Today we are in Event 12: The Baptism of Jesus.
Let’s begin by reading the story from:
“Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–23
(Mk 1:9a) In those days, (Lk 3:21a) when all the people were baptized, (Mk 1:9b) Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.
(Mt 3:14) But John tried to stop Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and yet You come to me?”
15 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him to be baptized.
16 After Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on Him. 17 And there came a voice from heaven: “This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him!”
(Lk 3:23a) As He began His ministry, Jesus was about 30 years old.”
There are many lessons from this great story.
In it we learn of:
1. The necessity of obeying God’s plan. Even Jesus was subject.
2. Jesus was humble enough to obey.
3. We see the trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
4. We see the affirmation of Jesus as the Son of God.
But as I read these verses, two more things come to mind.
5. John already knew that Jesus was the Lord.
When Jesus sought to be baptized, John tried to stop him because he said that he (John) should be baptized by Jesus. This signals that John already knew who Jesus was. Surely Elizabeth, his mother, had told him things about Jesus. She knew Jesus is Lord. When Mary was pregnant with Jesus, Elizabeth called her, “The mother of my Lord.”
6. Jesus submitted to baptism even though he did not need repentance or remission of sins. (See Matthew 3:2).
It is interesting that John tried to tell Jesus that he was not worthy to baptize Jesus, but that Jesus should be baptizing him. Jesus resisted that thought. Jesus was said he would be baptized to “fulfill all righteousness.” Bit it seems to me that Jesus was also being baptized as a public example for others. Sometimes people will say, “I don’t care what anybody thinks.” Jesus cared.
Lonnie Davis