Dear Christian friends:

Why did Jesus come to John the Baptist to be baptized? Here in our text we see Jesus standing in line with sinners waiting to receive baptism. Why? Is Jesus a sinner? Does He need have sins forgiven? No! Jesus is not a sinner, but He joins with sinners so that He can save sinners, so that He can open again the door of heaven for us poor, wretched sinners. In our text we read that after John had baptized Jesus "the heavens opened." (verse 10)


Our sins closed heaven to us. God never intended heaven to be closed, and in the beginning of the world heaven was open. Adam and Eve talked with God face to face and they were not ashamed or afraid.

They enjoyed very much their union and communication with God. The garden of Eden was heaven for Adam and Eve. But we all know the sad story of how Adam and Eve sinned against God, and how when God came the next time to visit with them they were afraid of God and ran and hid from Him. (Genesis 3:1-20) God then placed an angel with a flaming sword to keep them out of paradise. (Genesis 3:22-24)

Sin shut heaven's door and no man can open them again no matter how hard he may try. Man may seem to be very good and righteous person, and think he can open heaven by his own good deeds, but all his righteousness are as filthy rags and he is as an unclean thing before God. (Isaiah 64:6) Heaven remains closed unto that man. A man may be very sad and sorry for his wrongs and sins and shed bitter tears, but all his weeping will not cause God to open heaven's doors. Cain, Esau and Judas were very sorry for their sins and wept bitter tears but God did not open heaven to them.

A man may become angry at God and protest and shout insults at God and curse Him, but also that will not open heaven's door. A man may say that there is no God and that there is no heaven, but he is a fool and God is still God and heaven is still closed and locked. (Psalm 14:1-3)

Really, it is good that man cannot force open heaven's doors, because if he could and if he did, God's righteous and terrible anger would destroy him. In a way man's cruel sins do sometimes force God to open heaven, but then He pours down fire and brimstone as He did on the filthy sinners of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 19:24)

And really, I'm surprised that God in His anger doesn't open heaven today and destroy some of the cities of America. Many of our people today are as bad as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. And if you doubt me, read the editorial from the Los Angeles Times, January 7, 1982, Page 7, article, "Safety In Numbers? Not In Urban Jungle." by Bob Greene.

There is no way that any man can open heaven and let us see a smiling God. Only one man can do it and that is the Man, Christ Jesus. He stood in line with sinners at the Jordan river. He, the eternal Word, He who in the beginning with the Father, and the Son made the heavens and the earth. He the Word become flesh, He the only begotten, the only beloved Son of the Father, He was conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin; and now when He is 30 years old He stands in line with sinners and waits for John to baptize Him. He Himself does not need baptism. He has no sin.

He does this shameful thing for us. He joins with us so that He can save us from our sins, open heaven for us to see a smiling God who loves us and forgives us. He is baptized to be our Savior, the One who will suffer our sin and all of God's anger upon the cross. When He is finished, baptized, the heavens are opened and a dove comes down upon Him and remains upon Him. The dove is God's symbol of peace, love and forgiveness. St. Paul says that we are justified (forgiven) by faith and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)

Our text also says that the dove is the symbol for the Holy Spirit. By sending His Spirit upon Jesus, God is certifying to John the Baptist and to us and to all men that Jesus, the Son of Mary is also the eternal Son of God and His chosen Savior for the world. God says to us through the prophet Isaiah, "See My Servant (Jesus), whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom I delight I have put My Spirit upon Him (Jesus). (Isaiah 42:1)

And if perhaps the dove coming down on Jesus after His baptism is not enough proof for some, God Himself plainly says that Jesus is His beloved Son, in whom He (the Father) is well pleased. (verse 11) And why is the Father much pleased with His beloved Son? Because the Son obeyed the Father's good and gracious will and made Himself humble by being born of Mary so that He could take our place under the Law, fulfill the Law for us and also suffer the punishment of our Law breaking. (Galatians 4:4-5) Jesus, the Son of Mary is the eternal Son of God our beautiful, perfect, Savior who has opened again for us the gates of paradise. God is well pleased with Jesus and He is also well pleased with all who believe in Jesus.

Let us, like the people of Jerusalem who came to John for baptism, let us confess that we are sinners and then trust in Jesus for our beautiful Savior. Believe in Jesus who has opened heaven for us, not that an angry God may punish us, but that a kind Father may welcome us home!

Amen.

Beautiful Savior, King of Creation,
Son of God, and Son of Man,
Truly I'd love Thee,
Truly I'd serve Thee,
Light of my Soul,
My joy My Crown. (TLH 657 Beautiful Savior V. 1)

(TLH 105: PRAISE GOD THE LORD, YE SONS OF MEN)
1. Praise God the Lord, ye sons of men,
Before His highest throne;
Today He opens heaven again
And gives us His own Son.

3. He veils in flesh His power divine
A servant's form to take;
In want and lowliness must pine
Who heaven and earth did make.

7. He serves that I a lord may be;
A great exchange indeed!
Could Jesus' love do more for me
To help me in my need?

8. He opens us again the door
Of Paradise today;
The angel guards the gate no more,
To God our thanks we pay.