Why Was Jesus Baptised?

The baptism of Jesus is a profound event recorded in the

Gospels, raising questions for many believers and scholars

alike. Why would Jesus, the sinless Son of God, need to be

baptised? Understanding this event sheds light on Jesus'

ministry and mission, as well as His relationship with humanity

and the Father.

The Baptism Account in the Gospels

The event of Jesus' baptism is recorded in all four Gospels—

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—though it is described in

varying detail. The most comprehensive account is found in the

Gospel of Matthew:

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be

baptised by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I

need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus

answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to

fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented. And when Jesus was

baptised, immediately he went up from the water, and behold,

the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God

descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold,

a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I

am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:13-17, ESV)

This passage highlights several key aspects of Jesus’ baptism:

His intentionality, the response of John the Baptist, the descent

of the Holy Spirit, and the Father’s declaration of pleasure.

The Purpose of Jesus’ Baptism

1. To Fulfil All Righteousness

The phrase "to fulfil all righteousness" in Matthew 3:15 is

central to understanding why Jesus was baptised. Jesus, though

sinless (Hebrews 4:15), identified with humanity’s sinful

condition. By submitting to baptism, He fulfilled the righteous

requirements of the Law and demonstrated His obedience to

the Father’s will. Baptism, in this context, was an act of

identifying with sinners, a theme that would culminate in His

ultimate sacrifice on the cross.

This act of fulfilling righteousness also connects to the broader

narrative of Jesus as the Messiah. In being baptised, Jesus was

aligning Himself with God’s redemptive plan, setting the stage

for His public ministry and affirming His role as the Suffering

Servant described in Isaiah 53.

2. To Identify with Humanity

Another crucial aspect of Jesus’ baptism is His identification

with humanity. Jesus was not baptised because He needed

repentance, but to fully identify with those He came to save. In

the Gospel of Luke, we read, "When all the people were

being baptised, Jesus was baptised too" (Luke 3:21, NIV). This

indicates that Jesus stood among the people, embracing the

human condition fully.

The writer of Hebrews emphasises this aspect of Jesus' mission:

"For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in

every way, in order that he might become a merciful and

faithful high priest in service to God" (Hebrews 2:17, NIV). Jesus’

baptism was a part of His complete identification with

humanity, showing that He was one with the people He came to

redeem.

3. To Inaugurate His Public Ministry

Jesus’ baptism also marks the beginning of His public ministry.

It was at this moment that Jesus was publicly affirmed by the

Father and empowered by the Holy Spirit for the work He was

about to undertake. The Gospel of Mark, known for its brevity,

emphasises this aspect by stating, "At that time Jesus came

from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the

Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw

heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a

dove" (Mark 1:9-10, NIV).

This divine affirmation and the anointing of the Holy Spirit are

crucial. The voice from heaven declared, "You are my Son,

whom I love; with you, I am well pleased" (Mark 1:11, NIV). This

proclamation confirms Jesus’ divine sonship and sets Him apart

for the mission ahead. The descent of the Holy Spirit, in the

form of a dove, symbolises the beginning of Jesus' role as the

anointed one, the Messiah (Luke 4:18-19).

4. To Validate John’s Ministry

Jesus’ baptism also served to validate the ministry of John the

Baptist. John was the forerunner, the one who prepared the

way for the Messiah, as prophesied in Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi

3:1. By being baptised by John, Jesus was endorsing John’s call

to repentance and acknowledging the legitimacy of his

prophetic ministry.

John himself was aware of the profound nature of Jesus'

request for baptism, as he said, "I need to be baptised by you,

and do you come to me?" (Matthew 3:14, ESV). Jesus’

submission to John’s baptism underlined the divine order and

purpose behind John’s mission, which was to prepare the

hearts of the people for the coming of the Kingdom of God.

5. To Set an Example for Believers

Jesus’ baptism also set a pattern for believers to follow. Though

He had no sin to repent of, His act of being baptised

underscored the importance of baptism for His followers. In His

Great Commission, Jesus instructed His disciples to baptise new

believers in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

(Matthew 28:19). Through His own baptism, Jesus affirmed the

significance of this sacrament as an outward expression of faith

and commitment to God.

Baptism symbolises death to sin and new life in Christ, as Paul

explains in Romans 6:3-4: "Or don’t you know that all of us who

were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death?

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death

in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through

the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

Conclusion

The baptism of Jesus is a moment of profound theological

significance. It was not a sign of repentance for Jesus, who was

without sin, but an act of obedience to the Father, a fulfilment

of righteousness, and a public identification with humanity.

Through His baptism, Jesus validated John’s ministry,

inaugurated His own public ministry, and set an example for all

believers to follow.

Jesus’ baptism invites us to reflect on our own need for

identification with Him in His death and resurrection. If Jesus,

the sinless Son of God, saw baptism as essential, how much

more should we, as His followers, embrace this sacrament as a

public declaration of our faith and commitment to His

Kingdom?

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Further reading recommendations

'Jesus and the Victory of God' by N.T. Wright

'The Meaning of Jesus' Baptism' by Don Carson

'Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament' by Christopher J. Wright

'The Baptism and Fullness of the Holy Spirit' by John Stott

'Jesus the Messiah: A Survey of the Life of Christ' by Robert H. Stein