The Perfect Man

However, before listening to the voice from heaven, let us turn for a moment to the gospel by Matthew. He tells us that John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “I have need to be baptized of Thee, and earnest Thou to me?” But it was not need in the sense of want that drew the holy and the blessed Jesus to the waters of Jordan. Need, indeed, drew thither sinful men, but He came there to “fulfill all righteousness,” to do His Father’s pleasure, in the path of perfect obedience, Jesus took His place with the people, who confessed their sins, who owned their need, who by their submission to John’s baptism expressed their sense of unfitness for the kingdom and the King, whose coming he proclaimed. He did so in grace and condescension. He associated Himself with the poor in spirit. And as He did so He was praying. He, the eternal One, being a Man upon earth, and coming forward at the appointed time in public service for God, commenced this His path by prayer. Prayer marked each step of that path. The perfection of the creature is dependence. He who is Head overall, took the servant’s place, and in His perfection as a man was “praying.”
Then it was, at this moment of the Lord’s unutterable condescension, that took place what had never before been