Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Matthew 3:11-17), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• Jesus wasn’t baptized for his own sake, but for ours. He didn’t have sins of his own to confess, but in baptism he united himself to us so that he could confess our sins to God on our behalf. He pledged himself to us in a covenant, to be our representative before God, in order to “fulfill all righteousness” for us. In his baptism he made perfect repentance, which is the grounds for our relationship with God and our repentance. Do you struggle with your own imperfect, incomplete, impermanent repentance? Can you think of any examples of your own faltering repentance? What do you think/feel about the good news that Jesus has made perfect repentance on your behalf? How might this help you with your own repentance?

• It was at the moment when Jesus identified himself with sinners in his baptism that God gave his full approval to his incarnate Son, lavishing his Spirit of love upon him, and saying for the world to hear: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased!” The Father is very happy with Jesus, especially over Jesus’ commitment to give his life to reconcile sinners to God. Why does it matter that the Father is happy with Jesus? Why is the relationship between Jesus and God so important? Have you thought about telling your non-Christian friends about how happy God is with Jesus? Why would that be a central feature of the Christian Gospel?

• Because Jesus has united himself to us, and because he heard the Father’s word of approval as our representative, we can hear this same word as spoken to us (even though we don’t deserve it like Jesus does). This declaration of the Father’s love stands at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. What power does this declaration give to Jesus? What power does this declaration give to you? In Christ, God delights to call you his beloved child—what difference does that make in your life when you are tempted to sin? when you face hardships or suffering? when you struggle with loneliness or depression? when you relate to other people? when you serve others in the church?

• FOR THE CHILDREN: God calls you his beloved child and says that he is well pleased with you, because this is what he says to Jesus, and you have a relationship with Jesus. Do you believe that God is happy with his Son, Jesus? Do you believe that God is happy with you, too?