"13 Then JESUS came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
15 But JESUS answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to "FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS"." Then he consented.
16 And when JESUS was baptized, immediately HE went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to HIM, and HE saw the SPIRIT of GOD descending like a dove and coming to rest on HIM;
17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved SON, with whom I am well pleased."
The life of John the Baptist bore remarkable similarities to the life of JESUS. The birth's were both separately announced by the angel Gabriel. Both of their lives glorified GOD. John was born approximately six months prior to JESUS, and John predeceased JESUS by approximately six months when the daughter of Herodius requested his head on a platter after being told by Herod she could have anything she wanted. While the earthly lives of John and JESUS were remarkably similar, John "knew" that JESUS was GOD in flesh, and his mission was to bear witness of that!
How did the baptism of JESUS help "FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS" as JESUS spoke of in the above verses? The mission of JESUS was multi-faceted, as HE came to "seek and save the lost" (Luke 19:10), to serve, not to be served (Matthew 20:28), but MAINLY "I glorified YOU on earth, having accomplished the work that YOU gave ME to do" (John 17:4)!
Other than providing us an avenue for salvation, JESUS lived a PERFECT life, an example for ALL to follow. HIS baptism was part of that "example", as HE never sinned and had no need to display the "old man" dying and the "new man" being raised from his sin. GOD has a Plan for all of our lives, and HIS plan (righteousness) had to be fulfilled by a WORTHY Servant. The objective of JESUS was to "FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS" according to GOD's Plan.
John the Baptist and JESUS' lives were short in terms of the number of years they walked on earth. Physical lives that lasted less than 34 years are generally not thought to be that magnanimous. But GOD's Plan for both lives to "FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS" was perfected and GOD received glory! Let HIM be glorified in all that I do!
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