‘And John bore witness saying, “I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of Heaven, and it abode on Him. And I did not know Him. But He Who sent me to baptise with water, He said to me, on whoever you shall see the Spirit descending and abiding on Him, the same is He who baptises with the Holy Spirit”.'
In accordance with the writer's principle to emphasise spiritual meaning rather than physical events he does not describe the baptism of Jesus. He rather depicts it through the mouth of John. ‘John bore witness'. This is the writer's constant emphasis. John is a witness and not the Person Himself. But as such his credentials are from God. He is a reliable witness sent by God.
‘He Who sent me to baptise (drench) with water.' We note here that John was actually commissioned to carry out the acted parable of drenching people as a symbol of drenching in the Holy Spirit, just as God had of old sent His prophets to act out symbols before the people.
‘The Spirit descending as a dove from Heaven.' This confirms the accounts in the other Gospels where the descent is ‘like a dove'. Some visible manifestation was observed when the Spirit came on Jesus which reminded people of a dove. The dove was a symbol of purity and gentleness. It was also a sign that the time of judgment had come to an end (Genesis 8:10-11).
‘It abode on Him'. This was no temporary blessing, it ‘remained' on Him. In contrast with those who were at times ‘filled (pimplemi) with the Holy Spirit' for specific but temporary purposes, He was ‘full (pleres) of the Holy Spirit' continually (Luke 4:1). The word ‘abide' is found constantly throughout the Gospel to indicate the relationship between Jesus and the Father, and the relationship His people can have with Him. It is a word expressing close relationship.
‘He Who drenches (baptises) with the Holy Spirit'. The coming of the Spirit promised in the prophets would take place through the authority and power of Jesus, through Whom all the promises would be fulfilled. He had the Holy Spirit within His gift (John 15:26; John 16:7), and through Him the Holy Spirit would drench (baptizo) His people. John's baptism was picturing this coming event and marking out those who were preparing themselves by repentance to receive it. They were being prepared for the coming of Jesus (see Luke 1:15-17).