Francesco Trevisani: English: John the Baptist baptizing Christ

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The Baptism of Our Lord
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
January 11, 2026
Isaiah42:1-9, Romans 6:1-11, Matthew 3:13-17

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            Sometimes parents can get concerned if their children get together with those below their social class.  In the early part of the 1900s there was a young lady whose father had made a fortune in meatpacking and retired at the age of 36.  His daughter was raised in a life of luxury with servants to cook and clean and help with any menial tasks.  At 19, this young lady fell in love with a 25-year-old, penniless army lieutenant.  Her father was worried that this poor soldier was not good enough for his refined, high society daughter.  He told her that if she married him she would not have daddy’s money as a safety net, and she would have to live in army housing and pinch pennies to make ends meet. She married him anyway and learned to cook and clean and stretch the budget.  Her father did not want her to marry a man with no money because he believed that was beneath his daughter’s dignity.  In this case, her father was wrong.  It turned out that the young lieutenant, Dwight Eisenhower, eventually became a five star general and president of the United States.  Mamie Eisenhower chose love for the poor soldier over money and a life of ease.  Life was not easy, but it did bring her to the White House.  Mamie’s father probably should not have been so worried, but it is common for parents to be concerned about their children getting together with those who might be a negative influence.

            Did your parents ever warn you about playing with certain kids because they were afraid those kids might get you into trouble?  I may have been the one the other parents warned about.

            Did your parents ever encourage you to make friends with “good” kids instead of the “bad” kids?  It is not a terrible idea.  We live after the fall into sin and we are influenced by those around us.  When students leave Immanuel to go on to high school I encourage them to pick new friends wisely so that their friends will help make them better people.

            In our Gospel reading today we see a Son hanging out with those well below His social status.  This Son is going around with troublemakers; lowlife riff-raff who struggle to do good.  What is His Father going to think about that? 

            John the Baptist has been preaching in preparation for the Son’s arrival, Matthew 3:2 (ESV) 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  And the people respond and come to John to confess their sins and be baptized with a baptism of repentance.  There is a crowd of people down at the Jordan responding to John’s message of repentance.  But, what kind of people are they who need to repent and confess?  These are people who are not good enough.  These are sinners who need to repent.

            The Son is so much above sinners.  John the Baptist describes Him as… Matthew 3:11 (ESV) 11 “…he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry….”  John is not worthy to carry His footwear.  The mighty, holy, King is coming to rule His Kingdom.  Jesus arrives at the Jordan from Galilee.  Jesus comes to John’s baptism of repentance.  But this does not make any sense.  Jesus is the holy, sinless, Son of God.  He has nothing to confess.  He does not need to repent. 

            What is going on here?  What is Jesus doing?  Jesus is standing with sinners and being baptized with a baptism of repentance — like a sinner.  What does God, the Father, think about all this?  Matthew 3:16–17 (ESV) 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” 

            Jesus is hanging out with the riff-raff and His Father is well pleased.  That is such great good news for you and me – the riff-raff.  Jesus really has come to save sinners.  He stands with sinners and is baptized with them.  Jesus is not going to be led into trouble by others — He will forgive them and lead them out of trouble.

            Jesus standing with sinners is unexpected because John had proclaimed that Jesus is coming in judgment.  Matthew 3:10 (ESV) 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire… Matthew 3:12 (ESV) 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”  Jesus has arrived, but where is the axe?  Where is the winnowing fork?  Where is the judgment?  Instead Jesus is being baptized with the sinners.  Jesus answers John’s objections… Matthew 3:15 (ESV) 15 … “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”  “Let it be so now.”  Judgment is not yet.  It will come… but not yet.  For now, Jesus is doing His righteous saving work.  For now, Jesus has great mercy on sinners.  Isaiah 42:3 (ESV) 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench…” Jesus is showing how He will reign as King.  He will rule in humble, saving, service, culminating with being crowned with thorns and enthroned on the cruel cross at Golgotha.  Jesus will live out what the angel told Joseph Jesus’ name meant… Matthew 1:21 (ESV) 21 … you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  Jesus later instructs us how to make followers of Jesus.  Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV) 18 … “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus stands with sinners.  At His baptism He is literally standing with sinners at the Jordan River.  As the whole nation of Israel reduced to one, Jesus fulfills God’s law and promises.  He takes the place of sinners, and receives the baptism from John that the sinners received. 

            Now, it can be misinterpreted that because Jesus stands with sinners and is baptized with sinners and eats with sinners that He is promoting sin.  People want to believe that because God loves all people that He endorses their sin. But this is completely against what we see here at the Jordan.  Jesus stands with repentant sinners to pay the price of their sin with His own body and blood.  Jesus does not promote sin; He sheds His blood to pay for sin to appease God’s wrath. Paul addresses this in our Epistle reading.  Romans 6:1–2 (ESV) 1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”  Jesus comes to save sinners.  He comes to take your sin upon Himself and endure the wrath of God in your place.  In your baptism you are connected to Jesus and His savings works.  This is the Father’s plan. 

            This morning we get to (got to) witness a death and a resurrection…right here at the font.  In the waters of baptism, little Johann Pirn will die (died) to sin and will be (was) raised to eternal life in Christ.  Johann will be (was) given the gift of eternal life in Christ and his body will be (is now) a temple of the Holy Spirit.  Johann will be (has been) declared righteous, innocent and blessed because of what Jesus has done for him.  Jesus comes to save sinners including Johann and including you.  Jesus stands with you. 

Jesus stands with you even as you continue to struggle with sin and temptation.  He stands with you as you once again repent of that same stupid sin.  He takes your place and pays your price and gives you His perfection and holiness.  You are connected directly to Jesus in your baptism.  Through His Church, you stay connected to Jesus until you die.  And then, when your spirit has gone to be with the Lord to wait for the Last Day, we will begin your funeral with these words.  Romans 6:3–5 (ESV) 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

            Unlike some parents, Jesus’ Father does not try to keep Him away from the lowly and troubled – indeed, that is who He has come to save.  As followers of Jesus who are natural born sinners we need to beware of bad influences in life, but we cannot write people off because we think they are too sinful for Jesus.  Jesus calls for all to repent and believe.  Jesus does not come for those who believe they are good enough. Jesus does not come to encourage the high and mighty to be higher and mightier.  Jesus comes to save sinners like you and me.  So declare with confidence along with Johann, “God’s own child I gladly say it.  I am baptized into Christ.”  Amen.