Message Eleven: The Baptism Of Jesus

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.
Matthew 3:13-17

The revival crusade had been fruitful, and those who had professed conversion asked for baptism. As one old man stepped into the baptistry a fellow from the congregation yelled, “I don’t want to butt in, parson, but one dip ain’t a-gonna do that old sinner much good. You’ll have to anchor him out in deep water overnight.” But even that won’t save a soul. It’s the Lord on the inside, not liquid on the outside, that changes a sinner into a saint.

There was a preacher who came from God. This man of courage and conviction was a burning and shining light. The light shone because it burned. And in burning, hard hearts were melted and many believed on the Lord. God knew that they believed, but man didn’t. So to show that they believed, they asked for baptism, and John the Baptist obliged.

We were invited to a certain city to conduct an evangelistic crusade. As we were being interviewed by an editor, I asked, “Why won’t you become a Christian?” “But I am a Christian,” he replied. “That’s strange,” I answered. “I asked all over town if you were a Christian, and the people said you were an outstanding citizen and a kind husband, but no one thought you were a Christian.” Hanging his head, he replied, “I know why they feel that way. I’ve never followed the Lord in baptism and church membership. But since I am a Christian, I will.” And he did.

One day as John the Baptist was baptizing the converts, he looked up and there was Jesus standing beside him, requesting baptism. He had walked about seventy miles to be baptized.
But John the Baptist stepped back. He didn’t want to do it. “This isn’t proper,” he protested. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by You.” But Jesus replied, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” So John baptized Him.

You’re wondering, I know, “Why did Jesus ask for this baptism?” Certainly it wasn’t to wash away any sin because Jesus had no sin. Anyway, all the water in the world can’t wash away any sin. In His baptism, Jesus was identifying Himself with lost humanity. It was the identification of the Sinless with the sinner. He who had no sin to repent of, took His place among those who had sin to repent of. He who was sinless, went down into the baptism that was the portion of the sinner.

One day some disciples asked to sit one on the right hand, and the other on the left in His kingdom. Jesus looked at them and said, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink? Or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They must have thought He was speaking of His water baptism, for they said, “We are able.” But He wasn’t. He was speaking of the baptism of judgment He was to endure at Calvary, at which time the “waves and billows” poured over Him. There indeed He took the sinner’s place–yours and mine. He died for us, as though He were the guilty One.

Only on one other occasion did He speak of His personal baptism. It’s recorded by Luke. Surrounded by His disciples, He cried, “I have come to cast fire upon the earth. Oh that it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straightened till it be accomplished.” John baptized in water. Jesus came to baptize with fire. But He couldn’t baptize with fire, until He himself had been baptized in the waters of death.

After our Lord was baptized by John, the Bible says, “Jesus went up straightway out of the water.” Although many others have been baptized, this is stated only of Jesus. Why? It suggests His resurrection, for of His own accord He came forth from the baptism of judgment of the cross.
Immediately, after coming up out of the water, the heavens were opened to Him, and John saw the Spirit of God coming down in the form of a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus didn’t now for the first time receive the Holy Spirit, for He was born of the Holy Spirit, and His development was under the control of the Holy Spirit. His whole life was dominated by the Spirit of God. This was a special anointing of Jesus as He entered upon His public ministry.
“Why,” you ask, “did the Spirit appear in the form of a dove?” When the Hebrew heard of a dove, or of a lamb, he always thought of a sacrifice for sin. That’s why Jesus came into the world, to be a sacrifice for sin, and by His baptism He had consented to death, so the Spirit of God fell upon Him as a dove. This was an anointing for death.

How beautiful to hear the Father at this moment attesting the perfection of His only begotten Son. As Jesus took His place in baptism, men might have thought that He was a sinner like the rest. So God carefully guarded against that by saying, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” He wanted us to know that in Jesus there was no sin. He was pleased with His virtuous life and His vicarious death. Are you? Then why don’t you receive Him as your Savior and crown Him as your King of all kings?

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

All Scripture verses are quoted from the New King James Version.

This series of messages on the books of the Bible were originally written for broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The Sower." They are collected and reprinted here for your enjoyment and spiritual edification. Go to the Sower's site for more at www.TheSower.com.