13. To become part of the “great crowd” of “men of goodwill,” what is required of each one?

¹³ Are you among that “great crowd” that John the apostle of Jesus has just described for us? Do you desire this favored standing as a true worshiper of God? Are you willing obediently to take the steps that are required for you to gain God’s favor and goodwill and thus place yourself in line for salvation and life at the hands of Jehovah? If so, then you will see the need to make your personal dedication to Jehovah and then obediently to submit to the Christian act of water baptism in public affirmation of that dedication.

Your desire to worship God exclusively and to be a recipient of his blessings is manifest when you make your dedication to God and affirm it publicly by your water baptism.

17. What lesson do we learn from Jesus’ example of baptism?

¹⁷ No greater example of this righteous pattern approved by God could there be than that of Jesus himself. When he was thirty years of age and the time came for him to begin his earthly ministry, the Bible records how he presented himself at the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist. By this humble and willing act, he presented himself to his Heavenly Father for the accomplishing of His will on earth. Immediately following Jesus’ immersion or baptism in the waters of the Jordan, God expressed his approval and delight of the willing obedience of his beloved Son, as Matthew wrote: “After being baptized Jesus immediately came up from the water; and, look! the heavens were opened up, and he saw descending like a dove God’s spirit coming upon him. Look! Also, there was a voice from the heavens that said: ‘This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.”’​—Matt. 3:13-17.

18. According to Jesus’ command at Matthew 28:19, 20, why must every believer submit to the Christian act of baptism?

¹⁸ True Christians are happy to follow this example which brought approval from God, for Jesus left us a ‘model for us to follow his steps closely.’ (1 Pet. 2:21) In the first century of Christianity, the Greek Scriptures provide a record of literally thousands who were baptized in symbol of their decision to become disciples of Christ and worship God in spirit and in truth. All this was in obedience to the last command given by Jesus to his faithful followers: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.” (Matt. 28:19, 20) That command has not been changed. If we truly desire to become God’s “men of goodwill” today, we must humbly and obediently submit to being baptized in recognition of our unreserved personal dedication to God, for this is pleasing to our Heavenly Father.

19. How has the “ministry of the reconciliation” resulted in blessing and benefit to many today?

¹⁹ This “ministry of the reconciliation” still continues unabated throughout the earth by the modern “ambassadors substituting for Christ.” In obedience to Jesus’ command, Jehovah’s Christian witnesses have faithfully and zealously been performing the work assigned to them, ‘making disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them.’ During 1971 alone, 149,808 baptized disciples were added to the growing “great crowd” of “men of goodwill.”