The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-01

the minister shrank from performing a
task and desired to be clothed with great
er power.
PURPOSII.-Why did Jesus seek to he
baptized by John? Certainly II was not
for confession and pardon, for lie was
sinless. John Will 46). 1t has been urged
that He intended in this way to honor the
ordinance of baptism and set an example
to those who might become His disciples,
but that does not seem highly probable.
one reason is given in another place.
John !, 3S). 1t appears that the Holy
Spirit had informed John that Christ
would be made known in baptism. The
intention was to provide public mode
of announcement, an occasion when in the
presence of many the fact might be fully
established that the Messiah had come.
But there Is another reason which ought
to be Joined with this, one frequently
overlooked. All priests in the Jewish
church were inducted to office by bap-
tism. CIIX. xiv, 81. Hence it was proper,
inasmuch as Christ was to be a priest
(Beb. V, 60, that He should enter by the
one door, thus fulfilling that formal right
eousness (verse 49, as He Himself states.
required under the old ceremonial. Had
not his been done there would have been
in the Jewish mind q defect in the title
OF Jesus.
TESTIMONY.-The great purpose of the
baptism was attained. The nature and
character of Jesus were attested by strik-
ing phenomena as lie came up from tile
water oversees l6 and 10, The Holy Spirit
in the form of dove. the emblem of pur-
ity and gentleness, descended and lighted
on Him, visible to both Jesus and John
John |, 32) At the same time Il voice
from heaven declared: 'rhs is my be-
loved son, in whom l am well pleased" 4"
the form of the sentence indicating it's
source. The descending spirit was seen
but once i'm the life time of Jesus, because
it remained with him. But the voice ut
tering the same thing was heard several
times afterward. UukeiX, 35). Here were
the two Messanic predictions fulfilled, the
gift of the Spirit as an abiding presence
Usa. Il, y, and the acknowledged Son
ship, the deepest mystery of the Old res-
lament psalm H. 10, and the sublimest
truth Of the New Testament q Tim. iii,
10. After such heavenly testimony John
was able to stand as a herald to his gen.
era tion and fulfill his mission in declaring
that the Christ had actually come.
REFLECTIONS.--Tw prominent points
deserve final emphasis. Every man must
be measured by his relation to Christ.
While living he is classed as friend or
foe. Matt xii, 800. After death judS-
ment will be pronounced according as he
is recognized as known by Christ Matt.
vii. 23. Multitudes of men accounted
great, have lived struggled and died, to
be forgotten. But he who preached right
eousness and proclaimed Messiah was
greater than all who preceded him.
| Matt. Xi, IL. The life devoted to Christ
is one of immortal honor. 2 See here the
interdependcnCe of persons and events.
The Lord Jesus did not begin His career
! without reference to Others. He did not
undertake His mission INDEPENDENTS.
, but He identified Himself with the fore
most preacher and reformer of the age.
Thus introduced He afterward gained
disciples from among the disciples of
John. (John i. $3.50. This is not evolu-
tion but continuity. The kingdom of
heaven sweeps on through the centuries,
one worker beginning where another
ends. John iv, 3S).