How Was He Baptized?
It is a pity that so wonderful a thing as that the Man should come to be baptized by the man who preached "the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins," (Mark 1:4) has ever had to be brought down to the level of a discussion as to how He was baptized, as though there ever could be more than one way. It is one of the devil's tricks to keep the minds of people away from the consideration of "the mystery of godliness." (1 Timothy 3:16)
If the second commandment is broken by the making of likenesses of any sort whatever, whether they are worshiped or not, the makers of the so-called pictures of the baptism of Jesus will certainly be counted guiltless on that score; for never yet was there a picture purporting to be of this event, whether by one of the "old masters" or by the new apprentices, that was like anything that ever happened in heaven or earth, or in the waters under the earth.
To see the numerous pictures representing Christ as standing ankle-deep in the water, and John, high and dry on the land, pouring a few drops of water on Him from a shell or a basin, is enough to make one think that "art" is a caricature of nature, instead of an improvement upon it.
It is true enough that in our language words often come to have a very different meaning from their original; but the word "baptize" is not an English word, but a full-fledged Greek word, and its meaning now is exactly what it was the day the Bible was written.
We have a very plain but expressive word, namely, "dip," the meaning of which everybody knows. Dipping a garment in the dye is a far different thing from sprinkling it for ironing, and nobody would ever mistake the one for the other.
When the Greek, whether scholar or peasant, said "baptize," he meant just the one thing,--to dip, to immerse, to submerge,--and that was all. In the Teutonic languages, to which our English belongs, and from which it is largely derived, and which are content to translate a word, instead of hiding its meaning by leaving it untranslated, we have even to this day the word "dip" instead of "baptize," and "John the Dipper," instead of "John the Baptist."
Even so it would be in our Bibles, if it were not for the fact that the translators were under the spell of Rome. No person ever follows the Lord in baptism, unless he goes down into the water; for it is certain that no one can "come up out of the water" without first going down into it; and it was when Christ was "coming up out of the water," (Mark 1:10)--that the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove came upon Him. "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him." (Matthew 3:16)
If we are not "buried with Him by baptism," (Romans 6:4) how can we expect to be risen with Him? People will go hundreds of miles to stand in the very place Christ is said to have stood, or to see something that He is said to have worn, when they could "follow His steps" without leaving their homes, and they will not do it, but will instead get as far away as possible. It is in perverse human nature to love to be deceived.
Why Was He Baptized?
Why did Jesus receive baptism at the hands of John? He himself gives the answer: "To fulfill all righteousness." (Matthew 3:15)
There are depths and breadths to the life of Jesus of Nazareth that no man has yet explored. In this act we see Him revealed as one with those whom He came to redeem. We must remember that although He was Divine, He was a Divine Man. "[He was] in the likeness of sinful flesh," (Romans 8:3) "made under the law," (Galatians 4:4) having upon Him the sin of the whole world, and He felt oppressed by it as no other man before or since has ever felt for his own sins.
But He yielded His members as instruments of righteousness, just as we are to do, and indicated His complete acceptance of the life of the Father. He declared that He lived by the Father, and we are to live by Him: "As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats me, even he shall live by me." (John 6:57)
Only so can all righteousness be fulfilled, and even Christ could do nothing of himself. Here is the strongest link that binds us to Him. He became one with us in our sin, that we might be one with Him in His righteousness. The fact that He fulfilled all righteousness, is proof that we also may in Him have the same fullness.
Temptations Necessary
Jesus had the highest sign of approval that heaven could bestow, and then followed the temptation. In this world it is necessary that for a season we be "in heaviness through manifold temptations, [in order] that the trial of our faith...may be found unto praise and honor and glory." (1 Peter 1:6-7) "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)
Therefore, "It became Him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of One; for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren." (Hebrews 2:10-11)
Jesus, having "taken on Him the form of a servant," (Philippians 2:7) must needs pass through all that the lowest servant has to endure. Having taken human flesh, He must bear all the infirmities of the flesh, and it was for that purpose that He came.
Temptations are necessary to keep us humble, and to teach us our dependence upon God. Let the sorely tempted one remember from the experience of Christ that temptations do not prove that he is not a son of God. Remember, too, that the Spirit of God led Jesus into the wilderness of temptation.
The Victory is Won
"In that He himself suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted." (Hebrews 2:18) "The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
His victory is our victory, for it was our sins that He bore. Therefore if we keep in mind His temptations, His trial and His victory, we may save ourselves much trouble. "This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." (1 John 5:4,RV)
The chief temptation that Christ had to endure, the one that was twice repeated, was to doubt that He was really the Son of God. Do not make the mistake of considering this a light matter. It was a life and death struggle, and Jesus was sorely tempted to doubt the words that He had heard at His baptism, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," (Matthew 3:17) and to doubt His mission. After forty days of fasting in solitude, seemingly forsaken by both God and man, and seeing no face but those of the ravenous beasts, doubts would very easily be suggested. But He did not yield to them. By His victory, we may repel the temptation as soon as it is presented. Remember that: "[He] was tempted in all points like as we are," (Hebrews 4:16) and that no temptations came to Him but such as are common to men. But every temptation came to Him that ever comes to any man. Do not forget therefore that no man ever has a feeling of despondency or doubt that did not oppress the Lord Jesus.
Read the 22nd Psalm, and you will see something of what He passed through, and how He came out. Just as surely as He passed through the struggle a conqueror, may we also, even though we have many times been overcome by the tempter, be "more than conquerors through Him that loved us." (Romans 8:37)
Power Over Appetite
The first temptation was naturally on the point of appetite. Where man lost his dominion, is the place where he must regain it. He who can control his appetite can conquer anything. The man who in Christ is absolutely master of himself, of his whole body, is master of the world. To him is given "power over the nations." (Revelation 2:26)
It is just the point on which most people are most sensitive. They like to hear about the Gospel, but they do not like to hear anything about overcoming the appetite. Many who have made great sacrifices for their profession, will go back and walk no more with the Lord when a question of eating and drinking comes up.
People who will give up their situation in order that they may keep the Sabbath, will draw back when asked to give up some dainty to which they are slaves. Ah, it is a grand thing to learn that: "Man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord." (Matthew 4:4)
When we are content to live on the Word of God alone, then indeed have we fellowship with Him.
Faith Against Presumption
The second temptation was to presumption. If Satan cannot succeed in making us fall in one direction, when we draw back from it he will endeavor to push us over in the other. The first temptation had demonstrated the trust that Jesus had in the Father; therefore the devil would pervert that trust, and make it presumption.
Do not imagine that trust in God can ever be carried to such an extreme as to make it presumption. Far from it. Presumption has no connection whatever with faith. It is directly opposed to it. Therefore Jesus did not fall under the temptation. His faith in God saved Him from presumption.
It is true that God had promised to keep His children's feet from falling, but not when they go deliberately in the devil's path. It is those who have made the Lord their refuge, that are kept: "He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings shall you trust: His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day; Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, your habitation; There shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone." (Psalm 91:1-12)
The promise was fulfilled in the case of Jesus, simply because He did not obey the suggestion of the tempter.
Vain Glory
There are endless applications that may justly be made of these temptations of Jesus, but it will be sufficient at this time if we learn from this that we are not at liberty to use our strength except in legitimate work. "Daring" feats, which should rather be called foolhardy, to show how much we can do or endure, are condemned by this victory. God gives us strength according to our day. "As your days, so shall your strength be." (Deuteronomy 33:25) "He is faithful, and will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able, but will with the temptation make a way to escape, that we may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)
We do not need to experiment beforehand, to see if we shall be able to endure the trial when it comes. "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matthew 6:34) "It is good that a man should hope, and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord." (Lamentations 3:22)
The Temptation to Ambition
The crowning temptation was ambition, and more than ambition, even the very same ambition that caused the fall of the angels. Showing Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, the devil said, "All these things will I give you, if you will fall down and worship me." (Matthew 4:9)
For much less than that, many a man has sold himself to the devil. To have all the earth! why, that was just why Christ came to this earth, and here it was freely offered Him.
No, not freely, for there was a condition attached that deprived the offer of all its value, and that was that He become the slave of the devil. But a slave is not a king, and the possessor of this earth must be a king. "He ... whose right it is," (Ezekiel 21:27) owns the earth because it is His by right of the righteousness which He possesses.
Possession of the World to Come
Moreover it was not "this present evil world" (Galatians 1:4) that God would have man possess. Christ came, not for the purpose of giving it to us, but "that He might deliver us from [it]." (Galatians 1:4)
Here is where many make a fatal mistake. It was "the world to come," (Hebrews 2:5) that God put in subjection to man. The earth was new, free from all curse of sin, when God gave it to man. It is an inheritance of righteousness, to which God has called us. The promise to Abraham, that he and his seed should possess the world, was only "through the righteousness of faith." (Romans 4:18)
Christians have no claim upon this world as it now is. Christ was content not to have so much of it for His own as would furnish a resting place for His head; even as Abraham had not so much as standing room. "And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has not where to lay His head." (Luke 9:58) "And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet He promised that He would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child." (Acts 7:5)
Many Christians are making the mistake of thinking that by gaining power in this world they will advance the kingdom of God. They imagine that by wars and fightings the kingdom will be advanced, and the time hastened when the will of God shall be done on earth as it is done in heaven.
Let everyone understand well that in order to gain any portion of this world he must do obeisance to "the god of this world," (2 Corinthians 4:4) the devil. Just in proportion as the church gains worldly power, she loses spirituality, and so at last when the church--not the true church of Christ, but that which fills the eyes of the world--shall have gained control of the whole world, so that it can dictate terms to governments, it will simply be the world.
The moment when it begins to celebrate what it will call its victory over the world, will mark its complete fall under the dominion of the devil. Beware of taking favors from the devil; there is always a strong chain fastened to them, and every link is a trap.
Power Over the Devil
"Then said Jesus unto him, get hence, Satan; for it is written,You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve. Then the devil left Him." (Matthew 4:10-11)
There was the power that overcomes the world. The devil offered Jesus all the kingdoms of this world, but Jesus, in commanding him to depart showed that He had power greater than that of all the kingdoms of the earth. He had power and authority over the god of this world.
That is the power which He gives to everyone of His followers. When Christ dwells in our hearts by faith, we are "strengthened with all might according to His glorious power." (Colossians 1:11)
He has given His disciples "power and authority over all devils." (Luke 9:1) "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)
Just as surely as the devil was subject to the commands of Jesus, will he yield to our word if we "resist steadfast in the faith." (1 Peter 5:9)
He can have no more power over the one who is in Christ, than he had over Christ himself. "Forasmuch then as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind; for he that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin." (1 Peter 4:1)--Present Truth, January 18, 1900--Subtitle: Baptism and Temptation of Jesus--Timeline: II-2 (The Baptism), 3 (The Temptation) Matthew 3:13-4:11.