Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Matthew 2:1-23, Luke 2:41-52, Mark 1:2-8, Matthew 3:1-12, Luke 3:1-18, Mark 1:9-11, Matthew 3:13-17, Luke 3:21-22
For less flipping: Matthew 2:1-3:17, Luke 2:41-3:18, 21, 22, Mark 1:2-11
There is so much in these passages one could focus on. The prophecy of Rachel crying for her children being fulfilled, the calling of God's son from Egypt being fulfilled, the declaration of Jesus as a child to be about his father's business, and on and on. My thoughts were very focused on Jesus being baptized however. Perhaps because we are in discussion with our near 13 year old daughter on the importance of baptism. She was deadly afraid of her head going under water until two years ago so when she came of age to take communion we allowed her to on basis of her profession of faith. Now however, we are bringing her back to the table on the issue as she is no longer afraid of water and she needs to obey God's command to be baptized. So, it's on my heart and mind lately.
It got me wondering why the sinless son of man really wanted to do this. I've read it before and understood the main concept John MacArthur explains here:
Yet, I wondered if there was more significance as well. I found some interesting thoughts.
"Quite simply, Jesus was baptized so he could enter into the Melchizedek priesthood so He could be the High Priest and offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins.
In Matthew 3:13-15 it says, "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?' Jesus replied, 'Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.'" Jesus got baptized to fulfill all righteousness.
Exodus 29:1-7, "This is what you are to do to consecrate them, so they may serve me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without defect. And from fine wheat flour, without yeast, make bread, and cakes mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil. Put them in a basket and present them in it -- along with the bull and the two rams. Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water. Take the garments and dress Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself and the breast piece. Fasten the ephod on him by its skillfully woven waistband. Put the turban on his head and attach the sacred diadem to the turban. Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head."
Oil is a type of the Holy Spirit: "But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth...As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit -- just as it has taught you, remain in him," (1 John 2:20,27).
The Holy Spirit descended from heaven as a dove and rested upon Jesus (Matt. 3:16).
Jesus was baptized because He had to fulfill the legal requirements for entering into the priesthood. He was priest after the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4; Heb. 5:8-10; 6:20). Priests offered sacrifice to God on behalf of the people. Jesus became a sacrifice for our sin (1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Cor. 5:21) in His role as priest.
To be consecrated as a priest, He had to be:
•Washed with water (Lev. 8:6; Exodus 29:4, Matt. 3:16).
•Anointed with oil (Lev. 8:12; Exodus 29:7; Matt. 3:16).
Both of these were bestowed upon Jesus at His baptism.
Additionally, He may have needed to be 30 years old - (Num. 4:3)
•Exodus 29:1 - "This is what you are to do to consecrate them, so they may serve me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without defect."
•Exodus 29:4 - "Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water."
•Exodus 29:7 - "Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head."
"Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets," (Amos 3:7). "
(Taken from here.)
I thought this gave some further valid insight into this event.
It is interesting note also in the life of Christ, a great respect for the law. He was circumcised, baptised (the new sign of cleansing and anointing) and he kept the passover and Jewish feast ordinances. None for the purpose of cleansing sin, but for fulfillment of righteousness.
Tomorrow's passage:
Mark 1:12-13; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-15; John 1:19-2:25
2 comments:
Jesus' baptism was obviously significant, as it's recorded in all 4 gospels (in John in our reading tomorrow).
John Piper discusses this also in his sermon here http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/the-baptism-and-the-genealogy-of-jesus
I also love that Jesus fulfilled all parts of Jewish law, as you pointed out Alicia. He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill the law.
I thought this was interesting...
The symbolism of Jesus’ baptism: Jesus entered into the waters of baptism pure and undefiled; the same water that had been awfully stained by everyone who will ever be baptized as long as the earth will stand. When he came out of the waters of baptism, all the dirt and filth that we left there had been soaked up by this sacrificial lamb, as a symbol unto the Father that he was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for all men. So, the baptism of Jesus was the initial phase of the atoning sacrifice! Jesus did not take our sins upon him at his baptism, but at his baptism he completed the symbolic contract between men, the Lamb, and the Father;
Men were baptized as a contract with the Father to start a new life, accepting Jesus to be their Sacrificial Lamb;
Jesus was baptized to make the contract between men and the Father possible, by becoming the Sacrificial Lamb.
Now, all we have to wait for is the Father to accept the Sacrificial Lamb, and a witness to attest to the contract, then the contract, or covenant, will be binding on all three parties.
And as soon as Jesus came out of the water, the voice of the Father was heard:” This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”. By this confirmation of the Father that Jesus was pleasing to him as the sacrifice that would save man from death and hell, everything was now in place. Now it was time for the testator (the Holy Ghost) to appear to testify to all men everywhere that Jesus is the by God approved saviour.
So, The Holy Ghost came down to testify of Jesus. Seeing Jesus being baptized as his commitment to complete his sacrifice for men, definitely makes it clear why the Father spoke at this time to testify of his Son, and how come Jesus was sustained by the Holy Ghost.
Now we can understand how, by being baptized, Jesus fulfils all righteousness; If Jesus had not been baptized, as a symbol to take upon him our sins, there would be no point in us being baptized; we could not just leave the sins there in the water! Justice demands that someone picks them up to suffer for them!
Jesus did not take upon himself our sins at his baptism. But he committed to take upon him our sins, which he also did, three years later, in Gethsemane. So, why was Jesus baptized? It was his reply to your baptism; his way to volunteer to take your deserved death, and mine.
From here... http://www.jesus-explained.org/why-was-jesus-baptized.html
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