Jesus’ baptism identifies him with us. When we are baptised we identify with him. He received the eschatological baptism of the Spirit. When we are baptised we share in the gift.
1. Heaven opened and the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus at his baptism.
“God anointed God with God”
The event is both trinitarian and eschatological. It is a turning point in history.
Baptism by water and Spirit are seen to be one act. At pentecost it is one (Acts 2:38). [Lusk even takes Paul's word in 1 Cor 12:13 as water baptism!]
John’s baptism was rooted in the Mosaic system. The Spirit could not be given with the same fulness.
The place of the baptism has symbolism. The wilderness: the exile. The Jordan: place of entry into the promised land. Baptism therefore is the place of second exodus - forgiveness of sins, preparation to meet God.
Spirit, water, voice - New Creation.
Dove - renewed world after the flood, sign of peace with God in the Mosaic system - foreshadows his coming death, which was also described as a baptism.
Jesus’ baptism begins the opening of the way for his people to heaven. Ripping of the temple curtain. [Lusk makes much of the water in creation as a kind of curtain between heaven and earth - fulfilment of Isa. 64:1]
What was begun at his baptism was completed at the cross and at Pentecost.
Our baptism brings the spirit’s descent and our ascent into the heavenly places.
2. At his baptism, a voice spoke from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Some of these words taken from an enthronement liturgy in Ps 2. Jesus’ baptism is the claiming of his crown.
The other words come from Gen 22:2 “beloved son”. Jesus the new Isaac.
“in whom I delight” - Isa 42:1. The suffering servant - the new exodus. This is how we are to understand references to “servant” in the synoptics.
Three images - king, servant, sacrifice - to explain Jesus’ identity.
In our baptism God says the same things over us. We are in a new family.
Jesus looked to his baptism in Gethsemane, and on the cross, to be reassured of his mission. Same is true for us. Defines what we are and what we should do.
This is essential for the nurturing of our children.
It is a sign of corporate membership. It is the union of husband and wife.
Quote from Hodge on baptismal efficacy based on Eph 5:26. The benefits of redemption comes through baptism in the same way that they come through the word of God - as it is received in faith. Baptism is a seal of the benefits on condition of repentance and faith. What ever has ben enjoyed before, this is the public conveyance of the benefits.
3. At his baptism, Jesus was ordained into priestly service.
Two bits of information: Matthew - to fulfil all righteousness; Luke - about 30 years of age.
John’s baptism based upon Mosaic law - levitical background. Three reasons for cleansing - leprosy, contact with a corpse, priestly consecration.
Leprosy and corpse - Jesus baptism signaled the need of resurrection of Israel. These gathered into a new baptism - Christian. Death no longer has the upper hand.
John’s baptism meant partial ordination. Water and oil were used in OT for priests. John only used water. But Jesus receied the ‘oil’ of the spirit. He became a priest of the order of Melchizedek.
Our baptisms are ordinations into the new priesthood. We are washed with pure water (Heb 10:20) and we cross over th sea into the heavenly place through baptism.
Such thinking about ordination is found in the early, medieval, and reformation Christians.
Waht value is this ordination to us? Matthew’s account mirrors the Exodus. Jesus is the new Moses. We are the priesthood to be light to a dark world. We care for one another to maintain purity, We call the world to the repentance and faith. We conduct missions of mercy.
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Baptism shows the temporal nature of the relationship we are in. We are trusting a person not a set of propositions. Baptism is not just theological but practical. We become integrated into the eternal relationship between Father Son and Holy Spirit - ontology. But also eschatology - several lines of OT thought converging on the baptism of Jesus.
Through our baptism the Father adopts us - efficacy.
Categories: LuskR, Baptism
