The Character Analysis of Jesus in the Matthean Baptism

Abstract

The present paper aims to analyze Matthew's main character Jesus in the baptism narrative by comparing the Gospel of Mark (Mk 1:9-13//Mt 3:13-17). This character may well differ from that of the "Jesus of history" who actually lived in first quarter of the first century CE, and who is not our direct concern here. Based on the well consent two source theory, which explains the closely related literary among the Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew and Luke), we shall try to illustrate that this character Jesus does have his own humanity, including thoughts, experience and character traits. 1 By contrast, this humanity of Jesus is more hidden in Mark.