Have you ever wondered why Jesus was baptized?
And what does that mean about you and your baptism?
The Bible says, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by Him.
And John tried to prevent Him saying,
‘I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’
But Jesus answered and said to him,
'Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’
Then he allowed Him,” Matthew 3:13-15.
Have you thought much about the baptism of Jesus?
In some ways it is one of the most familiar events in the life of Jesus.
In other ways, it is an event that has been misunderstood and misapplied.
All Bible believers acknowledge Jesus was perfect; the sinless Lamb of God.
Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 7:26-28; 2 Corinthians 5:21 all indicate the perfection of Jesus.
Equally the Bible makes it clear that all need to be baptized to have sins forgiven:
Mark 1:4; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16.
Therefore, it is clear that Jesus did not need to be baptized to have His sins forgiven.
He had no sins to be washed away.
As a result of this truth, many have concluded that Jesus’ baptism was nothing more than
a formality or just an example to encourage those with sin to be baptized.
However, there are three reasons that Jesus had to be baptized;
that is, if He had decided not to be baptized, it would have become His first sin.
Jesus had to be baptized because it was commanded.
Some might argue that baptism was not a requirement of the Old Testament,
therefore, it was not necessary for Jesus to be baptized.
However, consider the following passages: First, God sent John to baptize.
When John began his ministry there were priests and Levites
from Jerusalem who came to question him.
Their initial question had to do with John himself.
They asked “Who are you?” John 1:19.
John said that he was not the Christ, not Elijah, or the Prophet.
This is a confusing question, that led them to ask,
“Then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John 1:25.
The fact that John was baptizing indicated he was claiming some level of authority or importance.
The next day, John bore witness to Jesus, and there confirmed that it was God who
“sent me to baptize,” John 1:33.
If John’s baptism was authorized directly by God, then God expected people to be baptized.
Second, the baptism of John was “from heaven,” Matthew 21:25-27.
The Pharisees were too afraid to honestly answer Jesus’ question regarding John’s baptism.
It is clear, though, that John’s baptism was from heaven.
What does that mean?
John’s baptism was authorized by God Himself and was an expectation of all the people.
Even Jesus would have needed to obey this baptism authorized by God.
Third, baptism was a part of God’s justice.
This means that if the people hoped to receive God’s forgiveness,
they would have been baptized by John--Luke 7:29. The same is true for Jesus.
Fourth, baptism was a part of God’s will.
Notice carefully the words of Luke 7:30: “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected
the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by [John].”
Can people reject the will of God and still be saved?
Of course not!
Therefore, Jesus Himself had to be baptized
or else He would have been disobedient to the will of God.
So what about today? We're baptized because it's commanded.
Peter, who was inspired of the Holy Spirit,
commanded those on the Day of Pentecost to be baptized--Acts 2:38.
This was how they were going to "be saved"--Acts 2:40.
Thankfully there were about 3000 people who obeyed and were baptized--Acts 2:41.
Paul was grateful for the Christians at Rome because they
“obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered,” Romans 6:17.
That “form of doctrine” included baptism, just a few verses earlier--Romans 6:3-4.
If the sinless Son of God had to be baptized in order to be obedient to God,
so also do we today.
Jesus had to be baptized-- the text says--to fulfill all righteousness.
Jesus came to John to be baptized.
John, however, knowing that Jesus was sinless, did not consider himself worthy to baptize Jesus.
The response of Jesus is significant.
He told John that He needed to be baptized “to fulfill all righteousness,” Matthew 3:15.
Since baptism was authorized by God, and God commanded John to baptize,
a refusal of baptism would have been an act of unrighteousness.
To fulfill all righteousness means to complete all that was required of a righteous man.
Thus, if Jesus had chosen not to be baptized,
this would have constituted His first sin-- His first act of unrighteousness.
Today, we are baptized because it is the only means by which we can be righteous before God.
Baptism is the point at which our sins are washed away
and we have a right relationship with God --Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16.
If we intend to wear the garments of righteousness,
we need to clothe ourselves with Christ.
This can only occur when we are baptized, according to Galatians 3:27.
In the Bible clothes are often used as a symbol of salvation or righteousness,
like in Isaiah 52:1 and Revelation 3:4, 5, 18.
Peter clearly declares that baptism, “now saves us,” 1 Peter 3:21.
And then, next, Jesus had to be baptized to receive the spirit of God.
The role of the Holy Spirit is significant in the New Testament.
Old Testament prophecies included the Holy Spirit coming upon the Messiah.
Isaiah 11:2 declares that, “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him.”
When John baptized Jesus, He saw the Spirit “coming upon Him,” Matthew 3:16.
He said the Spirit “remained on Him,” John 1:32-33.
Therefore, the fulfillment of the Isaiah passage took place when Jesus was baptized.
Peter declared that “God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit,” Acts 10:38.
This took place at His baptism.
If Jesus had not been baptized, He would not have received the Holy Spirit,
nor would He have been anointed as the Messiah, and would not have heard the words,
“This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased,” Matthew 3:17.
Today, our baptism is when we receive the Holy Spirit--Acts 2:38.
God only gives His Holy Spirit to those who obey Him,
and our baptism is an act of obedience--Acts 5:32.
Can one be saved without having the Holy Spirit-- that is, without being baptized?
Paul says it clearly: “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,
he does not belong to Him,” Romans 8:9.
The Holy Spirit is proof that we are sons of God (Galatians 4:4),
that we are a part of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13),
and loved by God (Romans 5:5).
By giving us the Holy Spirit at baptism,
God has “sealed us for the day of redemption,” Ephesians 4:30.
Paul says: “You were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee
of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession,
to the praise of His glory,” Ephesians 1:13-14.
As we conclude this study, the baptism of Jesus is a significant event for us today.
If we truly claim “Jesus as Lord” (Romans 10:9)
then we are going to follow His example (1 Peter 2:21; Matthew 16:24).
Part of His example was to submit to the will of God by being baptized.
As we follow Jesus, we will follow Him into the waters of baptism.
There we will unite ourselves with Him (Romans 6:3-4),
and there we clothe ourselves with Him (Galatians 3:27).
When Philip taught the eunuch about Jesus in Acts 8, the eunuch replied,
“See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” verse 36.
The eunuch clearly saw the connection with following Jesus and being baptized.
The question that Ananias asked Saul is a fitting question for us today:
“And now why are you waiting?
Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord,” Acts 22:16.