What happened when Jesus was baptized?

chapdaddy · Nov 6, 2013

I know scripture says that He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness and that at the time of His baptism He was revealed as the Son.

Could it be said that we, in our baptism, are revealed or are taking part in that revelation of Sonship? Maybe that's taking it too far but it was something I thought of when trying to explain Christ's baptism to someone.

I had sent him a link about what happens in our baptism...
fatherjohn.blogspot.com/2013/11/stump-priest-what-does-baptism-do.html]Fr. John Whiteford's News, Comments, & Reflections: Stump the Priest: What does Baptism do?

and his retort was "So Jesus was baptized so he would be saved?"

ArmyMatt · Nov 6, 2013

well, His baptism revealed the Trinity and also sanctified the waters for our baptisms. Christ did it for our salvation.

choirfiend · Nov 6, 2013

We do partake in Sonship--by adoption--by being baptised into Christ. We become heirs of the Kingdom, Sons of God. Maybe not an unreasonable idea.

Shane R · Nov 7, 2013

Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) has reflected at length on the baptism of Christ in a very enlightening manner. I would suggest you pick up some of his literature.

The baptism of Christ is one of the deepest moments in the gospel. There Christ is shown to be both fully human and divine, the perfect sacrifice, and he is united with humanity in his work. His baptism is also a validation of the ministry of John. The occasion is also a theophany.

RosaryChaplet9 · Nov 7, 2013

Be thou, Father of mercy.

I think when Christ was baptized in the river Jordan, the sky opened up and the Holy Spirit descended as a dove and said "This is my dear son, with whom I am well pleased."

Bob Carabbio · Nov 7, 2013

Jesus' Baptism (Like ALL of John's Baptisms) was a "Baptism of repentance". Jesus, of course, had no SIN, but repentance isn't necessarily about that - it's a Change of DIRECTION. It means to STOP moving as you have been moving, turn around, and go a different way.

The "Different way", of course was his earthly Ministry after that the Holy Spirit came upon Him - and STAYED. He STOPPED being the "carpenter's kid", and head of Mary's household in Joseph's absence, and stepped out into his intended ministry as Messiah.

Simple as that.

IN THE SAME WAY, when we repent and become saved, we "Die to ourselves", but are raised in newness of LIFE in Jesus - and Baptism is symbolic of the death of our OLD man, and our spiritual resurrection.

ArmyMatt · Nov 8, 2013

Bob Carabbio said:
Jesus' Baptism (Like ALL of John's Baptisms) was a "Baptism of repentance". Jesus, of course, had no SIN, but repentance isn't necessarily about that - it's a Change of DIRECTION. It means to STOP moving as you have been moving, turn around, and go a different way.

The "Different way", of course was his earthly Ministry after that the Holy Spirit came upon Him - and STAYED. He STOPPED being the "carpenter's kid", and head of Mary's household in Joseph's absence, and stepped out into his intended ministry as Messiah.

Simple as that.

IN THE SAME WAY, when we repent and become saved, we "Die to ourselves", but are raised in newness of LIFE in Jesus - and Baptism is symbolic of the death of our OLD man, and our spiritual resurrection.

Bob, this is not the Orthodox teaching concerning Christ's baptism.

Cappadocious · Nov 8, 2013

The phrase "thou art my Son" is indicative of coronation, authority and power. So Christ's baptism does signify the beginning of his Messianic ministry.

But it is not the teaching that Christ gained the Holy Spirit from without as a *mere* human would, but rather, that Christ has the Spirit from the Father through the Son (himself). Did something really happen at his baptism? Yes. Did it happen by the operation of the Holy Spirit? Yes. Was Christ "made" or did he "receive" the Logos, or the 'Hypostasis of the Messiah' at his baptism? No. Remember, he is the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world.

What follows is theological speculation:

Now people will ask, "Did Christ receive the Holy Spirit in any sense at all at his baptism"? And I think you run into serious problems if you just flat out say "in no sense". Certainly whatever happened at his baptism involving the Holy Spirit must have involved the Holy Spirit as His Own Spirit whom he receives from eternity. Perhaps what an Orthodox could say is: "The Holy Spirit began shining forth in a particular economic manner through Christ, whom he has operated through from eternity; a manner which was toward the immediate goal of the Messianic Ministry. Just as the Divine Energies have shone forth in 'sundry times and diverse manners', yet are not called divided from God."

ArmyMatt · Nov 8, 2013

The phrase "thou art my Son" is indicative of coronation, authority and power. So Christ's baptism does signify the beginning of his Messianic ministry.

well, I dunno. His Messianic ministry began before then (He taught in the Temple to do His Father's work as early as 12). so, that was not a coronation, since Christ has always been a King. you only have a coronation when one becomes a King. it was the beginning of His public ministry, but NOT His ministry as the Messiah.

Cappadocious · Nov 9, 2013

ArmyMatt said:
NOT His ministry as the Messiah.

Well, he doesn't *become* the Messiah there. But I do think you can say it is the beginning of the Messianic Ministry. That's how Mark is laid out, for example, and it's what St. Peter starts with in Acts 10:28. So that's the message early Christians were getting, and the Lukan tradition (from which we get Acts) doesn't see a compatibility problem with the longer infancy narrative in Luke.

ArmyMatt · Nov 9, 2013

Cappadocious said:
Well, he doesn't *become* the Messiah there. But I do think you can say it is the beginning of the Messianic Ministry. That's how Mark is laid out, for example, and it's what St. Peter starts with in Acts 10:28. So that's the message early Christians were getting, and the Lukan tradition (from which we get Acts) doesn't see a compatibility problem with the longer infancy narrative in Luke.

no, the Messianic Ministry began earlier than His baptism, since He taught in the Temple at age 12. the public aspect was began, as in He ain't a carpenter like He was, but His messianic ministry began at His birth. by His will the angels proclaimed Him, and the wise men brought their gifts for the Priest, King, and Offering of Israel.

Cappadocious · Nov 9, 2013

ArmyMatt said:
no, the Messianic Ministry began earlier than His baptism, since He taught in the Temple at age 12.

Equating salvific=messianic=incarnational seems like a hasty equivocation. Everything the incarnate Christ did had salvific quality, but I don't think you need to ascribe all that to the Messianic ministry as such.

There is a particular way that early Christians would have understood the words at Christ's baptism. There is a reason why St. Peter begins there, and why Mark's gospel begins there, and it doesn't just have to do with publicity.

ArmyMatt · Nov 9, 2013

anything Messianic has to do with the Messiah. Christ has always been the Messiah since He always, in eternity, had the Holy Spirit upon Him. the descent of the Holy Spirit in the Jordan did not show what was happening, it showed what was always there.

Cappadocious · Nov 9, 2013

ArmyMatt said:
the descent of the Holy Spirit in the Jordan did not show what was happening

Doesn't that sound a bit wrong?

What happened when Jesus was baptized?

Newbie

Regular Member

Senior Veteran

Priest

RosaryChaplet9

Guest

Old guy -

Regular Member

Well-Known Member

Regular Member

Well-Known Member

Regular Member

Well-Known Member

Regular Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads