Sermon: The Beloved Ones

(Matthew 3:13-17; Romans 12:1-8)

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

You’ve probably had that moment. You’re in the wrong line. The express checkout with 15 items when you have 20. You feel awkward. You don’t belong.

That’s exactly how John the Baptist felt when Jesus came to him. John was preaching repentance, calling out sin, and baptizing people for the forgiveness of sins. And here comes Jesus—the sinless Son of God—and gets in line. John protests: “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?” John knows this is backward. This line is for sinners, not for the Savior.

But Jesus says, “Let it be so now. It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”

Here’s the stunning truth: Jesus isn’t in the wrong line. He’s exactly where He intends to be. He’s not coming to get washed. He’s coming to be numbered with the sinners. He’s stepping into our place. “To fulfill all righteousness” means He’s doing for us what we could never do for ourselves. We can’t make ourselves right with God. So Jesus, the righteous One, stands in the sinner’s water. He takes His place beside us, for us. This is the beginning of His mission to carry our sin all the way to the cross. Before He preaches one sermon or heals one person, He declares His solidarity with us.

Then, as He comes up out of the water, heaven opens. The Spirit descends like a dove. And a voice from heaven says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Notice: the Father says this before Jesus does anything. His identity and the Father’s delight in Him come first. His work flows from His identity. He is the Beloved Son.

And this, my friends, is where this story becomes your story.

When you were baptized, you were joined to Jesus in that water. His baptism became yours. His righteousness was given to you. You were clothed with Christ. And in that moment, the same heavenly announcement was made over you: “You are my beloved child. With you I am well pleased.” Not because you earned it. Not because you were good enough. But because in those waters, God put His name on you. You were buried with Christ and raised to new life. When God looks at you, He sees His beloved Son.

This changes everything. This is the foundation for everything Paul says in Romans 12.

He begins, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy… offer your bodies as a living sacrifice.” “In view of God’s mercy.” What mercy? The mercy that placed Jesus in the sinner’s line for you. The mercy that declared you beloved in your baptism. Because of that mercy—therefore—you can live a new life.

Your Christian life is not a desperate attempt to get God to love you. It is the joyful, free response of one who is already loved, already declared pleasing in His sight. “Offer your bodies” means your whole, ordinary, everyday life—your work, your conversations, your chores, your relationships—becomes an act of worship. Not to earn favor, but to say “thank you” for the favor you already have.

And then Paul says we have different gifts. Serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, showing mercy. These aren’t for your own spiritual trophy case. They are the equipment the Holy Spirit—who descended on Jesus and on you in your baptism—gives you for the common good. You are baptized into a body. You are beloved, not to sit on the blessing, but to be a channel of it to others.

So what does this mean for us today?

First, when you feel burdened by failure or sin, remember your baptism. You have been washed. You stand in the righteousness of Christ. Repent—yes—and then hear again the Father’s voice: “You are my beloved child. I am pleased with you, for Jesus’ sake.”

Second, when you feel unimportant, remember your baptism. The heavens were torn open for you. The Spirit is upon you. Your life, however ordinary, is a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.

Third, when you wonder what to do, remember your baptism. You have been gifted. Look around this body of Christ. Use your gift to build up the person next to you. Serve your neighbor in your daily calling. That is your worship.

Today, Jesus gets in our line. He takes our place. He receives the Father’s love, so that love could be ours.

You are baptized. You are beloved. Live in that truth.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son (+), and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.