You Need Jesus’ Baptism

From a conversation with Damien Callaghan

The gospel of Matthew tells us this about the day Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptizer:

Matthew 3

13. Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.

14. But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”

Later, during Jesus’ ministry, he revealed to the multitudes who had come to him that John the Baptizer was as great a man of God as any who had ever walked the earth:

Matthew 11

7. Jesus began to say to the multitudes about John, “What did you go out to the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken by the wind?

8. But what did you go out to see?  A man dressed in soft garments?  Behold, those who wear soft things are in the houses of kings!

9a. But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.”

10. For this is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you!’

11. Truly, I tell you, among those born of women, there has not arisen a greater man than John the Baptizer.

When we were reading the gospel of Matthew with some friends, Brother Damien made the observation that even though John the Baptizer was as great a man of God as had ever lived, he still felt keenly his need for the baptism Jesus would give.  And then he commented on how many people who claim to be right with God do not feel the need for Jesus’ baptism with the Spirit that John felt.

Dear friend, if John the Baptizer – as great a man of God as ever walked the earth – knew that he needed the baptism which Jesus gives, the baptism of the Spirit, then who is anyone among us to think that we do not?