This week on Things Unseen, we're thinking about some of the big moments in the life of our Lord Jesus.

We've thought about some of them earlier on in the year.

For example, when we were talking about baptism, I think I mentioned

the importance of Jesus' own baptism. And today I want to think a bit more about his actual

experience on that day. It was a very big moment. In fact, it was so important to him that when

he looked forward to his passion, he described it as a baptism. I have a baptism to

be baptized with, he said, and I feel hemmed in until it happens. John the Baptist said something

intriguing, even enigmatic about his ministry of baptizing. He said the reason for it was so that the Messiah would be revealed, as indeed he was when

the Spirit came on the Lord Jesus in the form of a dove and he was identified as the

servant king by the voice of God.

And so when Jesus appeared in the crowds waiting to be baptized, there was something about

him that gripped John.

We know he didn't want to baptize him.

He said it should be the other way round.

He wasn't worthy to untie Jesus' sandal.

But after the event, John the Baptist began to see what had happened.

The dove and the voice had identified Jesus as the Lamb of God.

Yes, he was spotless.

He didn't need to be baptized.

But he was the spotless Lamb of God who had come to take away

the sin of the world. And so it was, as Jesus had said to him, fitting that they should fulfill

all righteousness. It was fitting with respect to God's purpose that the sinless one should become the sin-bearer,

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