Daily Devotions
John
Comprehending the baptism of Jesus
Text: John 1:19-28
COMPREHENDING THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
In the synoptic Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we read about how Jesus came to John the Baptiser for baptism. If we were not careful in our reading, we could end up deeply puzzled as to why Jesus came to John to be baptized at all. John’s baptism was for sinners! John urged people to get right with God by confessing their sins. Baptism was just a symbolic act of an important reality of the heart. Would not baptism be out of place where Jesus was concerned?
John’s record of the baptism of Jesus was important. He gave another perspective that helps us appreciate the baptism of Jesus as a unique moment in the life and ministry of Jesus. The testimony of John must be studied in some detail if we are to understand the significance of the baptism of Jesus. Whereas the multitudes came to John to confess their sins, Jesus came to him for a different reason!
John the Baptiser was at first astonished as to why Jesus came to him for baptism at all. Matthew recorded how John felt when Jesus came to him.
“Then Jesus came to Galilee to John at the Jordan
to be baptized by him.
And John tried to prevent Him, saying,
‘I need to be baptized by You,
and are You coming to me?’ ”
Matthew 3:13-14
John had preached to the multitudes that there would come One who was greater in every respect. He was of course referring to Jesus. John was acutely conscious of the status of Jesus. If anyone needed baptism, John did. How was he going to baptize Jesus?
Jesus gave a gentle word of assurance to John and said,
“Permit it to be so now,
for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
Matthew 3:15
Upon hearing these words, John agreed to baptize Jesus.
All the synoptic Gospels recorded an important truth. Matthew’s account represented faithfully a testimony shared by all the synoptic Gospels writers.
“When He had been baptized,
Jesus came up immediately from the water;
And behold, the heavens were opened to Him,
And He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove
And alighting upon Him.
And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying,
‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ ”
Matthew 3:16-17
THE ANOINTING OF JESUS
How do we understand the significance of the baptism of Jesus then? It is best to understand that Jesus came to John to receive an anointing from him. We need to look at an important portion of the Scriptures in the Book of Hebrews to understand the significance of the phrase, “The Anointing of Jesus”.
“For every high priest taken from among men
is appointed for men in things pertaining to God,
that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He can have compassion on those who are ignorant
And going astray…And no man takes this honour to himself,
But he who is called of God, just as Aaron was.
So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest
But it was He (God) who said to Him (Jesus):
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.’And He also says in another place,
‘You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.'”
Hebrews 5:1-6
The author of the Book of Hebrews highlighted an important theological truth not mentioned by the Synoptic Gospel writers. Jesus’ baptism was in fact His public anointing. Jesus was stepping into His rightful ministry of being a High Priest. God had ordained Him to function in this capacity.
It was necessary for Jesus to be publicly anointed. Aaron was anointed by Moses to be the high priest of the nation of Israel. He represented the Levitical priesthood. Only a Levite could become a priest. The function of the High Priest was briefly described in this text. He was to “offer gifts and sacrifices for sins”.
It was a great honour to be anointed, or ordained as a high priest. It wasn’t something you could do by yourself. You have to have someone do the work of anointing. John was chosen for this task. We may therefore think of John has having two important tasks to fulfil.
The first task was to preach to the multitudes and to prepare them to receive the Messiah. His second task was just as important. He was to recognize Jesus for who He was. He was to anoint (baptize) Him for His public ministry. That public ministry that John ordained Him for was that of the High Priesthood of the order of Melchizedek.
The purpose of the Synoptic Gospel writers was to record the life and ministry of Jesus. They left the theological exposition of the life and ministry of Jesus to others like the author of the Book of Hebrews. When studied as a whole, then we have a more complete picture of who Jesus was and what He came to do. Jesus’ baptism was truly unique. He was anointed for His public ministry as High Priest.