Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be
baptized of him. 14 But
John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to
me? 15 And
Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it
becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.
Jesus came to John at the Jordan to be baptized. This would mark the
beginning of Jesus’ ministry. After He left Galilee for John, Jesus would no
longer be a carpenter as he had been for so long. John objected to baptizing
Jesus because he knew that He needed Jesus to baptize him, not the other way around.
But Jesus told John to suffer it. God’s will was for Christ to be baptized and
empowered by the Spirit; therefore, setting us an example in these areas. Any who claims to follow Christ but will not
be obedient to the Command of Christ the Lord to be baptized as He, though He
was God was, is not making a mere choice of preference, but is directly
disobeying.
Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway
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.
Imagine that moment in time. John, it appears rather reluctantly,
baptized Jesus and as soon as Jesus came up out of the water and John saw the heavens open and the Spirit
of God descending like a dove and lighting Christ. And a voice from heaven
said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
It is significant to note that things that followed Jesus’ baptism do
not appear to have been seen by all who were at the baptism of Jesus. If they
were, Jesus undoubtedly would have had some Jews asking questions. It was John
the Baptist who saw these things alone—examine the verses above, no mention of
others seeing these things is recorded (and not in the other Gospel accounts
either), but only that “the heaves where opened unto him”. The Gospel of John written by Jesus’ disciple John (not John
the Baptist, but another) seems to clarify this insight:
And John
bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and
it abode upon him. 33 And
I knew him not: but 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. 34 And I saw, and bare record
that this is the Son of God. 35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his
disciples; 36 And
looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
John 1:32-36 (KJV)
Matt 3:13-17 (KJV)
