In Matthew’s telling of Jesus’ baptism something amazing happened when Jesus was submerged into the water. Scripture tells that He “came up immediately from the water” as if what they saw was miraculous. It should have taken the normal time to come up after being dunked with the baptizer helping, but in Jesus’ case something supernatural raised Him up, making people take note of it and make record of it. It wasn’t normal. In fact, the heavens opened at the same time, the Spirit of God descended in the form of a dove and the voice of the Father spoke. Have you ever been curious as to what raised Jesus up out of the water so quickly that people wanted to record it? Scripture tells us. Here’s the story as recorded in Matthew 3:13-17…
Matthew 3:13-14 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”
Matthew 3:15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
Matthew 3:16-17 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
The baptism was more than symbolic of His death because everything Jesus did was prophetic. In fact, the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit the Prophecy.
Revelation 19:10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
His baptism was not only a “fulfillment of all righteousness” but it set the prophetic timer on His own death and resurrection. His own words were to later set the alarm clock to be raised from the dead 3 days after He was crucified when He declared…
John 2:19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
But, at His baptism in the Jordan River, 3 years prior to His death, the One’s who were present at His baptism were the same One’s present at Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Scripture tells us who and what that was…
- The glory of the Father raised Jesus from the dead. “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)
- The Spirit of God raised Jesus from the dead. “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11)
- The Power of God raised Jesus from the dead. “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 1:19-20)
- Jesus’ own prophetic words raised Jesus from the dead. “Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19) and “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (John 10:17-18)
So that which raised Christ from the dead is that which raised Him up out of the water: The glory of the Father, the Spirit of God, the Power of God, and Jesus’ own prophetic words. In the case of His baptism, those words were most likely “Let it be so for now, for it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
But don’t miss the fact that the baptism and death and resurrection were all initiated by the Father of glory. Through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, we as Sons of the Kingdom are restored to our Father and restored to His glory.
I just think it’s so interesting how all of the Trinity was present and participated at both events, and that the Father bestowed all glory and honor upon His Son. It’s also extremely important to understand and know that Jesus gave us the same glory the Father gave Him before the world was so that we could all become one as the Bride of Christ (John 17:5,22,23) following in His pattern. Just wow! Consider the implications of all that…
God is a Genius isn’t He?! Have a blessed day saints! ❤
