THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST - Part 4
Matt. 3:13-17 “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
We are told by Mark specifically where Jesus came from to be baptized of John. Mark 1:9 says, “And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.” This was probably two or three days journey for Jesus. Why did Jesus come and ask John to baptize Him? It certainly was not because He needed to repent or have sins washed away. He did come to John and ask him for baptism.
John’s first response is brought out in the words. “But John forbad, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” The word “forbad” translates “diakoluo” and means “ to hinder, to prevent.” It is a imperfect active indicative verb. This is a continuous action verb and means that John kept on resisting the idea of baptizing Jesus. It does not imply an argument. John baptized repentant sinners. It was evident to John that Jesus needed no repentance. What a testimony to the purity and holiness of Christ! John refuse to baptize the Pharisees and Sadducees on the grounds of hypocrisy. Here John is resisting on the grounds of our Lord’s holiness and office.
Jesus is manifest to Israel at His baptism. From this point on, He will begin His public ministry. It is my belief that John’s baptism was a picture of the death, burial and resurrection and not different from Christian baptism. John was the last of the Old Testament prophets. He did not understand what would happen in the setting aside of the nation of Israel and the birth of the Church. This was a hidden mystery to Old Testament saints. John probably did not understand the truth of the “Suffering Messiah” and therefore, would not have seen the picture in baptism of the death, burial and resurrection. This is MY OPINION. And if you have different beliefs about this, it is YOUR OPINION. It is not wrong to have an opinion. It is wrong to teach our opinions as INFALLIBLE. God does not explain some things and leaves us to trust Him with those things He doesn’t explain.
John said, “I have need to be baptized of thee.” The verb “I have” is a present tense. John says, “I continually have, I am in a state of constant need.” John was a holy man. But when Jesus came on the scene, all of a sudden John saw himself. Jesus has a way about doing that to us. Isaiah was in good shape until he saw the “Lord high and lifted up.” Then Isaiah said, “Woe is me! for I am undone . . .” The presence of God will make the holiest man fall on his face and see the need of grace. This is the reason John said, “I have need to be baptized of thee.” Those who walk the closest to the Lord, see themselves as sinners in need of grace. You can go to the bank with this: any arrogant cocky Christian is not even in the vicinity of the Lord. He will have to impress you with his knowledge or something else; it will not be with his walk with the Lord. Now I’m not setting myself up as a judge. What I’m saying is Bible: Isaiah 57:15 says, “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”
Jesus responds to John’s reluctance with the words, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness . . .
