Why Was Jesus Baptised?
- Confident Faith
- Jul 25
- 5 min read
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
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