Jesus’ submission to baptism and His Father’s response to His action raised baptism above any notion of its being a mere symbol. Subsequently, Jesus’ administration of it through His disciples, and His command to institute it in connection with the plan of salvation give special weight to its significance (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16).
Shortly after Jesus’ own baptism and His Father’s proclamation of His approval from heaven (as well as the Father’s confirmation of the Son’s divine lineage— Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 3:21-22), the Bible states, “The next day he [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29). Again, after explaining the sign of the dove, John proclaimed, “And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34).
Not long thereafter, the Spirit led Jesus “into the wilderness to be tempted” (Matthew 4:1-17). He spent the next forty days in the wild fasting and matching wits with the devil. After Satan departed from Him, defeated (Luke 4:13), Jesus came out of the desert ready to begin His ministry, a man prepared for the task before Him. Per the Chronological Study Bible, published by Thomas Nelson, it was upon His return to civilization that the Apostle John recorded, “The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples and he looked at Jesus as He walked by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus” (John 1:35-37).
The two men followed Jesus because of John’s testimony, comprehending that Jesus was the One Israel had been awaiting. One of the two men was Andrew (John 1:40), who, after spending the day with Jesus, found his brother Simon Peter and brought him to meet the man he was convinced was the Messiah. Moreover, from that point on, more and more of John’s disciples would turn toward Jesus, even as He gathered others to Himself (John 1:43-46).
Although Jesus had been identified, John’s work was not over; he continued to point those seeking the truth toward Jesus, preparing many others to make the eventual transition from the old covenant to the new, to turn away from the Law to find grace, and to turn from him to follow Jesus. It was during this period, even before Jesus called any disciple to follow Him (Mark 1:14-20, 2:13) or chose the twelve (Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16), that Jesus began His ministry, taking what disciples He had into the Judean countryside.
Shortly after Jesus’ own baptism and His Father’s proclamation of His approval from heaven (as well as the Father’s confirmation of the Son’s divine lineage— Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 3:21-22), the Bible states, “The next day he [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29). Again, after explaining the sign of the dove, John proclaimed, “And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34).
Not long thereafter, the Spirit led Jesus “into the wilderness to be tempted” (Matthew 4:1-17). He spent the next forty days in the wild fasting and matching wits with the devil. After Satan departed from Him, defeated (Luke 4:13), Jesus came out of the desert ready to begin His ministry, a man prepared for the task before Him. Per the Chronological Study Bible, published by Thomas Nelson, it was upon His return to civilization that the Apostle John recorded, “The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples and he looked at Jesus as He walked by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus” (John 1:35-37).
The two men followed Jesus because of John’s testimony, comprehending that Jesus was the One Israel had been awaiting. One of the two men was Andrew (John 1:40), who, after spending the day with Jesus, found his brother Simon Peter and brought him to meet the man he was convinced was the Messiah. Moreover, from that point on, more and more of John’s disciples would turn toward Jesus, even as He gathered others to Himself (John 1:43-46).
Although Jesus had been identified, John’s work was not over; he continued to point those seeking the truth toward Jesus, preparing many others to make the eventual transition from the old covenant to the new, to turn away from the Law to find grace, and to turn from him to follow Jesus. It was during this period, even before Jesus called any disciple to follow Him (Mark 1:14-20, 2:13) or chose the twelve (Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16), that Jesus began His ministry, taking what disciples He had into the Judean countryside.