1. To fulfill all righteousness (13-15)

Jesus came to be baptized by John. From a human point of view, Jesus should have baptized John. But Jesus had a sense of history. He did not come to 'do his own thing.' He came to fulfill God's promises and accomplish God's redemptive work. John was his forerunner in God's history, so he asked John to baptize him. The gospel is God's gospel; Jesus was God's Servant.

2. With him I am well pleased (16-17)

Jesus was the Son of God. He had come to do his Father's will. God loved his Son. He also loved helpless, sinful mankind, so he sent his Son to die for the sins of the world. At his baptism, he accepted his Messianic mission and God was pleased. God poured out his Spirit on Jesus. The Spirit of God empowers God's servants to do God's work. God is pleased when his children take up the mission he gives them to do.

Application: Lord, help me to find my small place in your history and obey your will for my life by doing the work you give me.
One Word: To please our Father