Now a bugle call has two different meanings for two different classes of people. To the civilian it is simply an intimation that some movement of troops is afoot; to the soldier it is a signal for definite action. It brings the housewife to her door in dust-cap and apron to see what is going on.

But to the soldier it comes as a command to perform some particular duty.

To Jesus, John Baptist's bugle calls woe as to a soldier. He did not go down to the Jordan to gratify a curiosity; he went in² response to a signal for action. I do not mean that he went in obedience to the signal. The bugler is not a commander. Rather He went with the step of a Field Marshall to take over His command.

For whatever His Baptism may have brought in the way of extension of His vision or of intensification of His sense of mission, it is certain that He approved it with the clear-eyed purpose of one who knows exactly what he is doing and why he is doing it. This is evident from the words with which He meets the protest of the Baptist's humility, when John hesitated, saying, "I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?"

He does not meet this as a new point of view worthy of consideration. He does not even argue the matter with John. The New Commander simply puts the objection courteously aside, as one whose plan of action is not open to debate, and says, "Let it be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness."

The ceremony was performed forthwith. And as the dripping form of Jesus rose above the waters of the Jordan and He lifted His heart in prayer, He saw the heavens rent asunder and the Holy Spirit descending as a dove and coming upon him, while a voice came out of the heavens, "Thou art My Son, the Beloved. In thee is My delight" (Mark 1, Moffatt's translation).

In this sentence, short and simple though it is, Jesus is invested with an office of surpassing magnitude. These words do not merely express a sentiment; they convey a title -- a double title, more ancient and exalted than that of any King-Emperor that men have ever crowned.

The words "Thou art my Son" are taken from the first of the Messianic Psalms(Psalm 2:7).

yet I have set my King
Upon my holy hill of Zion.
I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said unto me, 'Thou art son; This day have I begotten thee.
Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance,
And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.'

When the words "Thou art my son" are uttered over Him, the foster son of Joseph is crowned as the Divine Son of David, the Messiah-King of Israel.

The declaration, "In thee is My delight," is from the opening sentence of a still more remarkable passage in prophecy (Isaiah 42- Sir George Adam Smith's translation) -- that which in Isaiah describes the Suffering Servant of Jehovah. And as these words unseal that mystic scroll, the highlights of it flash across his soul.

Behold My Servant, whom I uphold;
My Chosen, in whom my soul delighteth.
I have put My Spirit upon him;
He shall bring forth justice to the nations.
..................................................................
A bruised reed shall he not break,
The failing wick shall he not quench;
He shall bring forth justice to the people.
He shall not fail, nor be broken,
Till he have set justice in the earth:
And the isles shall wait for his law.
...................................................................
I the Lord have called thee
...................................................................
To open the blind eyes,
To bring out the prisoners from the prison,
And them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
...................................................................
I will also give thee for

¹ The Table of contents of Calvin's book can be found with letter W-MCP2-3b.035.

For chapter 1, see Box 04-028.

For chapter 2, see Box 04-029.

For chapter 3, see Box 04-030.

For chapter 5, see Box 04-032.

For chapter 6, see Box 04-033.

² At the bottom of the first page was a "footnote" which did not appear to be directly linked to the text and which reads as follows:

Then Jesus came on the scene from Galilee, to get baptized by John at the Jordan. John tried to prevent Him; "I need to get baptized by you," he said, “and you come to me!" But Jesus answered him, "Come now, this is how we should fulfil all our duty to God." Then John gave in to Him.

Now when Jesus had been baptized the moment He rose out of the water the heavens opened and He saw the Spirit of coming down like a dove upon him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son the Beloved, in him is my delight.

Matthew 3:13