Why was Jesus Baptized?
Baptism is an act of repentance. It signifies our death to sin, the burial of our old sinful life, and rising up to walk in a new life with Christ. It also signifies the death of our body, our burial, and future resurrection.
So why was Jesus baptized? Our Lord had no sin; Jesus had nothing to repent of.
Even John the Baptist said to Jesus in Mathew 3:14 “But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” or in modern terms “John ask him saying, Are you asking me to baptize you? You should be baptizing me!”
Also in Mathew 3:11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:” Clearly John did not see the need or feel worthy to baptize Jesus.
In Mathew 3:15 we have “And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.” So why did Jesus insist on being baptized?
- Was it an example for believers?
- Was it to show support for John’s ministry?
- Was it to identify with the people he had come to save?
- Or was it a prophecy of His coming death and resurrection?
