The Baptism of Christ - Part 3

THE GREATNESS OF JESUS

I’m picking out three things John said.

“There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” I wonder what John meant by this? We see Jesus crucified, the Passover Lamb of God who died for our sins that we could be forgiven. John wasn’t expecting a dying Messiah, but one who’d lead Israel into glory days, so experts tell us. Did John see Jesus taking away the sin of the world by removing sinners from the world? Separating wheat from chaff? John wasn’t wrong. Just his timing was off. 

“He is the son of God.” What did John mean by this? Jesus was a godly man? That sounds too simple. Angels were called sons of God, but I doubt it’s likely John thought Jesus was a glorified angel. Israel as a nation was called God’s son. Did John see Jesus as Israel personified? Kings were sometimes considered sons of God. Maybe he saw Jesus as King of Israel? Or maybe son of God just meant “Messiah”? We’re blessed in having a fuller understanding of Jesus as Son of God. Our Hebrews reading shows that the Son is the one through whom God created everything, who reflects God’s brightness, who’s the exact likeness of God’s being, who sits at God’s right hand, who’s greater than angels and worshipped by them, whose kingdom will last forever…

“He is the one who baptises with the Holy Spirit.” What does this mean to John? Hear again John’s words: “I baptize you with water, but someone is coming who is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He has his winnowing shovel with him, to thresh out all the grain and gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn the chaff in a fire that never goes out.” Does John equate the baptism of the Holy Spirit with sorting the wheat from the chaff? The salvation of the righteous and the judgement of the wicked? Are we in Isaiah 40, the Lord sending a wind making the grass wither and flowers fade? Continue further in Isaiah 40 and we read in verses 9-11: “Jerusalem, go up on a high mountain and proclaim the good news! Call out with a loud voice, Zion; announce the good news! Speak out and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah that their God is coming! The Sovereign Lord is coming to rule with power, bringing with him the people he has rescued. He will take care of his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs together and carry them in his arms.” Is this the gathering of wheat into His barn? 

What actually happened when Jesus baptised with the Spirit? Jesus gave explicit instructions to His disciples (in Acts 1:4-5): ““Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift I told you about, the gift my Father promised. John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” In Luke 24:49, He put it like this: “And I myself will send upon you what my Father has promised. But you must wait in the city until the power from above comes down upon you.” What happens at Pentecost in Acts 2 is Jesus baptising the disciples with the Spirit. In their case, they proclaimed God’s works in the many languages of the Jews gathered in Jerusalem at that feast. They became His witnesses in Jerusalem. The greatness of Jesus here is that the Spirit, the gift of the Father, is sent by Jesus. The Father shares His glory with Jesus. 

And finally in this point, the baptism of Jesus by John. Our reading says: “After all the people had been baptized, Jesus also was baptized. While he was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you.”” 

Here’s what the account in Matthew 3:13-15 says: “At that time Jesus arrived from Galilee and came to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. But John tried to make him change his mind. “I ought to be baptized by you,” John said, “and yet you have come to me!”

But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so for now. For in this way we shall do all that God requires.” So John agreed.” 

This shows the great humility of the Lord. Christmas shows His humility in laying aside the glory of Heaven to be born as a baby in less-than-kingly circumstances. Easter shows His humility in allowing Himself to be subjected to a criminal’s death though He committed no crime. Allowing Himself to undergo a baptism of repentance by John, though He’d nothing to repent of, is another amazing example of Jesus’ humility.