In Luke 3: 21-22 it speaks of John baptizing Jesus and the Holy Ghost coming down from heaven in the form of a dove. Didn't Jesus already have the Holy Ghost because he is consubstantial with the Father? and why did he seek out John and need to be baptized and cleansed of sin when he was without sin? Or is this baptism symbolic of something else?
In John 1:29 John sees Jesus and says "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
And then in John 1:33 John says Jesus "is he which shall baptize with the Holy Ghost.
BAPTISM MEANS TO IDENTIFY WITH or IDENTIFICATION.
John's baptism was to Identify the Jews with the coming covenant which would be brought in by Christ death. see Hebrews 9:15-17.
Jesus baptism was Identifying with us. see Romans 6:3-6.
Jesus was baptized because He was taking our place. This reveals His perfect identification with us; He took the place of the sinners.
The account in Matthew 3:15 Jesus says it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness"
He was made "sin for us, who knew no sin" ( 2 Corinthians 5:21). I think the explanation is found in that. He's identifying Himself with the human family in the baptism.
alex1939...Hiya Guy Gbu very good question...Jesus had no sin but according to the law he cd not offend in any place till all was fulfilled...Moses law cd not be offened in any place till all was fulfilled..I come not to do away with the law but to fulfill the law...Moses law said that 2 turtle doves had to be washed by running water and the Jordan was running water and 1 of the doves had to be a sacrficial Dove...He had to be killed and his blood sprinkled on the living bird...Thats what the dove the H.G. was trying to tell us when he descended on Jesus...And John said he that has the bride is the bridegroom...Husbands love your wives as Christ LOVED THE church and gave his life for it..One dove had to give his life for the living bird...Thats y that dove descened on Jesus....Jesus had no sin but he had to be washed by running water b/c of Moses law...In Song of Solomon the 2 lovers are Christ and the Church and they refer to each other as having doves eyes...Jesus was our sacrificial Dove that had to be washed by running water the Jordan and killed and his blood sprinkled on the living bird the Church...Then the living bird was set free in an open field..Whom the son sets free is free indeed..As the king sets at his table my spicknard sends forth a sweet smell..thats when Mary broke the alabaster box sending a sweet smell all thru the house...Moses law said that if the leperous house was made clean a sweet smell had to be OFFERED UP all thru the house...Jesus was in the house of Simon the leper when Mary broke her alabaster box...We are all in the house of Simon b/c of sin..But Jesus said you are made clean by the word i have spoken unto you..Jesus answers to that sacrificial dove whos blood was sprinkled on the living bird the Church...As Jesus was the living word made flesh and blood..But it was only b/c of the law of Moses that Jesus was water baptised..Not for sin...Jesus cd not offend, thus he became our sacrificial dove..Thats y the dove descended on Jesus.
I can speak a little on Jesus' baptism. I do agree with the things GiGi has shared in that the triune nature of God was revealed during His baptism.
But as far as Jesus being baptized to be cleansed of sin, you are correct in saying He has no sin. So we can rule out that as being the purpose for His baptism.
If we look at Matthew Chapter 3, we see Jesus coming to John to be baptized by him. But John didn't want to do it.
In Matthew 3:15, Jesus answers and says to John, allow it to be for now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered, (or allowed) Him.
Notice it says becomes "us" to fulfill all righteousness.
It is the fulfillment of Exodus 29:4. to fulfill all righteousness! And there are some things that are very interesting about Jesus' coming.
At 30 years of age, that is the age of the priesthood. According to Numbers 4:30, it was 30 years of age.
The priest had to go through a MIKVEH, (a baptism). They had to be baptized from head to toe. The washing, or the MIKVEH of the priesthood is in Exodus Chapter 29 Verse 4.
But, Moses was supposed to do the baptizing! That is interesting because here is John the baptizer standing there and Jesus says this is for "us" to fulfill all righteousness.
And so John is stepping in the place of Moses and baptizing Jesus for the priesthood. The anointing of the priesthood is in Exodus 29:7. They were anointed with oil.
Now all of this information is to bring us back to our text. Jesus was 30 years of age, and in order for Him to officially, according to the law, enter into His priesthood according to the Jews, He would have to be baptized.
So that is why He was baptized, not to be cleansed from sin, as you rightfully said, but to fulfill a requirement for Him to enter into His ministry.
Why did Jesus get baptized? Matthew 3:15...And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to FULFIL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS. Then he suffered (baptized) him.
Jesus was our example. He did no sin, but he went through the process he expects us to go through. As for the Holy Ghost, it appeared in the bodily shape of a dove. And remember God spoke saying, "this is my son in whom I am well pleased." What this shows you is God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Ghost (or as some say, The Trinity). God is not Jesus and Jesus is not God. They are two seperate beings.
John 1:1...In the beginning was the Word (notice the capitalization), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
I submit to you God as in God the Son. Not God the Father. I have the same last name as my father, but I'm NOT my father. Hopefully that makes sense.
Genesis 1:26...And God said, Let us (us means more than one, so who else was he talking to? Jesus! Remember, he was from the beginning) make man in OUR (there's another word that means more than one) image, after OUR likeness: and let them have ominion...
You are right, Guy, Jesus as big fully God from eternity was consubstantial with the Father and the Spirit and at conception, as bring fully human, He was full of the Spirit in His human nature, too.
The baptism of Jesus happened to reveal to us the Triune nature of God, I believe. God is everywhere present, therefore each Person of the Godhead is everywhere present. But also, while being omni-present, each Person of the Godhead can be specifically present in a point in time and place and in us while still being everywhere present. Jesus' baptism is a good example of this.
Thank you.
In John 1:29 John sees Jesus and says "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
And then in John 1:33 John says Jesus "is he which shall baptize with the Holy Ghost.
BAPTISM MEANS TO IDENTIFY WITH or IDENTIFICATION.
John's baptism was to Identify the Jews with the coming covenant which would be brought in by Christ death. see Hebrews 9:15-17.
Jesus baptism was Identifying with us. see Romans 6:3-6.
Jesus was baptized because He was taking our place. This reveals His perfect identification with us; He took the place of the sinners.
The account in Matthew 3:15 Jesus says it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness"
He was made "sin for us, who knew no sin" ( 2 Corinthians 5:21). I think the explanation is found in that. He's identifying Himself with the human family in the baptism.
I hope this helps.
God bless.
God Bless
God bless you.
God Bless
I can speak a little on Jesus' baptism. I do agree with the things GiGi has shared in that the triune nature of God was revealed during His baptism.
But as far as Jesus being baptized to be cleansed of sin, you are correct in saying He has no sin. So we can rule out that as being the purpose for His baptism.
If we look at Matthew Chapter 3, we see Jesus coming to John to be baptized by him. But John didn't want to do it.
In Matthew 3:15, Jesus answers and says to John, allow it to be for now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered, (or allowed) Him.
Notice it says becomes "us" to fulfill all righteousness.
It is the fulfillment of Exodus 29:4. to fulfill all righteousness! And there are some things that are very interesting about Jesus' coming.
At 30 years of age, that is the age of the priesthood. According to Numbers 4:30, it was 30 years of age.
The priest had to go through a MIKVEH, (a baptism). They had to be baptized from head to toe. The washing, or the MIKVEH of the priesthood is in Exodus Chapter 29 Verse 4.
But, Moses was supposed to do the baptizing! That is interesting because here is John the baptizer standing there and Jesus says this is for "us" to fulfill all righteousness.
And so John is stepping in the place of Moses and baptizing Jesus for the priesthood. The anointing of the priesthood is in Exodus 29:7. They were anointed with oil.
Now all of this information is to bring us back to our text. Jesus was 30 years of age, and in order for Him to officially, according to the law, enter into His priesthood according to the Jews, He would have to be baptized.
So that is why He was baptized, not to be cleansed from sin, as you rightfully said, but to fulfill a requirement for Him to enter into His ministry.
God Bless
You are very welcome. I'm glad I could share.
Jesus was our example. He did no sin, but he went through the process he expects us to go through. As for the Holy Ghost, it appeared in the bodily shape of a dove. And remember God spoke saying, "this is my son in whom I am well pleased." What this shows you is God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Ghost (or as some say, The Trinity). God is not Jesus and Jesus is not God. They are two seperate beings.
John 1:1...In the beginning was the Word (notice the capitalization), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
I submit to you God as in God the Son. Not God the Father. I have the same last name as my father, but I'm NOT my father. Hopefully that makes sense.
Genesis 1:26...And God said, Let us (us means more than one, so who else was he talking to? Jesus! Remember, he was from the beginning) make man in OUR (there's another word that means more than one) image, after OUR likeness: and let them have ominion...
God Bless
The baptism of Jesus happened to reveal to us the Triune nature of God, I believe. God is everywhere present, therefore each Person of the Godhead is everywhere present. But also, while being omni-present, each Person of the Godhead can be specifically present in a point in time and place and in us while still being everywhere present. Jesus' baptism is a good example of this.
God Bless
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