06/10/2022 – Day 008 – Matthew – Chapters 3 & 4 / Why did Jesus insist upon John baptizing Him?
From my previous post on Day 008 dated 03/07/2022, I asked the question: “Why did Jesus insist upon John baptizing Him?”
3: 13-14 : “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. But John tried to stop Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and yet You come to me?’ Jesus answered Him, ‘Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness,’ Then he allowed Him to be baptized.”
Here is John Gill’s commentary on verse 14, Jesus’ answer:
https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/matthew-3-15.html
Reminder: John Gill’s commentary is free and available on the web for every single bible verse in the Bible. Matthew Henry also has commentary free on the web, either in a summary version or a “full-length version” by chapter of the Bible. I have Matthew Henry’s hardcopy book commentary, just short of 2,000 total pages.
Here is Matthew Henry’s commentary on the same verse and a few verses beyond:
“Behold the Sun of righteousness rises in glory. The fulness of time was come that Christ should enter upon his prophetical office; and he chooses to do it, not at Jerusalem, but there where John was baptizing; for to him resorted those who waited for the consolation of Israel, to whom alone he would be welcome. Christ’s coming from, Galilee to Jordan to be baptized, teaches us not to shrink from pain and toil, that we may have an opportunity of drawing night to God in an ordinance. We should be willing to go far, rather than come short of communion with God. They who will find must seek.
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2. The overuling of this objection (John’s objection – #1 above) (v. 15); Jesus said, Suffer it to be so now. Christ accepted his humility, but not his refusal, See,
- How Christ insists upon it; It must be so now. Everything is beautiful in its season. But why now? Why yet? [1] . Christ is now in a state of humiliation. He is not only found in fashion as a man, bust is made in the likeness of sinful flesh, and this he was made sin for us, though, he knew no sin. [2]. John’s baptism is now in reputation, it is that by which God is now doing his work. What we see God owns, and while we see he does so, we must own. [3] It must be so now, because now is the time for Christ appearing in public, and this will be a fair opportunity for it.
- The reason he gives for it; [1] There was a propriety in everything that Christ did for us; it was all graceful, lovely and good report. [2]. Our Lord Jesus looked upon it as a thing well becoming him, to fulfill all righteousness, Thus it becomes him to justify God, and approve His wisdom. Thus it becomes us to countenance and encourage everything that is good, by pattern as well as precept. Thus Jesus began first to do, and then to teach; and his ministers must take the same method. It became Christ to submit to John’s washing with water, because it was divine appointment.
With the will of Christ, and this reason for it, John was entirely satisfied, and then he suffered him. The same modesty which made him at first decline the honor Christ offered him, now made him do the service Christ enjoined him. No presence of humility must make us decline our duty.
II. How solemnly Heaven was pleased to gave the baptism of Christ with a special display of glory (v16,17); Jesus when he was baptized, went straightway out of the water. Others that were stayed to confess their sins (v. 6); but Christ, having no sins to confess, went up immediately. He went up straightway, as one that entered upon his work with the utmost cheerfulness and resolution; he would lose no time. How was he straightened til it was accomplished!
- Lo! the heavens were opened unto him, so as to discover something above and beyond the starry firmament, at least to him. This was, (1) To encourage him to go on in his undertaking, with the prospect of the glory and joy that were set before him. (2) To encourage us to receive him, and submit to him. Sin shut up heaven, put a stop to all friendly intercourse between God and man; but now Christ has opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Divine light and love are darted down upon the children of men, and all by Jesus Christ, who is the ladder that has its foot on earth and its top in heaven.
- He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, or as a dove, and coming or lighting upon Him. Christ saw it (Mark 1:10), and John saw it (John 1: 33,34) and it is probable that all the standers-by saw it; for this was intended to be his public inauguration
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3. To explain and complete this solemnity, there came a voice from heaven. The Holy Spirit manifested himself in the likeness of a dove, but God the Father by a voice.
(1) See how God owns our Lord Jesus; This is my beloved Son. Observe, [1] The relation he stood in to him; He is my Son. He is the Son of God by special designation to the work and the office of the world’s Redeemer. He was sanctified and sealed, and went upon that errand, brought up with the Father for it. [2] The affection the Father had for him; He is my beloved Son. Particularly as Mediator, and in undertaking the work of man’s salvation, he was his beloved Son. Because he consented to the covenant of redemption, and delighted to do that will of God, therefore the Father loved Him. Now know we that He that loved us, seeing He has not withheld his Son, His only Son, His Isaac whom He loved, but gave Him to be a sacrifice for our sin.
(2). See here how ready he is to own us in Him: He is my beloved Son, not only with whom, but in whom, I am well pleased. he is please with all that are in Him, and are united to Him by faith. Hitherto God had been displeased with the children of men, but now his anger is turned away, and he has made us accepted in the Beloved, Ephesians 1:6. Out of Christ, God is a consuming Fire, but, in Christ, a reconciled Father. This is the sum of the whole gospel. We must by faith cheerfully concur, and say, that He is our beloved Saviour, in whom we are well pleased.“
Thoughts?
Soli Deo Gloria indeed!