Morning Star

THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST

We have seen how the ordinary human life developed itself in the person of Jesus, and herein seen, also, that he was capable of human sufferings and human temptations. We are now to see evident tokens of the Divine life in him.

As the true Christ was to come by "water, as well as "blood," he submitted to the ordinance of baptism, and while drenched in the waters of baptism, the Holy Ghost descended upon him, which fact, occurring in the spiritual world, was manifested to this world of bodies by a dove-like form of flame, like the ancient Shekina, descending and resting upon him.

This, and the accompanying voice, gained for him, as the Messiah, the unequivocal testimony of John, whom all counted a prophet. The Father and the Spirit bore their testimony to the Son. If we receive the testimony of men, that of God is greater. By two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

Hitherto this wonderful personage was Jesus but the Divine anointing at this time came upon him and he was inducted into office, as God's anointed, the Messiah, the Christ. In Moses and others was a portion of this anointing; this One receives its measureless power.

The Holy Spirit had hitherto found among mortals imperfect mediums, but now he has found for himself "a body," the medium of his perfect or complete unfolding. The eternal life, which was with the Father, was manifested, and as such, became the perfect medium of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the manifestation of God in a body to the world of bodies; the Holy Spirit is the corresponding manifestation of God in the world of spirits, and these two find complete union, the Divine--human life and Divine Spirit.

This Spirit which, brooding upon chaos, quickened all into life, formed for himself this virgin-born personage, this seed of the woman, as the medium of his manifestation, both in wisdom and power. On the other hand, the Spirit, with his infinite wisdom and power, was, and is, obedient to the will of the Son. Well was it, therefore, that the blessed Son was submerged in living waters, the scriptural symbol of life itself, to signify, that if any man believe in Christ, he may receive of him the waters springing up into everlasting life, may receive the spirit of him in whom he [the spirit] dwells without measure. The presence of the Spirit whose characteristic is holiness, who has at the same time infinite wisdom and power, is enough to ensure our eternal bliss. That Christ can baptize with the power of this spirit is signified by his baptism.—D. M. G.