ness of Christ is His being fatherless, then Adam is greater than
Christ, for He had neither father nor mother. It is said in the Old
Testament, "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living
soul."(83) Observe that it is said that Adam came into existence from the
Spirit of life. Moreover, the expression which John uses in regard to the
disciples proves that they also are from the Heavenly Father. Hence it is
evident that the holy reality, meaning the real existence of every great
man, comes from God and owes its being to the breath of the Holy Spirit.

The purport is that, if to be without a father is the greatest human
glory, then Adam is greater than all, for He had neither father nor
mother. Is it better for a man to be created from a living substance or
from earth? Certainly it is better if he be created from a living
substance. But Christ was born and came into existence from the Holy
Spirit.

To conclude: the splendor and honor of the holy souls and the Divine
Manifestations come from Their heavenly perfections, bounties and glory,
and from nothing else.

19: THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST

Question.--It is said in the Gospel of St. Matthew, chapter 3, verses 13,
14, 15: "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be
baptized of him. But John forbade Him, saying, I have need to be baptized
of Thee, and comest Thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer
it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then
he suffered Him."

What is the wisdom of this: since Christ possessed all essential
perfection, why did He need baptism?

Answer.--The principle of baptism is purification by repentance. John
admonished and exhorted the people, and caused them to repent; then he
baptized them. Therefore, it is apparent that this baptism is a symbol of
repentance from all sin: its meaning is expressed in these words: "O God!
as my body has become purified and cleansed from physical impurities, in
the same way purify and sanctify my spirit from the impurities of the
world of nature, which are not worthy of the Threshold of Thy Unity!"
Repentance is the return from disobedience to obedience. Man, after
remoteness and deprivation from God, repents and undergoes purification:
and this is a symbol signifying "O God! make my heart good and pure, freed
and sanctified from all save Thy love."

As Christ d