Why Was Jesus Baptized by John the Baptist?
At first glance, Jesus’ baptism might seem puzzling. If baptism is associated with repentance and the forgiveness of sins, why would Jesus—who was sinless—need to be baptized? Here’s a breakdown of why Jesus was baptized by John:
1. To Fulfill All Righteousness
When John the Baptist hesitated to baptize Jesus, thinking that he was unworthy, Jesus responded:
“Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:15, NIV)
This means Jesus’ baptism was part of God’s plan. He wasn’t baptized because He needed forgiveness but because it was necessary for Him to fully identify with humanity and obey God’s will.
2. To Identify with Sinners
Though Jesus had no sin, He willingly took on the role of identifying with sinners. Baptism symbolized repentance, and by being baptized, Jesus showed that He came to stand in place of sinners.
“He was numbered with the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12)
This foreshadowed how He would later take on the sins of the world through His death on the cross.
3. To Mark the Beginning of His Public Ministry
Jesus’ baptism marked the start of His mission. Right after His baptism, the Holy Spirit descended on Him, and God the Father spoke from heaven, declaring:
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
This was a public confirmation of His divine mission—showing that He was the Messiah, the Son of God.
5. To Show the Trinity in Action
At Jesus’ baptism, we see all three persons of the Trinity together:
God the Father speaks from heaven. Jesus the Son is baptized. The Holy Spirit descends like a dove. This event revealed the nature of God—three in one—giving us a powerful glimpse of the divine relationship.