There are several reasons why it was fitting for John to baptize Jesus as HE began HIS ministry to embark on His great work. First off, it was appropriate that Jesus set the example to us all in by submitting to the will of HIS FATHER. HIS forerunner, John was the “voice crying in the wilderness” whom Isaiah prophesied, would call people to repentance in preparation for their Messiah (Isaiah 40:3). By baptizing Him, John was declaring to all that Jesus was the One they had been waiting for, the Son of God, the One he had predicted would baptize “with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11).
Jesus’ baptism by John takes on an added dimension when we consider that John was of the tribe of Levi and a direct descendant of Aaron. In reality, John was one of the most qualified me ever to not only minister to God, but to also mediate things of men before God. Just compare John the Baptist’s credentials to the credentials of the imposters who were High Priests of those days. I wrote about it in my post, “John The Baptist, The Last Aaronic High Priest”.
In Luke’s Gospel. he specifies that both of John’s parents were of the Aaronic priestly line (Luke 1:5). One of the duties of the priests in the Old Testament was to present the sacrifices before the Lord. John the Baptist’s baptism of Jesus could be seen as a priestly presentation of the Ultimate Sacrifice. There are more significances that yoiu can read in my commentary on the subject. Today, we look into the time John introduced Jesus by saying, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
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. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:13-17
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
(3:13) Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him….
From Galilee to the Jordan River
Jesus had been living in Nazareth, a city of Galilee Matthew 2:23
John baptized there because there was much water John 3:23
While preaching for people to repent and be baptized, Jesus shows up. All of a sudden John is overwhelmed by his own sinfulness, thus he feels unworthy.
(3:14) And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”…
John tried to prevent Jesus from being baptized
He explains why: “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to Me?”
There is a sense of shock in John’s words
While John did not fully comprehend who Jesus was until later John 1:29-33, he evidently knew enough that he was perplexed
(3:15) 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...
Reasons to consider when asking why Jesus allowed John to baptize Him
His baptism was an affirmation of John’s ministry. Jesus is saying “I approve of your ministry John, and your message of repentance is a valid one, and veryone who believes in me do as I do.
It Identified Him with us, “He made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us”. 2 Corinthians 5:21
A declaration to His Father prophetically; Jesus is telling His Father, “I submit to Your plan for me, one of death, burial, and resurrection. This time in water, next time on the cross” In 156 AD, Justyn Martyr wrote the following about this passage
“Christ was circumcised, and observed all the other ordinances of the law of Moses, not with a view to his own justification; but to fulfill the dispensation committed to him by the Lord, the God and Creator of all things.”
His Baptism is an illustration of the Trinity. More on the trinity a bit later
Jesus was willing to set an example by doing the Father’s will, something He delighted to do Psalm 40:7-8 and John 4:34 and John 8:29 3.
It was God’s counsel that people be baptized of John Luke 7:29-30
Ours is a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins Mark 1:4
Jesus was without sin, but He did so as an example for us
We are confessing our sins Mark 1:5 and Matthew 3:6
It is a example of the death and Resurrection
The old self dies to the World, and is reborn in Christ Jesus
Like when Jesus died , and rose again to conquer death
(13:16) When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
The dove is a symbol of the purity and innocence of Jesus
It bears testimony as to who Jesus is
It symbolizes that the power of God was on Jesus,
The Holy Spirit will be with Him throughout His ministry
Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit. We read in Luke 1:35
Jesus Christ was anointed and fitted for service by the Holy Spirit. We read in Acts 10:38
He preached in the power of the Holy Spirit Luke 4:18
He worked His miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit Matthew 12:28
Jesus Christ was led by the Holy Spirit in His movements here upon earth. We read in Luke 4:1
The Holy Spirit was the source of his learning and source of His Wisdom Isaiah 11:2-3
He offered Himself up for sacrifice by the power of the Holy Spirit Heb 9:14
The Holy Spirit abode upon Jesus in all His fullness and the words He spoke in consequence were the very words of God. We read in John 3:34
After His resurrection, Jesus Christ gave commandment unto His Apostles whom He had chosen through the Holy Spirit. We read in Acts 1:2
Jesus did His miracles here on earth in the power of the Holy Spirit Matthew 12:28
It was by the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. Romans 8:11
One day, through the power of the Holy Spirit, He will return in the clouds and usher in a new heavens and a new earth
(13:17) And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Significance of God’s voice from heaven
As a member of the Godhead, His voice completes the union of the Holy Trinity Matthew 28:19
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, three distinct persons in One God
They bear witness for the testimony of Whom Jesus is Deuteronomy 19:15
Though One in substance, there is a distinction to be made between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – Matthew 28:19
The Voice of the One Who will be with Jesus throughout His ministry
He sent the Son… John 3:16; Galatians 4:4
He seals the Son John 6:27
He teaches the Son John 8:28
He honors the Son John 8:54
He commands the Son John 10:18
He bears witness to the Son John 8:18
He loves the Son John 10:17
He glorifies the Son John 12:28 John 17:1
He exalts the Son Philippians 2:9-11; Ephesians 1:20
He anoints the Son Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:38
He delights in the Son Isaiah 42:1; Matthew 17:5; Peter 1:17
He hears the Son Matt 26:53; John 11:41-42; John 12:27-28
He offers His Son’s life for us John 3:16-17; Romans 8:32; 1 John 4:9-10
He commits judgment unto the Son John 5:22-27
This is the first of three times the Father speaks from heaven concerning His beloved Son. Matthew 17:5 and John 12:28 being the other two times.
While the doctrine of the Holy Trinity was hinted at and foreshadowed in the Old Testament, it was when Jesus was baptized that it was first clearly manifested.
Note 1.)
Jesus did not need to be baptized, because He was without sin, but was baptized anyway because it was the Father’s will for man at that time. We as sinners should never hesitate to do the Father’s will regarding baptism today? – Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-16 and Ac 2:38
Note 2.)
Finally, and this note is only for you Billo. One day I promise to lead you through a study in why John the Baptist is the last true human High Priest as ordered by God to Moses, and how Jesus’ baptism was also His anointing to become the One and forever true High Priest in the order Melchizedek.
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