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Baptism of Jesus
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were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove,
and alighting on Him.” RSV.
Sinless Christ Baptized
Jesus did not receive baptism as a confession of guilt on His own
account. He identified Himself with sinners, taking the steps that we
are to take and doing the work that we must do. His life of suffering
and patient endurance after His baptism was also an example to us.
Coming up out of the water, Jesus bowed in prayer on the river
bank. He was now entering the conflict of His life. Though He was
the Prince of Peace, His coming must be as the unsheathing of a
sword. The kingdom He had come to establish was the opposite
of that which the Jews desired. He would be looked upon as the
enemy and destroyer of the ritual and economy of Israel, condemned
as a transgressor, and denounced as Beelzebub. No one on earth
had understood Him, and He must still walk alone. His mother and
brothers did not comprehend His mission. Even His disciples did
not understand Him.
As one with us, He must bear our guilt and woe. The Sinless One
must feel the shame of sin. The peace lover must dwell with strife;
the truth must abide with falsehood, purity with vileness. Every sin,
every discord, every defiling lust was torture to His spirit.
Alone He must tread the path. On Him who had accepted the
weakness of humanity the redemption of the world must rest. He
saw and felt it all, but His purpose remained steadfast.
The Saviour poured out His soul in prayer. He knew how sin
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had hardened the hearts of men, how difficult it would be for them
to discern His mission and accept salvation. He pleaded with the
Father for power to overcome their unbelief, to break the fetters with
which Satan had enthralled them, and to conquer the destroyer.
Never before had angels listened to such a prayer. The Father
Himself would answer the petition of His Son. The heavens were
opened, and upon the Saviour’s head descended a dovelike form of
purest light.
Few at the Jordan except John discerned the heavenly vision. Yet
the solemnity of the divine Presence rested on the assembly. Christ’s
upturned face was glorified as they had never before seen the face