What is the significance of the baptism of Jesus? The passage presents us immediately with a mystery: at first John the Baptist resists the idea of baptizing Jesus. But in the end, he consents. Why did he resist, and why did he change his mind? The record of John the Baptist and his baptism of Jesus occur not only in Matthew 3:13–17, but in Mark 1:9–11 and Luke 3:21–22. The verses that directly describe Jesus’s baptism by John do not fully explain its significance. So, the Bible gives us an understanding of the unique role of John the Baptist in the history of redemption. He is the one appointed to “prepare the way” for Jesus (Matt 3:3). When Jesus himself comes to John, John recognizes Jesus’ superiority: “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (Matt 3:14). John’s objection makes a good deal of sense. Jesus has no sin and needs no forgiveness. He has nothing to repent for. In comparison to Jesus, John is the one who needs to repent and be baptized. And yet Jesus answers the objection: “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt 3:15). What does he mean? It is a mysterious statement, and yet it satisfies John. True righteousness involves completing God’s required path, even the seemingly contradictory step of a sinless person submitting to a baptism of repentance. When Jesus is baptized, he is carrying out God’s plan, laid down before the foundation of the world (1Pet 1:20). We should also remember John the Baptist’s prophecy that the one who comes after him “will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matt 3:11). This prophecy points to the day of Pentecost, described in Acts 2. On that day the Holy Spirit comes to the apostles and the church with “tongues as of fire” (verse 3). The baptism of Jesus provides a foundation for our baptism with the Holy Spirit. We are cleansed from sin by the washing with Jesus’s blood, shown by the waters of His baptism.
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Dear God, thank you for Jesus who shows us the way to follow you. Be with us as we walk with Jesus, our Good Shepherd who gives us abundant life if we open our hearts to him. Amen