Before his crucifixion, Jesus had assured his disciples that they should
see the kingdom of God come with power. After his resurrection, in
visits manifestly preternatural, “he was seen of them forty days,
speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God; and being
assembled together with them, he commanded them that they should not
depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which
saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but
ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence.”—Acts i,
3, 4. He moreover told them, “Ye shall receive power, after that the
Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost
parts of the earth.”—Ib. 8. For ten days after his public ascension they
awaited the promised baptism. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully
come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there
came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all
the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven
tongues, like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them, and they were
all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues,
as the Spirit gave them utterance.”—Acts i, 1-4. They were inspired with
divine courage, zeal, and power, and in presence of those who had cried,
“Away with him!” and of the rulers, who had condemned him to the cross,
proclaimed the kingdom and glory of the man of Nazareth. And, on that
day, three thousand, a few days afterward, five thousand, and daily
multitudes of believers added to the church, were the trophies of the
power of Christ’s baptizing scepter,—the firstfruits and pledge of the
baptism of his Spirit which still continues to pour from on high its
floods of salvation upon the world.
Such was our Savior’s entrance on his office, as the royal
Baptizer,—such the first administration of his baptism of grace. There
are four things concerning it which demand attention. These are,—the
manner in which the baptism was dispensed,—the new spirit then given to
the church,—the accompanying signs,—and, the baptism of repentance,
which then and thenceforth accompanied the preaching of the gospel.