Get Him Up!
I once heard a story about an elderly woman in a church
in Los Angeles. Everyone affectionately called her “1800” because no one knew
how old she was. 1800 had a unique ministry, especially toward preachers. She
would sit in the front row, and as soon as the preacher began, she would shout,
“Get him up!”—referring to Christ. If the sermon didn’t center on Christ, she
would call out again, “Get him up!” And if a preacher failed to “get him up,”
he or she was in for a long, hard day.[1]
This
story reminds us of the chief purpose of Scripture and our calling as
Christians: to lift up Christ. It’s
not about us, but about Christ. Jesus himself said, “You examine the Scriptures
carefully because you suppose that in them you have eternal life. Yet they testify about me.” (John 5:39,
ISV) Like 1800, John the Baptist knew this well. When others tried to focus on
him, he quickly pointed them to Jesus. As we open God’s Word today, may the
Holy Spirit, the Author of Scripture, open our eyes to see who Christ is, to lift
Him up, and to renew our identity in Him.
Jesus’ Baptism: Identifying Love
In
today’s passage we see people coming to be baptized by John. John’s baptism was
a “baptism of repentance” (Luke 3: 3). As people were baptized, they confessed
their sins. (Matt 3:6) But Jesus, being sinless, had no need of repentance. So
why was Jesus baptized? Two profound things happened at his baptism.
First, at his
baptism Jesus identifies with humanity. When Jesus stepped into the Jordan
River, he stepped into our world, becoming one of us. John 1:14 says, “The Word
became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” (MSG) Jesus entered
our neighborhood so he could take on our sins and weaknesses and remove them!
(cf. Isaiah 53:4)
I still remember a day from my childhood that has stayed with me. It was the day my mom cried. When I was young, I told lies to my parents. I don’t even remember the exact details now, but one day, I told a huge lie. My dad was very upset and decided to discipline me. I was scared and did what any frightened child might do—I hid behind my mom. At that moment, I thought, “Now I’m safe.” But then something happened that I will never forget. My mom took the punishment in my place. My dad caned my mom instead of me. I was shocked, stunned, and heartbroken. Watching her take my punishment made me realize, “Wow, wait a minute! Telling a lie is serious stuff!”
This experience gave me a glimpse of the depth of what Jesus has done for us. Christ’s love is an "identifying love"—a love that steps into our place, fully shares in our struggles, and bears the consequences of our sins. Jesus stood in our place, fully identifying with our sins, and bore them on the cross. Jesus’ baptism gives us a glimpse of the depth of Christ’s love for us: He took on our sins so we could be free.
Jesus’ Baptism: Redeeming Love
Second,
at his baptism Jesus redeems humanity – redeems
our lives. The most ancient answer to the question, “Why was Jesus
baptized?” may surprise us. Ignatius of Antioch in the second century declares,
“The reason why he was born and baptized, was that he would purify the water by means of his suffering.”[2]
While he was praying and baptizing, heaven was open, and
the Holy Spirit came down on him like a dove. And there was a voice: “You are
my beloved Son. I am well pleased with you.” Through his baptism, Jesus redeems
John’s baptism. It became not just about repentance, but also about a new identity. In Christ, our old names
– “Wounded,” “Afraid,” “Not-enough,” “Lonely,” are replaced with new names: “Confidence,”
“Faithful one,” “Joy,” “Beloved,” “Child of God.”
Christ’s love compels us, so that we could live no longer for ourselves but for him who died for us (cf. 2 Cor 5:14). Toyohiko Kagawa (1880-1960) is an inspiring example of this. He was born in Kobe, Japan. His father was a wealthy businessman, while his biological mother was a geisha, a Japanese dancing girl. Both his parents died when he was only four years old, and he was then sent to live with his stepmother. There he was physically abused, unwanted and unloved. He bore the scars of loneliness for the rest of his life. While he was at school in Tokushima, he was introduced to some American missionaries. At the age of fifteen he was baptized. Though he was disowned by his family, God became his Abba Father. Kagawa was transformed by Christ’s love. After finishing seminary, he moved into the slums. He visited the sick; he fed the hungry; he lodged the homeless; he became an elder brother to the prostitutes. Parents turned to him for advice. Criminals made him their father-confessor… The children swarmed around him. The cross of Christ was central to his life and ministry. And his favorite hymn was “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross.”[3] Christ’s love compels us.
Jesus’ Genealogy: God’s
Love for All
Right after Jesus’ baptism, Luke presents Jesus’
genealogy. So what’s the point? In the New Testament, there are two versions of
Jesus’ genealogy – one is written in Matthew 1, and the other in Luke 3.
Matthew’s genealogy highlights Jesus as the fulfillment of the promises made to
Abraham – the offspring of Abraham,
the hope of Israel. So the family
tree begins with Abraham. But this is not enough for Luke. He connects the
story of Jesus not just with Israel but with all humanity. Luke doesn’t stop at
Abraham, but goes back to the very beginning of creation, Adam, who represents all
humanity – Jesus is the son of Adam, the
son of God (Luke 3:38).
When we receive Jesus and trust him as our Savior, he identifies with our sins, redeems our lives, and gives us a new identity. When we are baptized into Jesus’ name, we are adopted into God’s family. God becomes our Father. Jesus our Savior and Brother, and we are united as a spiritual family.
In the movie, The
Ride, based on a true story, we meet a boy named John whose life is marked
by brokenness. Raised in a deeply dysfunctional family, he ends up in jail as a
teenager, filled with anger, hopelessness, and a sense of being unloved. But
his life takes a transformative turn when he is fostered by a couple who share
a similar painful past. They embrace him with unconditional love. They
understand his pain because they’ve lived it themselves. Their love doesn’t
remove the struggles overnight, but through trials, patience, and tears, they
help him find healing and purpose.
One of the most moving scenes in the movie is the
adoption moment. The main character, John, tries to project an image of being
cool and strong, showcasing his talent as a skilled BMX rider. But deep inside,
he is haunted by insecurity and restlessness. The painful voices from his past
echo in his mind: "You are nothing. You are a failure." His foster
parents notice his struggles and decide to speed up the adoption process before
his upcoming BMX competition. In a pivotal moment, John’s heart is flooded with
a profound sense of assurance as they tell him, "You are our beloved son.
You are enough." For the first time, he feels truly seen, accepted, and
loved. This newfound identity doesn’t erase his past, but it redeems it, giving
him the courage to embrace his future with hope and confidence.
Near the Cross
When we think about ourselves, our families, or our
church, from a human’s perspective, we may feel “not enough” – not big enough,
influential enough, or capable enough. Some of us may be still haunted by
voices from the past that make us insecure and lonely. But the Good News is
this: In Christ, we are made new. The old
life is gone; a new life begins!
Let us come to the waters of baptism. Let us come to the cross. And we will hear our Heavenly Father say, “You are my beloved child. I am well pleased with you.”
Jesus,
keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.
In
the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
[1] R. Kent
Hughes, Luke (2 volumes in 1 / ESV
Edition) (Preaching the Word) (p. 118). Crossway. Kindle Edition.
[2] Justo L.
Gonzalez, Luke: Belief: A Theological
Commentary on the Bible (p. 53). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation.
Kindle Edition.
[3] John
Stott, The Incomparable Christ (p.
150). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
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