“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?’” [1]
No one compelled Jesus to be baptized. He came to John of His own choice.
How ironic! Jesus had no sin. John did. John needed the Spirit-and-fire baptism Jesus gives.
“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.” [2]
Sometimes we take lightly one or two steps in the process of following the Lord. Surely, we can fudge a little, right? Well, consider the parable of the wise and foolish builders. The one thought a house on the beach was okay. What happened to his house? “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Water baptism was another important step in the overall mission of Jesus to identify with fallen and sinful man. His final step in the mission to identify with sinners was at the cross.
Jesus identified Himself with sinners. He did this in His birth, His upbringing, and His death. Therefore, John the Baptist allowed Jesus to stand in the place of sinful man. He baptized Him.
Isaiah wrote of the Messiah, “He was numbered with the transgressors, He bore the sin of many, He made intercession for the transgressors.” [3]
“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.’” [4] Jesus’ baptism was a righteous identification with sinners, motivated by love. This act pleased His Heavenly Father.
“The heavens were opened to Him.” The Father, Son and Holy Spirit open heaven for us. “The Spirit of God descended like a dove and alighted upon Him.” Jesus began His ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit. We should do likewise.
God the Father said of Jesus, “In whom I am well pleased.” To “well-please” our Heavenly Father, we need to be like Jesus in His love for sinners.
[1] Matthew 3:14
[2] Matthew 3:15
[3] Isaiah 53:12
[4] Matthew 3:16-17
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