INTRODUCTION: In the Christmas season, which we have just celebrated and observed we remember that Jesus Christ broke into time and space to be our Savior. With the prophet Isaiah we rejoice, “unto us a child is born unto us a Son is given…” The world asks, “Who is this Jesus anyway?”

Nothing is mentioned in Matthew’s gospel between Jesus’ birth and His baptism. Those few weeks since Christmas are quite short compared to the approximately 30 years between His nativity and the beginning of His public ministry. He lived in literal obscurity – but soon we shall know Him better.

Since Christmas is not officially over there are many in our world today who have placed Jesus in the back of their minds. The holidays – they would say are history. They have already forgotten why His birth was so important. Still others as in His own day wait with eager and curious expectation to see what His mission in life will be.

On January 20^th of this New Year the president of these United States in his inaugural address outline his program for the coming years. What can we anticipate for the future?  What about these next four years and beyond? Jesus begins His ministry at His baptism. What can we anticipate in His administration? In His baptism Jesus answers the question, “so who and what is this Christ?”

I.        Who is this Jesus – He is the Messiah – identified with the past.

A.     He identifies with all people from Adam all the way up to John who need to be baptized for forgiveness. The world needs a Savior. He is named “Jesus” for He shall save His people form their sins.

B.     He also claims a heritage with God’s covenant people – the children of Israel. Indeed He has become all of Israel – all of God’s faithful people reduced down to one individual – in the person of Jesus Christ.

Transition: As the Father’ anointed one He claims an identity with the past – He also is connected to the people of the present.

II.     As Messiah He identifies with the present – those present at His time.

A.     In the baby born in Bethlehem God has “sent His own Son” Psalm 2:7 tells us “I will surely tell of the decrees of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee’.

B.     The Messiah is also the “chosen servant” foretold by the prophet Isaiah of old. This servant is the chosen of the Father whom God is “well pleased.” What does this mean for you and me? God our Father has accepted His Son by grace to be His sacrifice for sin.

C.     John baptizes Jesus, Matthew reminds us “to fulfill all righteousness.” Thus the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation has begun. Now Jesus’ mission moves from Bethlehem to Egypt to Nazareth to the river Jordan to Jerusalem where the Son of God will suffer, die for the sins of the world.

Transition: So who and what is this Jesus? He identifies with the promises of the past. He identifies with the needs of the people at the present. He points us to mansions glorious in the future.

A.     The Messiah’s mission points to the future.

A.      He has become primarily to suffer and die for the people of this world; for you and for me – so that by repentance and forgiveness through His righteousness the kingdom of God comes to us.

B.      In our own Christian baptism we participate in the death of Christ. Paul writes in Romans 6, “Do you not know that all of us, who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death in order that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in the likeness of His death certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection.” (Vv.2-5) We now come to be identified with the “new Israel” save by baptismal grace.

C.      In this Epiphany season we now stand between the celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas and His passion at the cross on Good Friday. He came to manifest God’s good favor and grace by humbly offering Himself for the sins of the world.

CONCLUSION: At His baptism Jesus offers His program for the ages who is He? He is the Christ, the Son of God. What will He do? He offers Himself for the life of the world.  In His life do we hope.