Matthew 3:11-17. Presentation of Jesus as the Christ

John the Baptist is, of course, a prophet under the Old Testament.  Thus he presents Christ in the OT manner, which is to speak of the Savior who is to come (v11).  John baptizes with water; Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (some manuscripts omit “and fire”).  John is referring to the role of the Messiah in bringing in the promised New Covenant that involves the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  The promised baptism was seen in the book of Acts on the day of Pentecost when the Spirit came upon the Jewish believers.  Later the same signs indicated that the Gentiles also were included in this outpouring (Ac. 1:5; 11:16). 

The reference to “fire” is considered by some as referring to the tongues of fire that rested on the heads of the believers in Acts 2.  Others consider it the “fire” of persecution into which Jesus was immersed as were those who follow Him (Luke 12:50; Mk. 10:38).  But the context, where both before and after where fire is related to judgment (vk10,12), leads me to believe this refers to Jesus’ return in judgment.

The baptism site on the Jordan River east of Jericho.

Thus, John presented Christ to the crowds.  But then God the Father made His own presentation of His Son to the world.  It happened at Jesus baptism.  If it were up to John this would not have happened; he thought Jesus should baptize him.  (Photo on this page is of the baptism sight on the Jordan River east of Jericho.)

We might ask, as many have, why did Jesus need to be baptized?  Being the sinless and holy One He had no sins to confess and turn away from.  The initial answer is bound up in the significance of “baptism”.  Both in Judaism and in Christianity baptism always has the idea of identification.  A person is baptized to make a public announcement about being joined to some rabbi or some cause or doctrine.  For Christians we are baptized into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:20).  John the Apostle, in his Gospel, indicated that the Trinity dwells in the believer (John 14:15-24).  In Jesus’ case, being baptized by John identified Him with those who had come to be baptized in preparation for His coming. 

But this is not what is important about Jesus’ baptism.  It is about the presence of the Trinity at the Jordan just east of Jericho.  The Son submitted to His baptism.  The Holy Spirit descended upon Him.  And the Father declared Him to be His Son with the full recognition of Heaven!  The ministry of John the Baptist was certainly unique in all Scripture.  He was the forerunner.  But his presentation of Christ, in all it’s power and importance, paled when the crowds heard the Voice from Heaven. 

In John 5:31-45 Jesus spoke of five testimonies affirming His Divine authority: His own claim, the words of John the Baptist, the works (signs) the Father gave Him to do, the Scriptures (including Moses), and the actual voice of the Father.  At the outset of His earthly ministry the Father made a clear announcement about this Man Jesus.  John attested to it.  The Holy Spirit came in a visible form.  And the Father spoke from heaven.  Let us bow down and worship Jesus, the Christ!