(See also Mark 1:9-11 & Luke 3:21-22) The most momentous baptism that John ever performed was the baptism of Jesus Christ. The person being baptized and the events accompany the baptism all made this baptism the most special of all the baptizings by John the Baptist. And what made the baptism even more significant was that it was also an epoch making event, for it commenced the public ministry of Jesus Christ.
1. The Path to the Baptism (Matthew 3:13)
Christ lived in Nazareth which was in Galilee. John the Baptist was baptizing in Judea, which was south of Galilee; so Jesus had to come to Judea to be baptized by John.
The days of the path. “Then.” (Matthew 3:13). The “then” was during the ministry of John the Baptist. John’s ministry was to prepare the way for Christ. The “then” indicated that adequate preparation had taken place, and it was now time for Jesus to be baptized to inaugurate His ministry. God was running right on schedule. This work had been predicted in the Scripture centuries before; and when the time came for it to be fulfilled, it was fulfilled according to God’s time and manner.
The distance of the path. “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him” (Matthew 3:13). At that time, John the Baptist was baptizing near “Bethabara” (John 1:28), which is generally believed to be in the area of Jericho. This made Christ’s trip from Nazareth of Galilee to John at the Jordan River about sixty to seventy miles.
The dedication on the path. “Cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan” (Matthew 3:13). Noting in the previous point the distance Christ had to come for the baptism, it meant Christ had a long, arduous trip to be baptized. The fact that He made the trip, makes us aware of the dedication of Christ for His baptism. All the way through the ministry of Christ, this dedication will be seen prominently. Christ did not have an easy ministry, and those who would serve Him should not be surprised if their service requires much dedication to be performed.
The detachment of the path. “Cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him” (Matthew 3:13). No one came with Christ for this baptism even though it was one of the most important baptisms ever in the history of the world. Today when one is baptized, friends and relatives come from far and wide to see the baptism. But in Christ’s case, his family did not think it important enough to come. Those who serve God without the support and sympathy of their relatives and friends can find solace in the fact that even Christ did not have the support and sympathy of His family at times. The work of God is seldom esteemed important by the world; so if you are in His work and few seem to care or notice, do not be upset; for Christ experienced the same.
The design in the path. “To be baptized of him” (Matthew 3:13). Christ came not by chance or accident to be baptized. He came purposely to be baptized. God’s work should not be done aimlessly or carelessly but with a planned design. If you will keep the goal, the purpose, and the aim of your work in your mind, you will accomplish what God intends you to accomplish.
2. The Protesting About the Baptism (Matthew 3:14)
When Jesus Christ came to be baptized, John protested the baptism. He did not think Christ should be baptized.
The conflict in the protesting. “But John forbad him” (Matthew 3:14). John’s protesting of the baptism reminds us that whenever the work of God moves ahead, there will be a conflict with someone or something. Opposition will always be present; and sometimes, as here, it will come from surprising sources.
The continuousness of the protesting. “But John forbad him” (Matthew 3:14). The continuousness or persistency of the protesting is found in the word translated “forbad” in our text. The tense of this word means continuous action. It says John repeatedly protested to Christ about the baptism. Opposition to the work of God often is very persistent.
The cause for the protesting. “John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” (Matthew 3:14). The cause of the protesting was the meaning of John’s baptism and the character of Christ. As we noted earlier, it was the “baptism of repentance” (Luke 3:3). John did not perceive that Christ needed to repent of anything, and he was correct. Christ was sinless so why should He be baptized in a “baptism of repentance.” John’s protest was a good testimony of the character of Jesus Christ. What sanctioned the baptism was that though the mode was the same, the meaning was different than the baptism of repentance (we will note the meaning later).
The character of the protesting. “I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” (Matthew 3:14). John’s protest was one of high character, for it reflected great humility of John before the Savior. In this protest John acknowledged the high and holy character of Christ, which made Him far superior to John the Baptist. John’s protest was not belligerent but was based on a high concept of Christ and an ignorance of the purpose of the baptism. Once John found out the reason for the baptism, he readily submitted to doing it as we will note later.
3. The Purpose of the Baptism (Matthew 3:15)
Christ’s response to John’s protest about baptizing Christ was to tell John the purpose of the baptism.
The stating of the purpose. “Thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). The fundamental purpose for Christ’s baptism was to symbolically show the main work of Jesus Christ for mankind which was the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. There are three water baptisms in the New Testament and all have a different purpose or meaning though the mode is the same. They are the baptism of the repenter (the baptizing which John the Baptist did among the people), the baptism of the redeemed (which is the baptism of the believer, the one we still practice today), and the baptism of the Redeemer (which is the baptism of the Savior).
The support for the purpose. “Thus” (Matthew 3:15). The word translated “thus” means in like manner or in a similar way. The word is translate “so” in John 3:14: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so [in a similar manner] must the Son of man be lifted up.” The “thus” in our text says that Christ told John that his baptizing Christ would symbolize what would be done to “fulfill” (complete, bring about in its fullness) all the righteousness man needed for soul salvation. Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection which are pictured by the baptism (immersion) symbolically show the work done to provide adequate righteousness for man’s redemption.
The showcasing of the purpose. It was a most fitting way for Christ to inaugurate His public ministry by being baptized and hence showing by symbolism the chief reason for coming to earth.
The submission to the purpose. “Then he suffered him” (Matthew 3:15). As soon as Christ explained to John the reason for the baptism, John quickly acquiesced to Christ’s request and baptized Christ. John’s submitting to the baptism was a beautiful act of a meek spirit submitting to God’s will.
4. The Parting From the Baptism (Matthew 3:16)
The way Jesus departed from the water after being baptized is very noteworthy.
The celerity in the parting. “When he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water” (Matthew 3:16). The word “straightway” means immediately. In both the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Mark (Mark 1:10), the celerity of Christ leaving the water after baptism is mentioned.
The contrast in the parting. “Went up straightway out of the water” (Matthew 3:16). The contrast in the parting between Christ and others who were baptized by John is found in the custom which some tell us occurred after John baptized a person. After the baptism, the person “stayed [in the water] to confess their sins” (Henry). Scripture lends support to this act of confession by the baptized; for it says the people “were baptized of him [John] in Jordan, confessing their sins” (Matthew 3:6).
The character in the parting. “Went up straightway out of the water” (Matthew 3:16). The confession practice at the baptism confirms Christ’s impeccable character in His quick leaving of the water after baptism. It emphasized the fact that Jesus Christ was sinless. He did not stay in the water because He had no sins to confess. Christ is absolutely holy.
5. The Paraclete at the Baptism (Matthew 3:16)
A most important event happened right after the baptism. It involved the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, coming and sitting on Christ in a visible manner.
The source of the Paraclete. “Lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him” (Matthew 3:16). The Paraclete came from heaven. Christ experienced a supernatural sight in the Paraclete from heaven and a supernatural sound in the voice from heaven (which we will note more about later). Heaven gave a pronounced reaction to Christ’s baptism.
The signifying of the Paraclete. “The Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him” (Matthew 3:16). This occurrence was very important to John the Baptist, for it signified absolutely that he had just baptized Christ. John said, “He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost” (John 1:33). John knew many things about Christ before he met Him face to face—he obviously knew about His sinlessness, for he protested His baptism, but absolute confirmation for John of Who the Messiah was came in the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Christ in plain view of John at the baptism of Christ.
The shape of the Paraclete. “The Spirit of God descending like a dove” (Matthew 3:16). The shape or form of the Spirit was that of a dove. The dove, because of its character, gave a good message about Christ. The dove speaks of purity and high character—“harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). The dove was also used for sacrifices in the Old Testament; so it would represent that aspect of the work of Christ, too.
6. The Proclamation After the Baptism (Matthew 3:17)
After the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist, a voice from heaven was heard which spoke about Christ, Who had just been baptized. It gave more proof of Who Christ was. It climaxed the baptism experience.
The passion for Christ. “This is my beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17). The passion for Christ by God was very great. No love is so great. That this love for Christ was so great is found in both the word translated “beloved” and in the fact that the definite article is before the word. First, the word translated “beloved” is from the root word “agape” which is the Greek word for the highest form of love. Second, the definite article in the Greek before the word “beloved” means THE beloved which shows that Christ is the Special One in God’s eyes. The love of God for Christ shows the enormity of the sin of rejecting Christ. It also reminds us that which heaven adores and loves is often not what man adores and loves.
The Person of Christ. “My beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17). This statement which says Christ is God’s Son emphasizes that Jesus is God. It is a statement confirming the Deity of Christ. Mankind called Christ many dishonorable names during His earthly ministry (and they still do), but it did not change the true identity of Christ. Christ is God regardless of what man calls Him. However, if you want to get along with God, you had better treat Christ with great honor and call Him the right names.
The praise for Christ. “In whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). That is a tremendously high compliment, for it came not from man but from God. It would be a great encouragement to Christ. Christ will not hear much praise from man during His ministry, so it was good to get some Divine praise at the start of His ministry, for it would greatly encourage Him. The important matter in life for all men is to please God. But most people are more concerned about pleasing man rather than God. Eternity will confirm that it is much more important to please God than anyone else. Count no cost to great to be “well pleasing” before God.
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