John the Baptist begins preaching in the area of Jerusalem, talking about the coming Messiah.
John 1: 29-31, The Lamb of God
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’
31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
John introduces his disciples to the sacrificial lamb, the one who will replace the old ritual of sacrifice once a year in the Holy of Holies. He identifies Jesus as the "Lamb of God", a sacrificial symbol, somewhat unusual in Messianic imagery. But he also identifies Jesus as one much greater, who "was before me." He, Jesus, is the one of whom John has repeatedly prophesied.
John admits not knowing the Messiah personally but knowing that he (John) was to begin his ministry so that the Messiah would be revealed.
John 1: 32-34, The baptism of Jesus
Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.
33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
Jesus probably appeared to be a rather ordinary man, but the Spirit told John otherwise, in some way. Matthew's gospel, Matt 3: 16-17, also reports a dove coming down at the baptism of Jesus.
Jesus will also baptize people, but his baptism will be different.
Some manuscripts (says the NIV footnotes) say "Son of God" instead of "God's Chosen One." Presumably there is little difference between these phrases. The NIV footnotes also suggest that this "chosen one" reference alludes to the chosen servant of Isaiah 42:1.
Why does Jesus choose to be baptized by John? Is it a statement in support of John's emphasis on renewal?
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