The Beloved, Baptized Son
The Baptism of Christ | Matt 3:13–17
Introduction
Among the topics in New Testament studies, my favorite is the use of the Old Testament in the New. Even as I say that, I can hear my doctoral advisor insisting that the topic is “the presence of the Old Testament in the New” because “use” must be demonstrated rather than assumed, but that’s a different conversation.
Today, as we celebrate and remember the baptism of our Lord, we are presented with one of the most salient examples of how the Old Testament is used in the New. Thinking about how these different Old Testament texts come together in one statement will create a powerful picture for us of who Jesus is and how his identity connects to his baptism.
The Voice from Heaven
Let’s have Matthew describe the scene for us.
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; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:16–17 ESV).
What I want us to focus on this morning is the voice from heaven, which combines three Old Testament texts into one powerful declaration. In one sentence, as Jesus rises out of the water, we are told that he is (1) the Royal Son, (2) the Sacrificial Son, and (3) the Servant. We’ll look at each of these briefly and then connect this glorious picture to the sacrament of baptism.
The Royal Son
Leaving aside the word “beloved” for a moment, the first part of the heavenly declaration seems to refer to Psalm 2. This psalm is a coronation psalm, probably written for Solomon’s coronation. The Psalmist writes:
I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you” (Ps 2:7).
Once again, the Lord speaks, declaring another son of David to be his royal son. Of course, the early church saw more in the sonship language here than just a royal claim, and that may well be implied. But for Solomon to be called God’s son was not a claim of divinity, but rather a declaration of a special, royal relationship with God, similar to that of other kings in the ancient Near East.
By referencing Psalm 2 here, the royal claims of Jesus are attributed to the Father. A new son of David has appeared, and therefore a new son of God, not only through his royal lineage but also by declaration of the Almighty.
The Sacrificial Son
But what about the word “beloved”? Since Psalm 2 only states “my son,” why is the word “beloved” added? It is added because the voice from heaven links Psalm 2 with Genesis 22.
He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Gen 22:2).
The ESV here correctly translates the Hebrew, but in the LXX, the voice states:
“Take your beloved son Isaak, whom you love …” (Gen 22:2 NETS).
Abraham is told to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, but as he is about to perform the terrible act, his hand is stayed.
And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided” (Gen 22:13–14 ESV).
As Jesus is baptized, he is declared not only to be the royal Son of David (and possibly much more than that), but also the long-awaited sacrifice of the Lord to atone for the sins of the whole world. He is not only a second David but also a second Isaac, the true beloved son, although this time, the hand holding the knife would not be stayed. He is the sacrifice the Lord has finally provided.
The Servant
The voice from heaven proclaims:
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:17).
As we have seen, the first half of the declaration combines Psalm 2:7 and Gen 22:2. But what about the second half? “With whom I am well pleased” is a clear allusion to Isa 42:1.
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations (Isa 42:1).
There are four so-called Servant Songs in Isaiah, and these are the opening words of the first song. The language describing the Holy Spirit being placed upon the servant, similar to Jesus’ baptism, along with the synonymous phrases of “with whom I am well pleased” and “in whom my soul delights,” makes this allusion fairly certain.
Like the mixture of Psalm 2 and Genesis 22, in which the kingship of the psalm is mixed with the darker tones of the sacrifice of Isaac, so the Servant Songs take a darker tone as well. By the end of the servant songs, we hear:
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed (Isa 53:3–5).
Jesus, as he comes out of the water, is declared to be the promised, chosen Servant who would bear the griefs of the people, carry their sorrows, and eventually be crushed for their iniquities.
Conclusion
King. Sacrifice. Servant. These titles are how Jesus is proclaimed by the heavenly voice at his baptism. They are who he will be revealed to be as we continue reading in Matthew’s Gospel, but we already see it all here in the divine declaration as Jesus rises from the water.
And here’s the thing: as Paul says, there is only one baptism, that is, the baptism of Jesus (Eph 4:5). When you were baptized, you were baptized into Christ. His baptism is your baptism, and so the words spoken from heaven over him are true of you as well. You were meant to rule, not like Caesars and empires, but with mercy and justice. You were meant to give your life sacrificially for the good of others. You were meant to be filled with the Holy Spirit and bear the iniquities and trespasses of others so that through your wounds, others might be healed.
Baptism isn’t something we do merely out of obedience. It is rather a sacrament that unites us to Christ, sets the trajectory for our lives, and tells us what kind of people we are to be as his disciples. Jesus is the beloved Son in whom the Father is well pleased in a way that we could never be, but we have been baptized into him, and so we must be king, sacrifice, and servant too. If you have been baptized into Christ, then you are a beloved child. God loves you. But as his beloved child, you are called to exercise our Lord’s kingship as you work to bring in his kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven,” not with force or violence, but by giving your life for others and being a servant of all.
Amen.
Life Group Guide
Intro Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we gather together today to study your Word, we ask that you open our hearts and minds to receive what you want to teach us. Help us to understand more deeply the significance of our baptism and our identity in Christ. May your Holy Spirit guide our discussion and reveal to each of us how we can better live as your beloved children - ruling with mercy, serving sacrificially, and bearing one another’s burdens. We pray that you would speak to us individually and collectively. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Ice Breaker
What is one of your favorite childhood memories involving water - whether it was swimming, playing in the rain, or something else?
Key Verses
Matthew 3:16-17
Psalm 2:7
Genesis 22:2
Isaiah 42:1
Questions
How does understanding Jesus as the ‘royal son’ change your perspective on what it means to follow him as King?
What does it mean that Jesus is the ‘sacrificial son’ that God provided, unlike Isaac, who was spared?
How does the concept of Jesus as the ‘servant’ challenge our modern ideas about leadership and power?
Fr. Michael said, “‘There is only one baptism’ - Jesus’ baptism.” How does this truth impact your understanding of your own baptism?
In what practical ways are we called to ‘rule with mercy and compassion’ in our daily lives?
What does it look like to ‘give your life sacrificially for the good of other people’ in your current circumstances?
How can we ‘bear the iniquities and trespasses of others’ as the servant Isaiah describes?
What difference should it make in our lives to know that we are God’s ‘beloved children’?
Life Application
This week, choose one specific way to live out your baptismal calling in each of the three roles: 1) Exercise Christ-like leadership by showing mercy or compassion to someone, 2) Make a sacrificial choice for the benefit of another person, and 3) Serve someone in a humble, practical way. Reflect on how these actions connect to your identity as God’s beloved child.
Key Takeaways
Jesus’ baptism reveals his threefold identity as royal son, sacrificial son, and servant through the combination of three Old Testament texts.
Our baptism unites us to Christ, meaning his identity becomes our calling and vocation.
As baptized believers, we are called to rule with mercy and compassion, not force or violence.
We are meant to live sacrificially for others and serve as Christ served.
Baptism is not just an act of obedience but a sacrament that defines our identity and purpose as disciples.
Ending Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for revealing yourself to us as King, Sacrifice, and Servant. Thank you for reminding us that, through our baptism, we are united to you and called to share in your mission. Help us to live worthy of our calling as beloved children of God. Give us the courage to lead with mercy, the willingness to sacrifice for others, and the humility to serve as you served. May our lives reflect the love you have shown us, and may we bring your kingdom to earth through our words and actions. We commit to living out our baptismal calling this week and always. In your precious name, Amen.