The Son of God is Baptized for You (Mark 1:4-11)

The Baptism of our Lord, January 10, 2021

Readings for this service

First Lesson: Isaiah 49:1-6:  With prophetic vision, Isaiah spoke of the coming of the Christ.

Psalm 148: All God created, including the heavens and earth and all living creatures are called to praise the Lord.

Second Lesson: Acts 16:25-34: After an earthquake, the jailer was terrified that all the prisoners had escaped; Paul and Silas reassured him they remained in their cells. They spoke to him of the Word of the Lord and to everyone in his house. The jailer rejoiced, because he and his whole household had come to believe in God

Gospel: Mark 1:4-11: John the Baptist baptizes the Lord.

Sermon:  The Son of God is Baptized for You (Mark 1:4-11)

John the Baptist called people to repent of their sins. The crowds all heard that they were sinners and needed forgiveness. He also preached that someone else was coming who outshone John and this was Jesus.

When Jesus, the sinless Son of God walked down to John, into the Jordan River, to be baptized, he was giving us a champion to fight the battle against your sins. He began his work and the ministry that will take him to his death on the cross, not because of his own sin, but because he is going where sinners need to go. He is going to the suffering and pain and torture of hell as a substitute for you and for the whole world.

Because of all he has done, your baptism has power to save.

Pastor Nathan Kassulke