V~rs. 16, 17.-.T?ie baptism of Jesus by the Holy Ghost. After receiving John's baptism, Jesus" went up straightway from the water." He did not remain to make confession of sin, and for the obvious reason that he had none. He went up" from the water," or ascended the outer bank of the Jordan; for John appears to have ministered his baptism within the double bank of that river. Then "lo, the heavens were opened unto him," etc. An interval is here clearly marked between the baptism of John and that of the Holy Ghost., to show that the baptisms are distinct. '.rhe latter was the true baptism of Jesus. I. 'l'Im SCENE MAJ\'IFESTED THE BLESSED TnnnTY. 1. Here is Jesus, declared to be the Son qf God. (1) This is a Messianic title (see Ps. ii. 7; also 2 Sam. vii. 14, cited Heh. i. 5 ; and Luke i. 35). (2) It does not appear to be used to set forth the pre- existence of Jesns. It is even remarkable that John, when speaking of that pre- eristence, uses the title "Word;" but when he comes to treat of the Incarnation, then be uses this title (John i. 1-14). (3) Nevertheless, as a title of the Incarnation, it expresses the Divinity of Christ. It sets forth Messiah as of the same nature with the Father (see eh. x:xvi. 63-65; John i. 18; v. 18; x:. 36; x:ix:. 7; Rom. i. 3, 4; Heb. i.). 2. He i.s so declared by the voice of the Father, (1) This voice was probably like thunder (cf. John xii. 29; also Job x:l. 9; xx:.x:vii 4, 5; Ps. x:viii. 13; x:.xix:. 3, 4). (2) Yet was it distinct from thunder, for it came in articulate phrase. It was therefore supernaturaL It resembled the voice in which the Lord spake to Moses or answered the high priests who consulted him by the Urim and Thummim. (3) The vision of the Father is reserved for the heavenly state. 'l'h.e angels do there continually enjoy it (see eh. x:viii. 10; Luke i. 19; cf. Esth. i. 14). Hitherto man has not seen the Father (see Deut. iv. 12; John i. 18). The sonship of man will be revealed in the resurrection ; then will also be revealed the Fatherhood of God. We hear of these thin2:s now by the hParing of the ear; the eye shall see them then (Rom. viii. 19). 3. The Spirit of the Father rests 'Upon the Son, (1) It came from the cloven heavens- from the "excellent glory." It was "the Spirit of glory and of God." (2) It came as a dove. 'l'he stream of glory hovered as a dove hovers before it alights, and then rested upon him. Possibly also in the very form of a dove. In either ca~e it was super- naturaL (3) "It abode upon him" (John i. 32-34). The gift of the Spiri~ as a Spirit of wisdom and power is to be distinguished from the indwelling of the same Spirit as a Spirit of holiness. 'l'he apostles are repeatedly said to be "filled with the Holy Ghost;" but of Jesus it is said once for all that he was" full of the .Holy Ghost" (Luke iv. 1). (4) Out of his fulness we receive the measures of grace (John i. 16; iii 34, 35). II. THE BAPTISM INTRODUCED JEBUB INTO BIB PBOPHETIO OFFICE. 1. ~ to the/act (1) This is certified by Luke, who, after describing the baptism of Jesus, adds this JJote: "And Jesll!I himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age" (Luke iii. 23). (2) It is also evident from the event. For immediately after his Laptism Jesus was driven into the wilderness. There he engaged in conflict with Satan; and after forty days he entered a synagogue and opened his commission in these word.: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he bath anointed me to preach ..• To-day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears" (Luke iv. 18-21). (3) lie had his cummission in the voice. God spake in old time by the prophets. '1.'he Baptist was tl,e last and greatest c.{ these. "This is my Son." He uow calls attention to the mission and teaching of Jesus (cf. eh. x:vii, 6), 2, AB to the form, (i) 'l'he Spirit of cn. m, 1-17.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO 81', MATTHEW. 97
God came upon him. This is the indispensable qualification. When he descends upon the preacher, the light of heaven comes into his soul. Without the Spirit of God thera can be no effective spiritual teaching. (2) It came upon him as a dove. The Holy Spirit came upon the apostles in tongues or flames, of fire. There was something to be purged in them. Christ had nothing that needed cleansing. The dove is the emblem of innocence, purity, and meekness (see Isa. xiii. 1, 2). These qualities should be sought and cultivated by all preachers (cf. eh. x. 16). 3. As to the effect. (1) It was illu- minating. The glory streaming from the opened heavens was the symbol and sign of spiritual illumination. (2) It was miracle-working. To the qualification of his baptism his doctrine and miracles are ascribed (see Isa. xi. 2; xiii. 1; eh. xii. 28; John iii. 34; Acts x. 37, 38). (3) All God's people have the Spirit of sanctification. Special gifts are specially given. III. THIS BAP'l1SM WAS THE FinST ACT IN THE CONSECRATION OF JESUS TO HIS PRIEST- HOOD. 1. In the complete consecration the baptisms are three. (1) There was the baptism of water. "Moses brought .Aaron and his sons" to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and "washed them with water." (2) This was followed by the baptism of oil. "Moses poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him to sanctify him." (3) 'l'he baptisms were completed in that of blood. "Moses took the blood" of the ram of consecration, "and put it upon Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot." (4) These baptisms had their counterpart severally in the consecration of Christ, viz. at the Jordan; on the Mount of Transfiguration; and in Gethsemane and Calvary. 2. We are here concerned with the first of these. (1) As Moses the Levite washed Aaron with water; so John, also a Levite, washed Jesus with water, to mark him as the Anti type of Aaron. (2) But the baptism which really inaugurated Jesus was that of the Holy Ghost, which followed the baptism of John. "It is the Spirit that bearetb witness• in this case, not the "water" (cf. 1 John v. 6, 8, 9). (3) 'l'he attesting voice comes now with fresh meaning. "My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Jesus came to do the will and fulfil the pleasure of God, which the Law failed to do or fulfil (cf. Heb. x. 5-10). (4) No eulogy could be greater. We, in Christ, may hear this voice of eulogy in the last day. We a.re "accepted in the Beloved" (Eph. i. 6). (5) Bethabara had its name, the "House of passage," from the passage of the children of Israel over the Jordan at that place. Then the river was cloven. Now the heavens are cloven. 'fhere the people went up into Canaan, the type of heaven. The gospel is the kingdom of heaven, aud brings heaven near. (6) Jesus at Bethabara represented his Church. 'l'here the glory of heaven came down upon him, though he did not then cross the Jordan. We must be baptized from heaven and with heaven before we can ascend into heaven.-J. A. M.