マタイによる福音書3:13-17 Matthew 3:13-17,

It is the first Sunday of September. From today until the end of October, we will learn about Jesus’ work as Saviour through the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea and grew up in a village called Nazareth in Galilee. Jesus was a child of the God of heaven, but his earthly father Joseph was a carpenter who built houses. So Jesus must have grown up watching his father Joseph’s work as a child, and as an adult he must have worked as a carpenter, too.

However, the important work that Jesus was given by God the Father in heaven was to save people from their sins, i.e., his work as Saviour. It is said that Jesus began his work as Saviour when he was about 30 years old. At the beginning of his work as Saviour, Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist. This seems very strange when you think about it. Jesus was the Saviour, so wouldn’t it be normal for Jesus to baptise people when he began his work as Saviour? But on the contrary, Jesus began his work as Saviour by being baptised. The purpose of baptism is to confess one’s sins and ask for forgiveness of sins. How could Jesus, who was sinless, be baptised?

In Galilee, where Jesus grew up, there was a large lake called Lake Galilee. From the lake, a river called the Jordan River flowed to the south. On the banks of the Jordan River, John the Baptist was baptising people. John the Baptist said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Repentance means acknowledging and confessing one’s sins and trying to live according to God’s teachings. And John the Baptist was baptising those who repented as a sign of forgiveness of sins.

Then Jesus came. He wanted to be baptised by John the Baptist. John the Baptist knew that Jesus was the Saviour and sinless. And he knew that himself was also a sinful person in Jesus’ eyes. Therefore, he thought it was wrong for him to baptise Jesus. So he said, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus replied, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Jesus, who was without sin, said that it was “fitting” and “righteous” for him to admit his sins and be baptised, just like us human beings. Why is this? Because Jesus’ mission given by God the Heavenly Father was to save us from sins by dying on the cross on behalf of us, sinful human beings.

This is why Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist. When Jesus was baptised and began his work as Saviour, the Holy Spirit descended on him from heaven. Then he heard the voice of God the Father saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Thus, Jesus began his work for our salvation as the Son of God, loved by God the Father.