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S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 5
thoughtlessly we have read the account of the baptism of our Lord,
not realizing that its significance was of the greatest importance to us,
and that Christ was accepted of the Father in man’s behalf. As Jesus
bowed on the banks of Jordan and offered up His petition, humanity
was presented to the Father by Him who had clothed His divinity
with humanity. Jesus offered Himself to the Father in man’s behalf,
that those who had been separated from God through sin, might
be brought back to God through the merits of the divine Petitioner.
Because of sin the earth had been cut off from heaven, but with His
human arm Christ encircles the fallen race, and with His divine arm
He grasps the throne of the Infinite, and earth is brought into favor
with heaven, and man into communion with his God. The prayer
of Christ in behalf of lost humanity cleaved its way through every
shadow that Satan had cast between man and God, and left a clear
channel of communication to the very throne of glory. The gates
were left ajar, and heavens were opened, and the Spirit of God, in
the form of a dove, encircled the head of Christ, and the voice of
God was heard saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased.”
The voice of God was heard in answer to the petition of Christ,
and this tells the sinner that his prayer will find a lodgment at the
throne of the Father. The Holy Spirit will be given to those who seek
for its power and grace, and will help our infirmities when we would
have audience with God. Heaven is open to our petitions, and we are
invited to come “boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” We are to come in
faith, believing that we shall obtain the very things we ask of Him
(
The Signs of the Times, April 18, 1892
).
The Sound of a Death Knell
—When Christ presented Himself
to John for baptism, Satan was among the witnesses of that event.
He saw the lightnings flash from the cloudless heavens. He heard
the majestic voice of Jehovah that resounded through heaven, and
echoed through the earth like peals of thunder, announcing, “This is
my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” He saw the brightness
of the Father’s glory overshadowing the form of Jesus, thus pointing
out with unmistakable assurance the One in that crowd whom He
acknowledged as His Son. The circumstances connected with this
baptismal scene were of the greatest interest to Satan. He knew