Monday, January 16, 2017
Mark 1:9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
GOD'S SERVANT SERVES US!
Everything that Jesus did from his birth on, every experience recorded in the Gospels, was in some way part of his office and was done on our behalf as our God's appointed Servant. He did these things of his own will to redeem us:
Jesus Himself didn't need to be circumcised. As God, He gave the Law. But as a human being, for our sakes, He kept and fulfilled the whole Law of God in our place to free us from its condemnation.
Jesus Himself didn't need to be baptized for the remission of sins. He was sinless. Yet He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness, to fulfill the Law on our behalf.
The Son of God didn't need to be subject to the Law as God, so He became human to be subject to that Law and to fulfill it completely by keeping it perfectly. Since the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Him, these sacraments could not add some missing spiritual element to Him. At His baptism, He began his public ministry.
He was baptized, not because He needed it, but in part to show us the importance of Holy Baptism.
And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Mark 1:10-11).
When Jesus was baptized, God presented Jesus, His Son, not just to John, but to all men as the Savior whom He had sent, the Servant of all.
He didn't need the Holy Spirit to create faith His heart, but we do.
He didn't need to be told He was the Son of God, but we did.
He didn't need confirmation of these truths, but He was confirmed and shown to be the blessed and holy Son of God for us.
The Servant we see here in the Jordan beginning His service in meekness, is the same SERVANT who became the SUFFERING SERVANT of Isaiah-- not because He had done something wrong, but because of the wrong we have done and still do.
