Why Was Christ Baptized? It even seemed to John that there was a contradiction in Jesus’ baptism: Matthew (Mt 3:14) records John’s protest. It would seem to contradict the truth of the announcement: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Every year, Jewish families would choose a Passover lamb and examine it with care to assure that it was free of any spot or blemish. (They would take it into their home for 3 days and then kill it.) Jesus was baptized to be identified with His sinful people under the law of God. But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Galatians 4:4,5 Jesus was voluntarily identifying Himself as a man, undertaking the obligation to fulfill the requirements of the Law, to accomplish His purpose to save His people from their sin. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: “...like a dove”—The Poet’s Dove: The dove that abandoned Noah ...did not rest on Abraham: he lied; ...did not rest on Moses: he failed; ...did not rest on David: he sinned... And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. “...beloved”: The word “beloved” avgaphto,j agapetos not only declares affection; it also carries the meaning of “the only one.” Three years later, at the mount of the Transfiguration, as Moses and Elijah stood beside Him, once more a voice out of heaven used the same words (Mk 9:7). And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. “...forty days”: [The details are in Matthew 4:1-11 & Luke 4:1-13.] Forty days is viewed by some as suggestive of the 40 years in the wilderness of Israel. Having triumphed over the enemy, Jesus (“Joshua”) could now go forth and call a new people who would enter into their spiritual inheritance.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 12:05:07 +0000
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