III.-The Baptism Of Jesus And The Witness From Heaven
“And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent asunder, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon him; and there came a voice out of the heavens, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased“ (1: 9-11, R.V.).
All three of the Synoptical Gospels record the baptism of Jesus in Jordan, and also the heavenly testimony which accompanied it. The Fourth Gospel refers only to the descent of the Spirit which attested His divine Sonship, this being the main theme of this Evangelist, rather than the Lord's coming in accordance with prophecy, as is so carefully shown in the first three Gospels.
The testimony of John the Baptist to the Lord is divided chronologically into two distinct sections by the baptism of Jesus; the first being his announcement that the Messiah was about to come, as Paul said—John “first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel” (Acts 13:2424When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. (Acts 13:24)); and the second being his declaration that the promised One had now come— “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me, for he was before me.” “I saw and bare record that this was the Son of God” (John 1:29, 30, 3429The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. (John 1:29‑30)
34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. (John 1:34)). The first part of this testimony is recorded exclusively by Matthew, Mark and Luke; the second part by John only.
It is evident therefore that the event of Christ's baptism coincided with the conclusion of prophetic (that is, predictive) testimony to Him. And it will be remembered that the prophecy of John was singular in respect of the entire absence of any accompanying miraculous voucher. Moses' rod becoming a serpent, the long drought at the word of Elijah, the brackish springs at Jericho purified by Elisha, Nebuchadnezzar's forgotten dream recalled and interpreted by Daniel, are all instances of signs given to show that the men so acting were servants of the most high God. But John's testimony lacked support of this nature, and was attested by its immediate fulfillment and verification. Thus it was said, “John indeed did no sign, but all things whatsoever John spake of this man were true” (John 10:4141And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. (John 10:41)). Those who heard his prophecy also saw its accomplishment.
John was divinely instructed to look for the specific fulfillment of his own prediction. He said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
“I knew him not; but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptiseth with the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 3:1111I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (Matthew 3:11); John 1:3333And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (John 1:33)). This descent of the Spirit was therefore the appointed sign to John that the promised One was come, and that He was moreover the Son of God, for none beside could baptize with the Holy Spirit. As soon as John the Baptist had witnessed this sign from heaven he was thereby qualified to commence the second part of his ministry. This he did, pointing so definitely and effectively to the Lamb of God in their midst that his own disciples left him for his Master (John 1:35-3735Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. (John 1:35‑37)).
But John based this testimony upon what he himself saw at the Jordan Apart from this, speaking officially no doubt, he says, “I knew him not.” He does not hereby deny any previous acquaintance with Jesus, but he does deny that his declaration that Jesus was the Jehovah, whose way he was sent to prepare, was grounded upon any deductions he himself had drawn, or upon any estimate of His personality he himself had formed. It rested upon a heavenly revelation he had personally received, just as Saul's preaching of Christ as the Son of God (Acts 9:2020And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. (Acts 9:20)) was founded upon the heavenly voice and vision that came to him on the road to Damascus. In neither case was the testimony humanly derived; and this the Baptist implied, when he said, “I knew him not.”
But while the divine seal was set upon John's ministry at the baptism of Jesus, it must not be supposed that his preaching was previously without effect upon men. The fiery words of the Baptist penetrated the consciences of many, so that they not only repented, but reasoned in their hearts concerning John himself, whether haply he were not the Christ (Luke 3:1515And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; (Luke 3:15)); while all the people held him to be a prophet (Matthew 21:2626But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. (Matthew 21:26)). Can one number the publicans and sinners who were baptized of John in Jordan, confessing their sins, and were afterward received by the Lord, so that they said, “This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them"? These were they who “justified” God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him (Luke 7:29, 3029And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. (Luke 7:29‑30)). Though he came unto them in the way of righteousness, they believed him not, but said, “He hath a demon” (Matthew 21:3232For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. (Matthew 21:32)). And as the leaders of the people rejected the prophet of righteousness, and refused to own that his baptism was “from heaven” (Matthew 21:2525The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? (Matthew 21:25)), so they rejected a greater than he—Him by whom grace and truth had come (John 1:1717For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)).
It is well to see, however, that scripture shows that a great moral work of preparation was wrought by John's preaching, and in consequence a company gathered around him, who exhibited deeds “worthy of repentance,” mainly in their confession of sins and submission to baptism. The plowing had been done; it was time for the Sower to come forth to sow. A little flock of straying sheep had been collected in the sheepfold. Accordingly the Shepherd of the sheep appeared at the door of the sheep-fold, and to him the porter opened (John 10).
This formal act was not undertaken, however, without remonstrance on the part of the Baptist, when Jesus “came from Nazareth of Galilee” to be baptized of him in Jordan “I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? exclaimed the astonished prophet, seeking in his ignorant impulse to oppose the divine will by his notions of human propriety. But whatever John might think, the way of Jehovah lay through Jordan Jehovah-Jesus was looking towards those who were poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembled at His word through His messenger (Isaiah 66:22For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. (Isaiah 66:2)). The way of righteousness was that by which John had come to the people (Matthew 21:3232For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. (Matthew 21:32)). And the Lord meant by a public and unmistakable act to own that way, and, graciously answering the one who sought to hinder Him, said, “Suffer it now; for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:1515And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. (Matthew 3:15)). This was indeed a gracious reply, and in it the Lord at once maintained His authority and illustrated His grace. There was the gentle insistence that His will must be done, while at the same time with peculiar grace He yoked John with Himself in that submission which godly service ever involves. “It becometh us" are His words, for He was now stepping forth into the public eye, as the Servant of Jehovah, and this initial act was proper both to the baptizer and to the Baptized.
[W. J. H.]
(To be continued)