The baptism of Jesus

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
John the Baptist was baptizing in the river Jordan and telling people to repent from their sins and be baptized. Jesus also came from Galilee to be baptized.

When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he perceived that he was the Messiah and therefore, told him that he, Jesus is the one to baptize him, John and not the other way round. But Jesus said it had to be so in order to fulfill all righteousness.

John the Baptist obliged and baptized Jesus.

After the baptism, when Jesus was coming out of the water, the heavens opened and the spirit of God descended upon him in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.”

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BAPTISM STORY

1. The descent of the spirit of God on Jesus shows that Jesus is anointed as the son of God.

2. At the baptism, Jesus received his call to future work as the Messiah, so the baptism was to prepare Jesus for his ministry.

3. Jesus had to go through baptism in order to identify himself with sinners, whom he had come to save.

4. When the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus, it anointed him as the Messiah.

5. By submitting to baptism, Jesus gave approval to the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins as done by John the Baptist.

WHAT ARE THE MORAL LESSONS IN THE BAPTISM STORY?

1. There is a need to identify with people as a means of redeeming them.

2. By getting baptized, man dies and resurrects with Christ.

3. Christians go through a physical ritual cleansing as a prelude to spiritual purity.

4. Man needs a baptism in order to start a new life in Christ.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF BAPTISM

1. It was important because it marked the call of Jesus into public ministry as a messiah sent by God.

2. The purpose was also to portray Jesus as giving approval to the Jewish ritual of symbolic cleansing of sins.

3. It was important in order to free other people from their sins.

SAMPLE QUESTION(S)

1. a. Describe the baptism of Jesus as recorded by Matthew.

    b. Indicate three purposes of the baptism story.

2. a. How was Jesus baptized by John?

    b. In which three ways is baptism important?

3. a. Give a vivid account of the baptism of Jesus.

    b. What three moral lessons can be learned from the story?

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

Test One

1. Jesus came to be baptized by John in order to

A. show his faith in John’s power.

B. show that he was the son of God

C. please the Jews.

D. fulfill all righteousness.

2. The voice “Thou art my beloved son with whom I am well pleased” indicated that Jesus was

A. baptized by John the Baptist

B. called to be a messenger of God like one of the prophets

C. to be tempted by the devil

D. not a sinner

3.  The Holy Spirit that descended on Jesus during his baptism was to

A. reveal the nature of God’s power to mankind

B. reveal Jesus’ identity to the world

C. inspire and empower him for his ministry

D. show that he was the true son of God

4. John hesitated to baptized Jesus because

A. Jesus was a Galilean and not from Judea

B. Jesus was not a sinner

C. John considered himself inferior to Jesus

D. Jesus did not allow him to carry his sandals

5. The voice from heaven during the baptism of Jesus signifies God’s

A. confirmation of Jesus’ sonship

B. revelation of his righteousness

C. delight in the baptism

D. support for John’s ministry

6. “Let it be so now to fulfill all righteousness”. Jesus made this statement during

A. his first visit to the Temple

B. the healing of the paralytic

C. baptism in the Jordan

D. his first visit to the Synagogue

7. A significant difference between the Matthew and Mark accounts of the baptism of Jesus was that

A. Mark alone mentioned Galilee

B. Matthew alone said the voice came from heaven

C. in Mark, everybody saw the heaven open

D. Matthew alone said john felt inferior to baptize Jesus

8. During the baptism of Jesus, all the following took place except

A. the heavens opened

B. the spirit descended on him like a dove

C. his garments became intensely white

D. a voice coming from heaven

9. “Thou art my beloved son: with thee I am well pleased” (Mk. 1:11). This voice confirmed Jesus as

A. God’s anointed who will suffer

B. the Son of God who will do God’s will

C. a Messiah who will redeem Israel

D. God’s faithful servant

10. “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased”. These words were spoken during the

A. baptism of Jesus

B. crucifixion of Jesus

C. transfiguration of Jesus

D. temptation of Jesus

Answers to the objective questions above>> 

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