Who Will Testify for Jesus?

Will you testify?

Have you ever had to testify in court?

In my former job as school counselor, I had to testify in court. Several times. I had to testify as to a reported crime a father called in from my office after a student and I told him. And the defense attorney ridiculously kept calling my student by the wrong name. In court.

So, since I didn’t know anyone by the name he used, I kept responding, “I don’t know who that is,” every time he asked me a question. You see, I couldn’t testify about (let’s say) Mary Poppins being a victim because I had no knowledge about Mary Poppins’ victim status.

He got very frustrated and, at one point, told me that I knew he meant my student and that I should just ignore him if he messed up going forward.

I looked at the judge. “I swore to tell the truth; and if he would ask me about my student, I will. But I will NOT testify about a name I do not recognize just because the defense isn’t prepared for trial. And I will not ignore his errors because that makes ME look ridiculous. I don’t want my testimony to be thrown out.”

The judge snickered and said I had a point. And, from that point on, I had a reputation in court for being fiercely protective of my students and difficult to rattle under pressure. So much so that when another defense attorney saw me waiting to testify, I overheard him use me as a reason to convince his clients to take a plea. “You don’t want to mess with that redheaded lady over there.”

A cousin will testify for Jesus

Today, we are looking at an event mentioned in all 4 Gospels: the baptism of Jesus. (While the baptism itself isn’t miraculous, there are miracles in the moment to be discussed.)

Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, was baptizing folks in the Jordan. His baptism was symbolic of a recognition of and a turning away from sin. Jewish tradition used washing in water as a similar cleansing.

Miracle #1:

Jesus had no sin to turn away from! S, why did He need to be baptized? Man, that’s a topic for debate among scholars. But the 2 best explanations I’ve read are these: (1) He was repenting vicariously for the sins of all people; (2) He was setting an example for us.

It demonstrates that He identified with us and our earthly struggles, and He identified with John and the message of the coming Messiah. It was also to signal the beginning of His earthly ministry – His big Kick Off, if you will.

The entire baptism itself is a picture of His death, His burial, and His resurrection. Culturally, any time you were “unclean,” you had to be cleansed of your sin. Many 1st century churches had ceremonial baths for total immersion for just this purpose. And John, having no church, used the Jordan to wash believers clean. The process just carried more weight for Jesus.

John 1:29-34 tells us that John the Baptist didn’t “know Him” until the Holy Spirit’s signal. What could that mean? They were cousins. Born just months apart. They grew up together, so it’s not that Jesus was a stranger to him.

Instead, John had been preparing the way for the Messiah to come. And God had told him to watch for the One He points out: “The man who you see the Spirit come down and remain is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.”

And John later says, “I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” All this confidence because he saw the Holy Spirit come down and remain on Jesus – like a dove.

That’s Miracle #2, which goes along with Miracle #3, “The Heavens opened”:

Of course John was familiar with the Holy Spirit. God sent Holy Spirit to John BEFORE HE WAS BORN. (Read more about that here.)

Holy Spirit came to testify

”Heaven opened,” (Matt 3:16-17); “Heaven being torn open,” (Mark 1:9-12). And “Heaven was opened,” (Luke 3:21). “I saw the Spirit come down from Heaven as a dove,” (John 1:9-12)

You may approach this section of the baptism story with questions, I know I do.

Was it an actual dove? — I don’t know. John’s Gospel is the only one of the four that doesn’t mention a dove.
Did everyone see it? Or…
Was it just John and Jesus who saw? — I don’t know.
Does this mean Holy Spirit wasn’t with Jesus prior to this? — I really doubt that’s the case.

This, however, I know for certain: if all 4 Gospels are using basically the same words, then it’s a big deal and for real. Heaven opened and Holy Spirit descended on Jesus right after He was baptized. Like a dove? In the 1st century and today, a dove is a symbol of peace and purity. It was the dove that found proof for Noah that the flood was over and God was again at peace with man. It’s also a sign of God’s satisfaction. And it implies that an extra dose of supernatural power and wisdom is needed for what is to come.

Was this the first time the Spirit of God was with Jesus in His earthly body? Like I said, I seriously doubt that’s the case. Jesus was – and IS God. He did not sin. That should be evidence of Holy Spirit working in Him from the start. But the Holy Spirit of God came to testify by His presence alone. He came and remained on Jesus. Then… a voice FROM HEAVEN SPOKE.

Miracle #4:

”This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well-pleased.” (Matt. 3:17) As I compared the Gospels for God’s testimony here, I notice something for the 1st time.

Matthew wrot to the Jews. That’s why he starts with Christ’s genealogy – proving Jesus is from the house of David. In his retelling, God is saying to any Jew who would hear, “THIS MAN BEFORE YOU is My Son, whom I love.”

But when you look at those exact words, you find God is quoting Scripture! “You are My Son” is from Psalm 2:7, and the Jews would have recognized it.

But that’s not all. Check out Isaiah 42:7, “Here is My servant whom I uphold, My Chosen One in Whom I delight; I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.”

I noticed because in both Mark (who wrote to the Romans) and Luke (who wrote to the Greeks) God spoke NOT to those who hear BUT to Jesus Himself. “YOU are My Son, whom I love; with YOU I am well-pleased.” These authors are emphasizing the Father/Son relationship – not just quoting Jewish scripture that their audience wouldn’t know.

The baptism

This was no ordinary ‘step in the river and be washed of Your non-existent sins’ moment. This was a Trinity event. You see, I’ve been trying to make note of times/events in Scripture where it is evident or explicitly stated that ALL 3 parts of the Trinity are present. And this is one.

This is God’s divine proclamation of Jesus as King. It is God’s seal of approval. Some rejected Mary’s Son, but God’s Son is His delight. And Jesus can look back on this moment as He faces even more rejection to come.

This baptism marks the end of Jesus’ preparation for ministry. He’s all grown up and ready to set about on the mission His entire life is all about.

It’s Go Time!

What this means for me:

Jesus was obedient and diligent to fulfill all the prophecies about Him. When John hesitated to baptize Him, Jesus said, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”
Jesus waited for God’s timing to begin His public ministry. Imagine the shock on the religious scholars when the 12 year old Jesus spoke in the Temple. Could God have started using that BOY to heal, preach, and cast out demons? Sure, BUT God waited. I often wondered about those years when He was in “a holding pattern.” I would have been antsy and eager. Like I was when I was standing outside the church sanctuary, waiting for Dad to walk me down the aisle. But Christ’s work was so ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL, surely He was working, doing good, but waiting for all the pieces to be in place.
{sigh}I should wait, too. I recently remembered that Moses waited until he was 80 to begin HIS life work and make an impact. So, I can wait, too.