John the Baptist Prepares the way for Jesus The Baptism of Jesus Matthew 3:13-17 John had been explaining that Jesus baptism would be more greater than his, when suddenly Jesus came to him and asked to be baptized! John felt unqualified. He wanted Jesus to baptize him. Why did Jesus ask to be baptized? It was not for repentance for sin because Jesus never sinned. To fulfill all righteousness means to accomplish Gods mission. Jesus saw his baptism as advancing Gods work. Jesus was baptized because (1) he was confessing sin on behalf of the nation, as Nehemiah, Ezra, Moses, and Daniel had done, (2) he was showing support for what John was doing; (3) he was inaugurating his public ministry; (4) he was identifying with the penitent people of God, not with the critical Pharisees who were only watching. Jesus, the perfect man , didnt need baptism for sin, but he accepted baptism in obedient service to the Father, and God shows his approval. 13. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15. And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer (allow) it to be so now: for thus it becometh (is fitting for us) to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. Put yourself in Johns shoes. Your work is going well, people are taking notice, everything is growing. But you know that the purpose of your work is to prepare the people for Jesus (John 1:35-37). Then Jesus arrives, and his coming tests your integrity. Will you be able to turn your followers over to him? John passed the test by publicly baptizing Jesus. Soon he would say, He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30). Can we, like John, put our egos and profitable work aside in order to point others to Jesus? Are we willing to lose some of our status so that everyone will benefit? 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. 17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. The Trinity Trinity means that God is three persons and yet one in essence. Here all three are present and active. Continued in Comments***
Posted on: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 10:23:04 +0000
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