IN MATTHEW’S ACCOUNT, JOHN THE BAPTIST’S IMMEDIATE REACTION WHEN JESUS CAME TO BE BAPTIZED WAS TO
- A. ask that Jesus should rather baptize him ✓
- B. ask why he should baptize a non-sinner
- C. wait for the promise of the manifestation of God’s glory
- D. baptize Him immediately
The answer to the question is: A. ask that Jesus should rather baptize him
In the Gospel of Matthew, the account of John the Baptist’s reaction when Jesus came to be baptized is described in Matthew 3:13-15. The passage reads, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John consented” (New International Version). This passage illustrates John’s initial reluctance to baptize Jesus and Jesus’ response affirming the necessity of the act.
The immediate reaction of John the Baptist when Jesus came to be baptized was not to baptize Him immediately, as might be expected. Instead, John expressed his unworthiness to baptize Jesus and suggested that Jesus should rather baptize him. This interaction highlights John’s recognition of Jesus’ superiority and his humility in acknowledging his own need for purification from sin.
The significance of this event has been a subject of theological discussion and interpretation within Christian scholarship. The encounter between John the Baptist and Jesus at the Jordan River is seen as a pivotal moment in the life of Jesus and is often interpreted as a demonstration of Jesus’ identification with humanity and his role as the fulfillment of righteousness.