God said in Isaiah 53 that He would send His son into His created world. He would grow up like a young plant. He would be despised and oppressed. The sins of the world would be placed on Him. He would die a sinner’s death and then rise from the grave. He would overcome death itself. He would then intercede for His people.

Here He is... in Matthew 3, the prophesied One, Jesus, a Galilean carpenter, obediently living out God’s calling in His life. What did this look like for Jesus?

God’s own son, Jesus, in the fullness of time was born as a baby, raised by Mary and Joseph within a Jewish community. He lived and loved as he was immersed in the world He created. He had an uncle and aunt and cousin just like many of us do. Zechariah and Elizabeth and John also were living out their own unique callings from the LORD.

Today, the individual callings of Jesus and John intersect in an unexpected way. John’s special calling was to point his generation to repentance as the prophets in the Old Testament had. He faithfully baptized many. In the midst of his work John encounters Jesus and He too wants to be baptized...by John!

Matthew 3:15-17

15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 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.”

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What should “be so” in verse 15?

+ What does baptism mark in a believer’s life?

+ Why was it important to Jesus as He began His ministry?

+ Why should it “be so” according to verse 15?

+ What does “fulfill all righteousness” mean?

+ Imagine you personally experienced Jesus’s baptism. List the things you would have seen, heard, and felt as you witnessed John baptizing Jesus. See verses 16-17

+ Imagine you were John, how might you be feeling?

+ Imagine you were Jesus, how might you be feeling?

+ Remember your own baptism. What marked that event for you personally?

+ Why were God’s Words so important to mark His Son’s baptism?

+ How do God’s Words matter in our own walk?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ What is God calling you to do? Did your calling begin with baptism?

+ How have you, like John, encountered Jesus as you were serving Him?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?