| |
| |
And John bore witness saying, “I have beheld the
Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained
upon Him. And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent
me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom
you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him,
this is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’" (NASB)
John 1:32-33
|
Some have said that John already knew that Jesus was the Messiah.
But that is not true, or maybe John had doubts and he wanted
to be absolutely certain. So Jesus needed to be baptized
as a sign to John.
Start of Jesus' Ministry.
The second major reason for Jesus to be baptized was that it
was the beginning of His "baptism."
| |
But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what
you are asking for. Are you able to drink the cup that
I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which
I am baptized?” And they said to Him, “We
are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The
cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be
baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.
(NASB) Mark 10:38-39
But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I
am until it is accomplished! (NASB) Luke 12:50
|
Jesus' baptism symbolized His coming ministry to "fulfill
all righteousness." It symbolized His future death. That
is why Christians are encouraged to be baptized. For the Christian
baptism symbolizes the death of our old life and our new holy
life.
| |
Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized
into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism
into death, in order that as Christ was raised from
the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too
might walk in newness of life. (NASB) Romans 6:3-4
|
Conclusion:
Jesus' baptism symbolized His commitment to die for our sins.
The commitment to fulfill or complete The Father's divine
plan had begun. Jesus' baptism was proof to John that Jesus
was indeed the Messiah. It was no longer Jesus' word. He
would have proof. This simple act of dipping God the Son
into some water revealed His heart. It revealed His willingness
to get his clothes wet as a symbolic act of the passion of
His heart to rescue every
man and woman from the disaster of our sins
.
|
|
