« Medical Scrubs | Home | Hearing Impaired Phones »
Jesus Baptism
By peace | June 25, 2007
Jordan River — Baptism and Temptation
John the Baptist knew Jesus, probably from childhood, for their mothers were related. John preached a message of repentance to prepare people to accept the coming Messiah, but he did not at first realize that the Messiah was Jesus. He knew Jesus had a personal goodness that exempted him from the need for baptism, but when Jesus insisted that John baptize him, John did so. Only then, as Jesus came out of the water and the Spirit descended visibly upon him, was John assured that this one was the Messiah.
The reason Jesus was baptized was not that he had sins to repent of, but that he wanted to declare, in an act of solidarity with all the faithful, that he was on the side of God and his righteousness. People were baptized to declare their obedience, and Jesus wanted to declare his readiness to carry out all God’s purposes. In response, the Father demonstrated his full satisfaction, giving Jesus specific spiritual power for the work that lay ahead of him.
No sooner had Jesus been equipped for his messianic work than Satan tempted him to use his messianic powers in the wrong way. For example, he could work a miracle to satisfy his hunger; but Jesus knew that, although food is necessary to maintain life, obedience to God is more important. Behaviour should be determined by God’s will, not by human expediency.
Another suggestion was that Jesus could convince people he was the Son of God by jumping from the top of the temple and calling upon God to save him. But Jesus would not rely upon spectacular miracles, whether to save himself or convince others. His path would lead not to self-acclaim or popularity, but to a cross.
Finally, Jesus could be assured of worldwide power if he accepted Satan’s methods of conquest. But Jesus did not come into the world so that people might be forced into his kingdom. He wants them to come because they choose to. He wants them to submit willingly to him, the one who willingly laid down his life for them.
~ Following Jesus, Don Fleming
Topics: Faith, View All Post |
February 26th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Actually, John knew EXACTLY who Jesus was. Let’s not forget that they were cousins! John told Jesus that he was not good enough to even tie Jesus’ sandals, let alone baptise him BECAUSE HE WAS THE SON OF GOD! There is no way that John would have told ANYONE but the perfect son of God that they were “too good” to be baptised. Ever.
I am not even Christian and yet these facts are obvious to me. The only possible explanation I can come up with is that you (and many others!) have never actually read the whole bible for themselves. I find this sad.
July 31st, 2008 at 6:33 am
“The reason Jesus was baptized was not that he had sins to repent of, but that he wanted to declare, in an act of solidarity with all the faithful, that he was on the side of God and his righteousness.”
Dear brother, the quoted statement above is so wrong. At Jesus’ baptism by John the baptist in the river Jordan was for Jesus to take on ALL of mans sins. The past, the present and the future. Please read John 3:5. ” … “Except one be born of the Water and Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
Brother all your sins are forgiven if you just accept HIS word and try not to substitute man’s way of salvation. All our sin’s are forgiven by believing the Spirit and the Water.
Christ has forgiven us ALL by His baptism, His crusifiction and His rising on the third day to sit at the right hand of God.
His baptisim and His blood is what will save us if we belive what the Scriptures say and not what we want them to say..
His baptism was not a mere “show” of anything other than that is when HE took on ALL our sins.
Bless you brother if you understand what I am saying and try to research the TRUTH of His baptism.