Matthew 3:14-17 (NLT)
14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
John the Baptist was called to baptize by water and pave the way for the One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. John knew what he was called to do, but was still waiting on the promise of confirmation the Lord gave him which was... "The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit."
John 1:33 (NLT)
I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
But Matthew 3:14 says John tried to talk Jesus out of it. As I started to think about that, I began to ask myself, “Why would John try to talk Jesus out of it?” He had spent his life in the wilderness eating locusts and wild honey, and lived off the land to proclaim and walk out what God had put on his heart. John said "When God sent [him] to baptize with water, he told me..." which meant he knew what he was supposed to do, and he knew the confirmation he was looking for "when" he was sent. The only way he could actually get to the confirmation God had promised through baptizing "The One” was to actually baptize "The One". So why would John hesitate and try to talk "The One" out of being baptized?
Some would say it was humility, and this could very well be the case. But if so, how would humility keep him from doing something God clearly told him to do, and backed with a promise of confirmation? And if he had full realization of who Jesus really was, why did he say he "... didn't know he (Jesus) was the one"? I wholeheartedly believe everything John endured throughout his life trained him and prepared him with the humility needed to deliver the message and baptize the Son of God, but preparation occurs to fulfill purpose, not avoid it.
While thinking about this, Jesus's words to Peter in Matthew 16:23 came to mind when He said, "Get behind me Satan." Is it a coincidence that Jesus faced similar opposition to the formal announcements marking both the beginning of His ministry (His Baptism) and its completion, the completion being when Jesus "plainly" (Matthew 16:21) announced to His disciples for the first time His coming death and resurrection? I certainly don't believe so! I believe this was the enemy waging an all-out spiritual war to stop what he knew was the beginning of his (the enemy's) end. Imagine the thought of it, thousands of years in the making! Everything that sin brought into the world: oppression, bondage, death, and destruction. They were all about to hear the words that would soon lead to end of their reign. There was just a few minutes left before one man (John), the One and only Son of God that had become a man (Jesus), and a few remaining acts of obedience before God would open up the curtains of Heaven and make His public proclamation to all the earth and everything in it that “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” Yes, this indeed was the beginning of the enemy's end!
Just as Jesus corrected Peter (Matthew 16:23), He also assured John (Matthew 3:15) that He must carry out God's plan. I was truly amazed as I thought about it more and let it all soak in. He was baptized in the river He created, along with all the fish that He spoke into existence. I wonder if the fish swam from miles away to witness the formal proclamation of their Creator, or did Jesus tell them to stay where they were? Perhaps he reminded them that even though He was Son of God, He chose to come to His earth, the earth that He created, and while here, He had willingly forgone His rights. He had taken the life of the lowliest of men, and was born in a manger to make room in Heaven (John 14:2) for a world that had no room for Him (Luke 2:7).
Father,
Thank You for each and every one of Your beautiful blessings! Thank You most of all for the Blessing of all blessings, Your son Jesus! Jesus, thank You for Your unfailing love! Help us to learn from Your ways, and to walk in Your strength. Thank You for preparing a place for us to eternally call home! Father, I pray that our humility would always keep up with Your blessings! We love You! And can't wait to see You face to face! Amen!
14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
John the Baptist was called to baptize by water and pave the way for the One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. John knew what he was called to do, but was still waiting on the promise of confirmation the Lord gave him which was... "The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit."
John 1:33 (NLT)
I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
But Matthew 3:14 says John tried to talk Jesus out of it. As I started to think about that, I began to ask myself, “Why would John try to talk Jesus out of it?” He had spent his life in the wilderness eating locusts and wild honey, and lived off the land to proclaim and walk out what God had put on his heart. John said "When God sent [him] to baptize with water, he told me..." which meant he knew what he was supposed to do, and he knew the confirmation he was looking for "when" he was sent. The only way he could actually get to the confirmation God had promised through baptizing "The One” was to actually baptize "The One". So why would John hesitate and try to talk "The One" out of being baptized?
Some would say it was humility, and this could very well be the case. But if so, how would humility keep him from doing something God clearly told him to do, and backed with a promise of confirmation? And if he had full realization of who Jesus really was, why did he say he "... didn't know he (Jesus) was the one"? I wholeheartedly believe everything John endured throughout his life trained him and prepared him with the humility needed to deliver the message and baptize the Son of God, but preparation occurs to fulfill purpose, not avoid it.
While thinking about this, Jesus's words to Peter in Matthew 16:23 came to mind when He said, "Get behind me Satan." Is it a coincidence that Jesus faced similar opposition to the formal announcements marking both the beginning of His ministry (His Baptism) and its completion, the completion being when Jesus "plainly" (Matthew 16:21) announced to His disciples for the first time His coming death and resurrection? I certainly don't believe so! I believe this was the enemy waging an all-out spiritual war to stop what he knew was the beginning of his (the enemy's) end. Imagine the thought of it, thousands of years in the making! Everything that sin brought into the world: oppression, bondage, death, and destruction. They were all about to hear the words that would soon lead to end of their reign. There was just a few minutes left before one man (John), the One and only Son of God that had become a man (Jesus), and a few remaining acts of obedience before God would open up the curtains of Heaven and make His public proclamation to all the earth and everything in it that “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” Yes, this indeed was the beginning of the enemy's end!
Just as Jesus corrected Peter (Matthew 16:23), He also assured John (Matthew 3:15) that He must carry out God's plan. I was truly amazed as I thought about it more and let it all soak in. He was baptized in the river He created, along with all the fish that He spoke into existence. I wonder if the fish swam from miles away to witness the formal proclamation of their Creator, or did Jesus tell them to stay where they were? Perhaps he reminded them that even though He was Son of God, He chose to come to His earth, the earth that He created, and while here, He had willingly forgone His rights. He had taken the life of the lowliest of men, and was born in a manger to make room in Heaven (John 14:2) for a world that had no room for Him (Luke 2:7).
Father,
Thank You for each and every one of Your beautiful blessings! Thank You most of all for the Blessing of all blessings, Your son Jesus! Jesus, thank You for Your unfailing love! Help us to learn from Your ways, and to walk in Your strength. Thank You for preparing a place for us to eternally call home! Father, I pray that our humility would always keep up with Your blessings! We love You! And can't wait to see You face to face! Amen!