“But John tried to stop Him and said, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’”
In these words the humility and spiritual awareness of John the Baptist are expressed. He recognized the holiness of Jesus and understood that he himself had far more need of Jesus’ baptism than Jesus had of his. John sensed that he was standing not before an ordinary man, but before the promised Messiah. His response bears witness to deep faith and reverence. He understood the limit of his mission: to be not the Savior, but the one who prepares for His coming. This episode highlights the difference between Jesus and John: John baptized for repentance, but Jesus was to baptize with the Holy Spirit for new life.