<p>1:9 <em>And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee</em>- The idea is that the Lord Jesus came forth from the obscure, despised north of Israel and began His public ministry at His baptism. John&rsquo;s Gospel puts this in more abstract, spiritual terms in saying that Jesus came down or came forth from God. This language, therefore, does not speak of any literal descent from Heaven to earth of a pre-existent being.</p><p><em>And was baptized by John in the river Jordan</em>- The Greek <em>hupo</em> (&quot;by&quot;) speaks of being beneath another. He was baptized under John&rsquo;s ministry and authority. Here we see the Lord&rsquo;s humility in submission, and we can better understand John&rsquo;s reticence at baptizing Him. We would rather expect to read of the Lord&rsquo;s baptism <em>by </em>John, but <em>hupo</em> doesn&rsquo;t mean simply &lsquo;by&rsquo;. The validity of baptism doesn&rsquo;t of itself depend upon the baptizer, but we do also have a sense in the New Testament that the baptizer often had some sense of responsibility for their converts.</p>