THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
Key verse: 15
NIV
The Baptism of Jesus(A)
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.(B) 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened,(C) and he saw the Spirit of God(D) descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven(E) said, “This is my Son,(F) whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”(G)
Cross references
- Matthew 3:13 : 3:13-17pp — Mk 1:9-11; Lk 3:21, 22; Jn 1:31-34
- Matthew 3:13 : S Mt 3:1; S Mk 1:4
- Matthew 3:16 : Eze 1:1; Jn 1:51; Ac 7:56; 10:11; Rev 4:1; 19:11
- Matthew 3:16 : Isa 11:2; 42:1
- Matthew 3:17 : Dt 4:12; Mt 17:5; Jn 12:28
- Matthew 3:17 : Ps 2:7; Ac 13:33; Heb 1:1-5; 5:5; 2Pe 1:17, 18
- Matthew 3:17 : Isa 42:1; Mt 12:18; 17:5; Mk 1:11; 9:7; Lk 3:22; 9:35; 2Pe 1:17
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The Baptism of Jesus
13 (A)Then Jesus came (B)from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 (C)John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, (D)the heavens were opened to him,[a] and he (E)saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, (F)a voice from heaven said, (G)“This is my beloved Son,[b] with whom I am well pleased.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 3:16 Some manuscripts omit to him
- Matthew 3:17 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved
Cross references
- Matthew 3:13 : For ver. 13-17, see Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21, 22; [John 1:32-34]
- Matthew 3:13 : ch. 2:22
- Matthew 3:14 : [John 13:6]
- Matthew 3:16 : Acts 7:56
- Matthew 3:16 : John 1:32, 33; [Luke 4:18, 21; Acts 10:38]
- Matthew 3:17 : John 12:28
- Matthew 3:17 : ch. 17:5; 2 Pet. 1:17; [Ps. 2:7; Isa. 42:1; Eph. 1:6; Col. 1:13; 1 John 5:9]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. To fulfill all righteousness (13-15)
Jesus came to be baptized by John. From a human point of view, Jesus should have baptized John. But Jesus had a sense of history. He did not come to 'do his own thing.' He came to fulfill God's promises and accomplish God's redemptive work. John was his forerunner in God's history, so he asked John to baptize him. The gospel is God's gospel; Jesus was God's Servant.
2. With him I am well pleased (16-17)
Jesus was the Son of God. He had come to do his Father's will. God loved his Son. He also loved helpless, sinful mankind, so he sent his Son to die for the sins of the world. At his baptism, he accepted his Messianic mission and God was pleased. God poured out his Spirit on Jesus. The Spirit of God empowers God's servants to do God's work. God is pleased when his children take up the mission he gives them to do.
Prayer: Lord, help me to find my small place in your history and obey your will for my life by doing the work you give me.
One Word: To please our Father
