Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.
Matthew 3:13-15 (NASB)
John the Baptist paved the way for the public ministry of Christ by baptizing men unto repentance, ritually cleansing them and preparing them for the coming Messiah. When Jesus came to John to be baptized, John understood that Christ had done nothing to repent of. John knew that Christ was the spotless lamb sent as a sacrifice for His people. So why did Jesus insist on being baptized ? First, Christ came to John so that John might identify Christ as the promised Messiah. Secondly, Christ came to validate the ministry of John. Thirdly, Christ wanted to identify with those whom He had come to save (Lk. 19:10) reveal Himself as the one Who could truly wash away their sins. Finally, the Baptism of Christ set the scene for the appearance of the Trinity as The Father voiced His approval while The Holy Spirit descended upon His Beloved Son.
Questions for application…
How was John’s baptism different from the ordinance of baptism that we practice today?
Why did John try to prevent Christ from being baptized?
Leave a Reply