Still studying Jesus the Christ Chapter 10: Luke 3:10; Acts 2:37; Luke 3:10-15; Mark 1:1; John 10:41; John 1:35-37; Matt. 11:2; Luke 7:18; Luke 3:17; Matthew 3:12; Malachi 3:2 (Messiah again); Matthew 11:11-14; Matthew 17:12; Luke 7:24-30; Luke 3:23; Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22.
Baptism is a symbol of a new life as well as a sign of obedience. If it was necessary for Jesus to be baptized to show obedience, isn't it of equal or even greater need for the rest of us?
"The incidents attending the emergence of Jesus from the baptismal grave demonstrate the distinct individuality of the three Personages of the Godhead. On that solemn occasion Jesus the Son was present in the flesh; the presence of the Holy Ghost was manifest through the accompanying sign of the dove, and the voice of the Eternal Father was heard from heaven. Had we no other evidence of the separate personality of each member of the Holy Trinity, this instance should be conclusive; but other scriptures confirm the great truth," Talmage, Jesus the Christ, Chapter 10. This point is where many other Christian denominations have trouble. The fact that God, the Father, the son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are separate beings one in purpose is overshadowed by the Nicene Counsel's conclusions. Even though there were many biblical scholars who dissented from the Nicene decisions, this group of men decided they were wiser and smarter than the apostles taught by Jesus in the flesh. I'll go with scripture and be very careful not to spout my own philosophy mingled with scripture.
It is surprising that the long awaited Messiah wasn't recognized as such by most. Is it that they didn't really understand who and what they were looking for? Were they so fixated on a political savior that they didn't understand the greater need of a spiritual savior? What then in my life am I missing because I'm looking for the wrong thing? With all my studying and all my church going and all my pondering, am I missing the point? Jesus told us the point is to become like Him and to love our neighbor. Are all the other things that seem important, distractions or stepping stones?
