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned” - That is, every living human being since Adam has inherited a sin nature. This what David referred to in Ps. 51:5 “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity and in sin my mother conceived me.” At the very point of conception, David had the status of a sinner. Because of our sin nature, we commit acts of sin that further add to our guilt. You are guilty; I am guilty = because of Adam’s offspring. 

James 2:10 “If anyone keeps the whole Law and stumbles in one point he has become guilt of all.” So all men are guilty by virtue of our nature inherited from Adam, and guilty by virtue of the deeds we commit. (Rom. 3:23). 

So, God’s sacrifice, the One who would save His people from their sin, had to be perfectly righteous - He could have no sin of His own to pay for; here His virgin birth is crucial to understand and affirm. Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. His origin is from God, so that His nature as God and His human nature as Man is completely free from sin. 

Even in the OT the acceptable sacrifice had to be without blemish. If that is true for bulls and goats, which cannot take away sin, or make the worshipper pure in conscience. How much more for the Messiah the true Lamb of God whose role it is to “save His people from their sins” 

Hebrews 4:15; *7:25-27; 9:14, **23-28; 10:10. 

Because He had no sin of His own to pay for, He could offer His own body to be the payment for the sin of others - thus God could be both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Rom. 3:25). All men’s efforts are futile. If a sinner is to be saved and restored to God; God must take the initiative; God must provide the sacrifice that will satisfy. 

It is the holy perfection of Jesus Christ that should cause us to fear, love, worship, and obey Him. 

1 Pet. 1:17-19 “If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”

One final note: The work of redemption is a Trinitarian work. 

“It was the whole Trinity, which at the beginning of creation said, ‘let us make man.’ It was the whole Trinity again, which at the beginning of 

the Gospel seemed to say, ‘let us save man.’” (J.C. Ryle).

It is the Father who gives a people to the Son, the Son agrees to come and purchase these same by the sacrifice of Himself, the Spirit draws, regenerates, applies Christ’s work, and seals all who belong to Him.  

And here, in this amazing scene, they are each manifested in a display of Divine approval and confirmation of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the acceptable sacrifice for the sins of His people, and the perfect eternal Mediator between God and men. 

God has given every confirmation concerning His Son; there can be no excuse, no doubt: Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the only One through Whom a person can be saved. 

Witness of the prophets; Scripture; angels; the Magi; Herod; John; Spirit; Father; works; apostles; changed lives. 

 Perhaps the greatest testimony to Jesus as the acceptable sacrifice is the resurrection itself. 

(Rom. 4:32-25) “Now not for our sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.”

Rom. 4:25 “He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification”

Acts 17:30-31 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom he has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

When the people heard about the resurrection, “some began to sneer, but others said, ‘We shall hear you again concerning this … but some men joined him and believed.”

Where are you among this crowd? What is your reaction to God’s testimony to Jesus Christ? 

Jesus Christ is King, Messiah, God, and the acceptable sacrifice of God on behalf of sinners. There can be no greater testimony that what God has given us.