The Baptism of Christ

Topic: Baptism
Passage: Matthew 3:13–17

June 22, 2021

Commentary

We find Jesus going south from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized (v. 13). When John learned that Jesus wanted to be baptized, he didn’t want to do it because he felt unworthy (v. 14). Jesus said it is necessary to fulfill what God wanted them to do (v. 15). While He walked this earth, Jesus submitted Himself to the Law and the whole will of the Father. Because He completely fulfilled the Law, believers also have fulfilled the Law through Him.

Why do you think Jesus wanted to be baptized?

  1. It gave approval to John’s ministry.
  2. It identified Him with publicans and sinners, the people He came to save.
  3. His water baptism pictured His future baptism on the cross (Matt. 20:22). It is for certain that Jesus was not baptized because He was a repentant sinner because He had never sinned (II Cor. 5:21).

On three special occasions the Father spoke from heaven. Here at Christ’s baptism, at the transfiguration, (Matt. 17:3) and as Christ went to the cross (John 12:27-30). As Jesus went up out of the water (which indicates immersion) the spirit of God came down on him in the form of a dove and said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (vv. 16-17). There can be no doubt that all three persons of the trinity were present and actively involved in this event. The Father spoke, the Spirit descended, and the Son was baptized. This is a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy where it says that the Spirit would rest on the Messiah (Isa. 11:2).

Application

This is a good time to go over the importance of baptism with my family and look up the various verses on baptism and read them together. Maybe someone in your family should be baptized.

Matthew 3:13– 17 (NET)

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John to be baptized by him in the Jordan River. 14 But John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?” 15 So Jesus replied to him, “Let it happen now, for it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John yielded to him. 16 After Jesus was baptized, just as he was coming up out of the water, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my one dear Son; in him I take great delight.”