And now, it's Getting Real.
Enter. one. Jesus. Christ.
John, the beloved, has introduced us to the One who was coming, yet always has been--present at Creation, aye, even spoke it into being. We have met the wild man, Cousin John, sent to prepare the way for Jesus, Messiah.
And now - drumroll please - enter Jesus. John 1.29. Having been to the Jordan River, not far from Jericho, where we first see Jesus, I can picture him walking up, stepping out from amongst others to be baptized.
But first, let's think for a moment how we got to his coming out day. Come on, now, step into the story with me. Ponder, wonder, grapple with, and embrace the earthly life of our Lord Jesus. Mary and Joseph knew from before He was born that they had been given the privilege of bringing up Jesus, Son of God, Savior. Many questions I have. What must it have been like for Mary to breastfeed the Lord, her Lord? hmmm... When she stroked his little head, looking lovingly down at Him, did she wonder, 'Now just how will You save Your people from their sins, dear baby of mine?'1 Imagine you were the one who got to see Jesus take his first steps. Incredible privilege.
And how did Joseph correct Jesus' brothers2 if/when they rough-housed with the Christ? Did Jesus get a far-away look in his eyes when he traveled with his family and neighbors to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple? And what, pray tell, did they say to him when, at 12 years old, he stayed behind talking to the priests in the Temple though the caravan had left to travel back home to Nazareth?3 Like, did they correct him for doing what he was meant to do?
And as we look over John's shoulder as he writes, we realize it must have been just days before Jesus walked onto the scene at the Jordan River, that he had announced to Mary4 that the time had come for him to step out and away from the family, to do the work the Father had sent Him to do. When he kissed her 'good bye' in Nazareth, did she cry? Did she know deep down where the 'good bye' would lead, and just how soon? And did Jesus go directly out to see his cousin in the Judean Desert? Hmmm... all so interesting to ponder.
Today on one side of the Jordan River where this scene takes place, is the country of Jordan, and on the other, Israel, just a rope in the water marking the boundary for the two. (you can see that in the picture) hmmm...
John, the beloved disciple, writes,
The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ 31 I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32 John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1.29-34, NASB
As Jesus approached that day out at the Jordan River--recorded in all four gospels, even John knew it seemed backwards … why, Jesus should be baptizing him, right? So it would seem. But no, this was to be a public announcement of the start of Jesus’ public ministry--and even a prophetic illustration of what lie ahead, as baptism by immersion was illustrative of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.
There would be a passing of the baton in the desert; soon, it would be the baptism of Jesus taking place, not the baptism of John as it had been out in the Judean desert. And, as John noted, while he baptized with water, Jesus would baptize in the Holy Spirit. [we will get to Jesus' explanation of the coming gift of the Holy Spirit in chapters 14-16 of this beloved gospel, maybe the dearest in all of the Bible]
But this glorious day was inauguration day! Picture with me Jesus wading into the Jordan to where John stood. . . did they hug? (cousins, remember?) Did they shake hands? We do not know. While physical details do not matter, I cannot help but wonder about their height, their weight, even their muscle strength. Both were physical men, after all. It is interesting to ponder though, isn’t it?
But here comes the glory - do not miss it!
->it is valuable to read the other gospel accounts of this event: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew 3%3A13-17%2CMark 1%3A9-11%2CLuke 3%3A21-22%2CJohn 1%3A29-34&version=NASB
All three of the other gospel writers noted that
as soon as John raised Jesus out of the water, the heavens opened and
the Spirit of God descended like a dove and came down and rested on Jesus;
and a voice from heaven said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Voice from Heaven? Yes, the Father commends his Son, and the Holy Spirit comes as a dove. Three in one - the beautiful Trinity. So amazing, such perfection, such love.
And Jesus? Well, he's Always on Time, Pat Barrett:
Christine
John, no.4
A little more food for thought: In More than a Carpenter, chapter 2, the McDowells raise the question 'What makes Jesus so different?' Simply, Jesus claimed to be God, which many people in our pluralistic culture consider to be too narrow; yet the New Testament clearly delivers the 'goods' on that claim--characteristics of Jesus that could only be true of God. There are those who contend that Jesus never claimed to be God. ------>au contraire, mon frère. John 10.30, and p.21.
And here at the baptism of Jesus Christ, the Father himself claimed Jesus as his Son. **You and I must know these things about Jesus Christ in such a way that we could explain them to anyone.
1 - Matthew 1.20-21
2 - Jesus' brothers and sisters, Matthew 12:46, Luke 8:19, and Mark 3:31, Matthew 13:56, John 7:1-10
3 - 12 year old Jesus to the Temple, Luke 2.41-52
4 - "Where was Joseph when Jesus was an adult?" Haven't specifically heard about him since Jesus was 12. https://www.gotquestions.org/Joseph-Jesus.html
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