Knowing The Word in Matthew 3:13-17

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. [Is this a private baptism? See Luke. Jesus chose to identify with John’s revival movement and the purified people of God.] 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” [John does not want to agree to the voluntary humiliation of one who is mightier. He is in effect saying, “I need your Spirit and fire baptism, not you my water sport!”] 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” [Righteousness in Matthew is not about being good but a synonym for the Christian life, viewed as an obedient relationship with God. It is this relationship that John’s baptism demands, and now Jesus identifies himself with the penitent people of God in order to fulfill his mission. See Isa 53:11.] Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him [Gen 1:2 and Isa 11:2, 42:1, and 61:1]; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased [Psalm 2:7].” [Was this Jesus’ first experience of the Holy Spirit, giving him a new spiritual status? Jesus’ mission is spelt out around three concepts: 1) he is the Davidic Messiah, 2) the Son of God, and 3) the Servant whose mission is to bear the sins of his people. Jesus’ baptism is a pivotal experience that launched him on the mission for which he had long prepared, a mission defined in the OT. It did not change him or make him something that he was not already.]