March 22, 2009
Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist is a well-known scene. But why was it necessary for Jesus, who was God in the flesh, to be baptized in the first place? And why did the Spirit of God then send Jesus into the wilderness for forty days to be tempted by Satan? Alistair Begg reminds us that Christ persistently identified with sinners, even enduring inconceivable temptations at the hand of Satan. Through it all, Christ satisfied His Father and ultimately procured forgiveness for lost men and women.
9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;4 with you I am well pleased.”
12The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.
Copyright © 2023, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service.