“And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”— Matthew 3:16, 17.
HE who would be used of God in this scene is called to dedicate himself to the divine will, and must needs be tested in order that he may prove a fitting instrument for carrying out the divine purpose. In this, our Lord is our great exemplar. In His baptism He proclaimed His devotion to the Father and His readiness to fulfill all that righteousness of which man, as a whole, had fallen so far short, and in His victory over Satan, as indicated by His adamant refusal to consider even for a moment His unholy suggestions, He showed Himself to be the chosen One of God who had come to carry out all His will and to bring to fruition the plan of redemption. Audibly, the Father declared His delight in His Son. He who had in His baptism offered Himself to God as a sacrifice for sin was thus attested to be Himself the sinless One, for the sin offering must be most holy (Lev. 6:25).
“Salvation, strength, and wisdom to Him whose
works and ways
Are wonderful and glorious—eternal is His
praise:
The Lamb who died end liveth, alive for
evermore.
The Saviour who redeemed us forever we
adore.
―J. Heerman.