Amen. Please stand for the reading of God's Word. We're preaching through the book of Matthew.

Right now, for this Lord's day, our text is Matthew chapter 3, verses 13 through 17.

Again, that's Matthew chapter 3, verses 13 through 17. I'll read our text for us in its entirety.

When I finish reading the text, I'm going to say, this is the Word of the Lord, at which point I would appreciate very much if you would respond

by saying thanks be to God. One final time, our text for today is Matthew 3, verses 13 through 17.

The Bible says this. Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying,

I need to be baptized by you. And do you come to me? But Jesus answered him, let it be so now.

For thus, it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.

Then he consented.

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water.

And behold, the heavens were open 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. This is the word of the Lord.

All right. Please be seated. Let's go ahead and dive right in. Three primary points

that I hope to express and espoused by the grace of God today number one the

humility of John and yet despite his humility in the final analysis his submission

which means that it was true humility and not false humility it was not

humility as a guise, truly masking his refusal or unwillingness to obey.

John was humble, and yet at the end of the day, with this humility, he still obliged the command of

Christ. He was taken aback. Who am I? I'm not worthy to baptize you. Not worthy to unlatch even the

straps of the sandals on your feet. And yet, what does he finally end up doing? He ends up

...