Tractates on the Gospel of John (continued)
112 ST. AUGUSTINE was to be baptized, had been sent for the very purpose of preparing the way for the Lord, that is, for Christ himself? And we have already explained this,^' but we recall it because it is necessary for the question at hand. If our Lord, Jesus Christ, had alone been baptized by the baptism of John — hold fast to what we say — the world would not have such power as to erase from your hearts what the Spirit of God has written there, and the thorns of anxieties would not have such power as to choke the seed which is sown in you.^^ For why are we compelled to repeat the same things except that we are not sure about the memory of your heart?
(2) Well, then, if the Lord alone had been baptized by the baptism of John, there would be those who would so regard it that they would consider the baptism of John to be greater than the baptism of Christ. For they would say, "So much greater is that baptism that Christ alone had deserved to be baptized with it." Thus, that an example of humility might be given to us by the Lord, for obtaining the saving power of baptism, Christ received what was not necessary for him but was necessary for our sakes. And again, so that this which Christ received from John might not be preferred to the baptism of Christ, others were also allowed to be baptized by John.
(3) But for those who were baptized by John, that baptism was not sufficient. For they were baptized with the baptism of Christ because the baptism of John was not the baptism of Christ. Those who receive the baptism of Christ do not seek the baptism of John ; those who received the baptism of John sought the baptism of Christ. Therefore the baptism of John was sufficient for Christ.
(4) How would it not suffice since it was not even necessary? For no baptism was necessary for him, but he received the baptism of a servant to encourage us to his baptism. And that the baptism of a servant might not be preferred to the baptism of the Lord, others were baptized by the baptism of their fellow servant. But they who were baptized by the baptism of
11. Cf. Tractate 4.14. 12. Cf. Lk 8.14.