John Baptized Jesus

By

Shelby G. Floyd

Christ left us an example that we should follow his steps (1 Peter 2:21). His steps definitely led to the Jordan River where he was baptized by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17). He traveled about 75 miles from Nazareth to Jordan to fulfill all righteousness. John baptized “for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4). Jesus was the exception, since he had no sin.

Those John baptized respected God’s will, while those who rejected his baptism also rejected the counsel of God (Luke 7:29-30). Jesus came to do God’s will and not his own will (John 5:30; Heb. 10:9). Hence, Jesus was baptized by John.

God’s plan for making men righteous is found in the gospel (Romans 1:16-17). Christ commanded the gospel to be preached to the whole world. Baptism is also part of that command (Mark 16:15-16).

When Christ was baptized, God publicly endorsed him as his unique son and commended him to the people as being well pleasing in his sight. He further endorsed him by sending the Holy Spirit upon him in the form of a dove (Matthew 3:16-17). When John saw and heard these wonderful events, he realized that Jesus was the Christ the Son of God, and publicly presented him to Israel as their Savior (John 1:32-34).

Today, God does not acknowledge any person as his spiritual child who has not by faith been baptized into his spiritual family—the church. To the Galatians, Paul declared, “For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). The Galatians were children of God by their faith. The reason they were children of God by faith was because their faith led them to be baptized into Christ. Copyright © 2011 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

Shelby G. Floyd

shelby@thefloyds.net