The verses in Matthew 3:13-17 are powerhouses of doctrine. They
offer insight into the divinity and mission of Christ, the nature of the
Holy Ghost as well as of the Godhead itself. It seems unreal that four
short verses could offer so much information. That doesn’t make it less
true.
In the first two verses Christ approaches John to be baptized. John refuses claiming his need to be baptized of the Savior. John knew of Christ’s divinity and mission. He knew that he did not have the priesthood power that Christ had. John was known for his role in baptizing others. He had standing with the people to do this. Yet he stepped back, when approached by the Savior, and asked that he first be baptized of Him. This is a great testimony of Christ’s divinity.
Christ responds to John by saying that His baptism was needed to fulfill all righteousness. More insight is gained about this phrase and what it means by looking to the Book of Mormon. From 2 Nephi 30: 6-11 we see that there are three ways in which Christ fulfilled all righteousness through his baptism. First, He showed men that even He, who was perfect, would do all that His Father asked of him. God had commanded that all should be baptized to return to Him, so Christ obeyed. Second, He received the Holy Spirit, knowing that only through the promptings of the Holy Ghost could mortals make it back to His presence. Third, He acted in his role as the Light of the World by lighting the path by which men may find salvation. He showed men the exact steps that must be taken to achieve celestial glory.
From these verses, specifically from verse sixteen, we learn about the nature of the Holy Spirit. In verse sixteen it says that after Christ removed from the water then the Spirit descended on him. Christ showed us that individuals must be baptized before the Spirit can remain with them.
Finally we learn about the nature of the Godhead. Most Christian religions believe that the Godhead is the same being, the Trinity. These verses, and many others, show that this is simply not true. In these verses alone, each member of the Godhead appears individually, in a manner that would not be possible if they were all one being. First Christ enters the waters of baptism. Then, immediately following His baptism, God’s voice is heard praising His son and the Holy Ghost descends on Him. These were three simultaneously occurring roles requiring three separate beings.
All of the scriptures have some meaning for us. Sometimes you have to search for answers over many verses and sometimes you can find a wealth of information in a few short verses. In just four verses we learn about Christ mission and divinity as well as about the natures of the Holy Ghost and the Godhead. Sometimes there is more to a set of verses than we may think.
In the first two verses Christ approaches John to be baptized. John refuses claiming his need to be baptized of the Savior. John knew of Christ’s divinity and mission. He knew that he did not have the priesthood power that Christ had. John was known for his role in baptizing others. He had standing with the people to do this. Yet he stepped back, when approached by the Savior, and asked that he first be baptized of Him. This is a great testimony of Christ’s divinity.
Christ responds to John by saying that His baptism was needed to fulfill all righteousness. More insight is gained about this phrase and what it means by looking to the Book of Mormon. From 2 Nephi 30: 6-11 we see that there are three ways in which Christ fulfilled all righteousness through his baptism. First, He showed men that even He, who was perfect, would do all that His Father asked of him. God had commanded that all should be baptized to return to Him, so Christ obeyed. Second, He received the Holy Spirit, knowing that only through the promptings of the Holy Ghost could mortals make it back to His presence. Third, He acted in his role as the Light of the World by lighting the path by which men may find salvation. He showed men the exact steps that must be taken to achieve celestial glory.
From these verses, specifically from verse sixteen, we learn about the nature of the Holy Spirit. In verse sixteen it says that after Christ removed from the water then the Spirit descended on him. Christ showed us that individuals must be baptized before the Spirit can remain with them.
Finally we learn about the nature of the Godhead. Most Christian religions believe that the Godhead is the same being, the Trinity. These verses, and many others, show that this is simply not true. In these verses alone, each member of the Godhead appears individually, in a manner that would not be possible if they were all one being. First Christ enters the waters of baptism. Then, immediately following His baptism, God’s voice is heard praising His son and the Holy Ghost descends on Him. These were three simultaneously occurring roles requiring three separate beings.
All of the scriptures have some meaning for us. Sometimes you have to search for answers over many verses and sometimes you can find a wealth of information in a few short verses. In just four verses we learn about Christ mission and divinity as well as about the natures of the Holy Ghost and the Godhead. Sometimes there is more to a set of verses than we may think.
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