Question. Was it of necessity that Christ should be baptized?
Answer. No; for reasons taken from St. Bernard and St. Chrysostom.
Christ however consented to be baptized for three reasons,—
- To set an example to us.
- To conceal Himself from Satan, who beholding Him baptized might hesitate to regard Him as the Messiah.
- To show His perfect humility.
In the baptism of our Lord, there were three manifestations: the Son in His humanity, the Father by the voice, the Holy Ghost by the descent of the dove.
Then follows an exhortation to humility, and a warning to priests and people to practise godliness instead of contenting themselves with professing it. “The hand is bigger than the tongue,” hints Raulin.
The Son was manifest in His humanity. A question is asked: Did John Baptist recognize Christ?
Answer:—
- He recognized Him when He was unborn, “The babe leaped in my womb for joy;” but he did not distinctly know Him now, for—the reason given is perfectly monstrous—Aristotle says that the human frame changes every seven years.
- He knew that Christ was among the throng by a sort of inspiration, but he knew not which of his hearers was Christ.
- Knowledge is double; it arises out of
