Christs gracious condescensions are so surprising, that even the strongest believers at first can hardly believe them. Baptism is a ceremony where a person is identified with christs death and resurrection romans 6. When god speaks to jesus at his baptism with these words whom i love, he is stating that jesus is the unique son of god and as the lamb of god will sacrifice himself for the sins of the people. Jesus baptism in matthews gospel by his grace, for his. Yet the last prophet declares with assurance that he is not even worthy to untie the laces of the messiahs sandals matthew 3. Matthew 3 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. He was the one who would say to the jews, who among you can provide evidence that i have committed a sin. Jesus taught that his disciples were to baptize others in the name of the father, son, and holy spirit matthew 28. And we shall begin with jesus baptism, in which there are two main points of interest in this text.
Jesus jesus left nazareth, until he reached bethany beyond the jordan and went to john for baptism. Jesus and baptism the baptism of jesus is recorded in all three synoptic gospels matthew 3. In this story we see that jesus approaches john and asks to be baptized. John anticipated it, and willingly acknowledged that he must decreased so that jesus might increase jn. A record of this kind furnished evidence to support the belief that jesus was the true messiah. Matthew 3 matthew henrys concise commentary on the bible. At first glance, it seems that jesus baptism has no purpose at all. The baptism of jesus according to matthew matthew 3. Jesus own baptism fulfills all righteousness matthew 3.
The book of john talks about the baptism in chapter 1, but does not give any details to the actual event. It mentions the holy spirit descending as a dove upon jesus. As you know, there are several different kinds of baptisms discussed within the new testament. The baptism of jesus then jesus came from galilee to the jordan to be baptized by john.
Likewise, he was endorsing johns ministry of baptism. Since this is the statement that immediately follows the main command to make disciples people assume this means that the first step in making a disciple is getting. By the time the lord arrived for his baptism, john the baptist had been preaching for about six months, as best we can discern. After jesus baptism, a spirit descended from heaven and proclaimed, you are my own. A brief comparison today i am going to briefly compare the story of the baptism of jesus in the four gospels of the christian scripture and show the contradictions within these passages. The gospel of matthew is consistent in theme, throughout, and maintains the perspective of christ as the supreme ruler, ordained by god the father, with a kingdom of faithful people. Jesus never performed a baptismal ceremony himself. With matthew 3 we have the record of the beginning of jesus public. Each telling of the story involves only a few verses, yet so much is. Jesus seeks out john the baptist and is baptized in order to fulfill all righteousness.
Perez the father of hezron, and hezron the father of ram. No, the act of baptism was part of christ mission in coming to earth. Still wet with water after his cousin had plunged him beneath the jordan river, jesus heard a voice and saw a visionthe declaration of god the father that jesus was his beloved son a combination of two old testament passages. John does not have jesus baptized and dunked into the water. It is interesting that epiphanius says the hebrew version of. The baptism of jesus by john the baptist is a major event in the life of jesus described in three of the gospels. John has been proclaiming the gospel and baptizing those who repent of their sin, want to make right their relationship with god, and await the coming messiah. All four gospels relate at least something about jesus baptism by john the baptist, in the jordan river. The baptism of jesus by john the baptist is a major event in the life of jesus described in three.
The baptism of jesus is recorded in the gospel bible books of matthew, mark, luke and john. Jesus christ set the example for us to be baptized. Righteousness and baptism in matthew mitchell lewis. The baptism of jesus simultaneously marks the inauguration of jesus earthly ministry as well as marking the beginning of the decline of john the baptists ministry many in israel wondered if john might be the messiah. Christian baptism unites us to christ as disciples learners. Truly, matthew presents jesus as the promised messiah, the king over israel. Because of minor differences, however, major questions have arisen. Johns baptism was the baptism of repentance matthew 3. Each of the four gospels gives an account of the baptism of jesus, and further information is added by the joseph smith translation of matthew. The age is significant because under the old law, priests began to serve at the age of thirty numbers 4. In matthews vision, to belong to christ means to learn jesus teachings and apply them to our lives. First, matthew is the only one to record, for us, the dialogue between jesus and john. The proper baptismal formula is as jesus taught in matthew 28. The divine nature of jesus was a major issue for the matthaean community, the crucial element separating the early christians from their jewish neighbors.
Spirit descending from heaven like a dove is recorded as happening at the baptism of the lord jesus christ in the account of the baptism of jesus in matthew 3. Like previous priests of god moses, nehemiah, and daniel jesus was confessing sin on behalf of the people of the world. That storys a nice leadin to the answer of why jesus was baptized. It is considered to have taken place at almaghtas, located in jordan most modern theologians view the baptism of jesus by john the baptist as a historical event to which a high degree of certainty can be assigned. The gospel of mark records with as much accuracy as possible the main events of the life and teachings of jesus. John adopts this proselytes baptism and morphs it into a baptism of repentance. John the baptizer says, i indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. He did everything a truly righteous man should do, so we could learn from him. Matthew, chapter 3 united states conference of catholic bishops. Matthew also shows christ to be just and compassionate. Moving up and down the jordan valley, from the north to the south, baptizing all the people who were flooding out of judea and jerusalem to come to him, he was preaching repentance and the confession of sin for heart. In whose name are we to be baptizedjesus name acts 2. Most of the details are consistent among these accounts concerning where and how jesus was baptized.
John saw that, and although lie did not yet know who jesus was, the pure and spotless life of his mysterious relative was evidently not unknown to him. To call this a fulfillment of all righteousness taps into what matthew has been arguing repeatedly from the beginning of his book matt. Since jesus appearance on the scene, johns prominence started diminishing. Given the overwhelming biblical evidence concerning the actual meaning and significance of baptism, as well as the biblical evidence that the apostles and the early church consistently baptized in the name of jesus christ alone, all leaves me to conclude that the baptismal formula as stated in matthew 28. Jesus joined in the line of penitents asking for baptism, yet he was pure, free from all sin. Interestingly, matthews version of the baptism at matthew 3.
Institute for ecumenical and cultural research, collegeville, minnesota the baptism of jesus is recorded in some detail by the synoptics matthew 3. John recognized his own sin and was aware that he, a sinful man in need of repentance himself. He said, therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit, and teaching them to obey everything i. Is there a difference between baptism in jesus name and baptism in the name of the father, son, and holy spirit. I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me. Matthew 3 niv john the baptist prepares the way in. Matthew puts forth jesus knowledge something in his mind to the readers. It is also the last thing he said before going up to heaven. The relationship of jesus christ as the baptizer in the holy spirit is found in the texts of christs baptism in matthew 3. Baptism is important because jesus made sure this was the first thing he did when he started his ministry. They accepted as scripture only the first five books of the old testament. Book of matthew jesus christ, as presented in the gospel.
But the gospel of john does not have jesus actual baptism. Jesus will be offered as a sacrifice, just as isaac was. The lords baptism in matthew was a presage of this relationship that all christians now enjoy. Since this is the statement that immediately follows the main command to make disciples people assume this means. The feast that we celebrate today, the baptism of jesus gives us the answer to the above question. In this clip, lead pastor mark looks at why jesus actually got baptized and how it effects our lives. Though there is no direct report in john, he does record the tradition john 1.
If youll recall, amidst the protestations of john the baptist, jesus explains why he has come for baptism. T he story of the baptism of jesus can be found in three of the four gospels. What does it mean that jesus baptism fulfilled all. Since john was given a sign, jesus needed to be baptized. In the fullness of time our lord jesus appears in the wilderness where john was preaching and baptizing those who. Isaac the father of jacob, and jacob the father of judah and his brothers. Jesuss baptismal compassion for and solidarity with broken people was vividly confirmed by divine affirmation and empowerment.
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