The Baptism of Christ: its Significance
Mark 1:9-10
And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.…


Jesus was baptized by His forerunner, who was both the representative of the old economy and the preacher of repentance for the new.

I. In the former relation the Baptist performed on the person of the Christian High Priest the washing which preceded His anointing with the Holy Spirit. The typical high priests were washed before their anointing.

II. In the latter relation the preacher of repentance administered the pledge of penitent washing for the Messiah to One who was also the representative of sinful man. Two ends were thus accomplished.

1. Christ was baptized as the Head and Surety of the human race; assuming in its symbol the transgression of mankind.

2. He was designated as the Messiah, in whom were combined all the offices to which His types were of old anointed. In the former sense, His baptism represented a sin assumed but not shared; He was "numbered with the transgressors," and "came by water" before He came by "blood." In the latter it represented the perfect purity which His preeminent ministry required; the water represented not the cleansing, but the absense of the need of purification.

(W. B. Pope, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

WEB: It happened in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.




The Baptism of Christ
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