Jesus’s baptism by John in the River Jordan is a fundamental image invoked at virtually every Christian baptism today. But Jesus’s baptism by John could not have been without embarrassment for the first Christians. John, after all, was seen by many at that time as a rival to Jesus. There were those who believed that John was God’s last word of revelation to humanity and there are groups who hold such beliefs to this day. Thus, Jesus coming to John for baptism could have served to substantiate the claims of John’s followers.
02 March 2010
WCC Programmes