Why Did John Baptize Jesus

Why was Jesus baptized? Why was Jesus’ baptism important?

QuestionAnswer Upon first inspection, it appears as if Jesus’ baptism serves no purpose whatsoever. Although John’s baptism was described as a baptism of repentance (Matthew 3:11), Jesus was sinless and hence did not require repentance. Even John was caught away by Jesus’ sudden appearance before him. In this passage, John recognizes his own guilt and recognizes that he, a sinful man in need of repentance, is unsuitable to baptize the immaculate Lamb of God: “I require your baptism, and will you come to me?” (See Matthew 3:14 for more information.) According to Jesus, it should be done because “it is appropriate for us to do this in order to complete all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15).

Among them were: The time had come for Jesus to begin His great mission, and it was only fitting that He be publicly acknowledged by His forerunner.

The fact that John baptized Him was a public declaration to everyone present that here was the One they had been waiting for, the Son of God, the One he had promised would be baptized “with the Holy Spirit and fire” had now arrived (Matthew 3:11).

According to Luke, both of John’s parents were descended from the Aaronic priestly dynasty (Luke 1:5).

  • The words of John the Baptist the day following the baptism have a distinctively priestly ring to them: “Behold, the Lamb of God who wipes away the sin of the world!” (See also John 1:29).
  • His baptism signified the baptism of sinners into the righteousness of Christ, dying with Him and rising free from sin and able to live in the newness of life that Christ has provided for them.
  • Jesus responded that it was legitimate to “fulfill all righteousness” by baptizing the innocent Son of God, when John expressed reluctance to do so (Matthew 3:15).
  • Furthermore, Jesus’ appearance to John demonstrated His acceptance of John’s baptism, bearing evidence to the fact that it had come from heaven and had been accepted by God.
  • Perhaps most significantly, the event of public baptism preserved for all future generations the perfect manifestation of the triune God who had been revealed in glory from heaven on that particular day.
  • Also depicted is the role played by the three persons of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the salvation of people whom Jesus came to redeem.

At His baptism, the fullness of the wonderful reality of God’s kindness revealed through Jesus Christ is on display. Return to the previous page: Questions concerning the deity of Jesus Christ What was the purpose of Jesus’ baptism? What was the significance of Jesus’ baptism?

Why Did Jesus Need to Be Baptized?

What would be included in a catalog of behaviors that are vital to the Christian faith, if such a catalog were to be compiled? It would be reasonable to expect baptism to be included among the list of requirements, if at all. When Jesus commands his followers to become disciples (Matt. 28:18–20), baptism is one of the mechanisms by which he accomplishes this task. It was also essential to the proclamation of the gospel during the time of the church’s founding, on the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:38).

  • It should come as no surprise that this is the case.
  • Baptism was not only something Jesus instructed his disciples to undergo, but it was also something he himself experienced at some point.
  • Consider that the baptism Jesus underwent was John’s baptism, which is defined as (1) accompanying “repentance” (Matt.
  • 3:6), and (3) as a method of “fleeing from the approaching vengeance” (Matt.
  • (Matt.
  • Not much thought is required to realize that what is said about Jesus in the New Testament does not appear to be consistent with the rest of what the Bible says about him: that he was God’s virgin-born Son (Matt.
  • 5:21; Heb.
  • 5:8–9; John 17:4), fully pleasing to the Father (Matt.
  • 3:15).

Why Was Jesus Baptized?

However, both Mark and Luke report this incident without posing any questions about it (Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22). Instead of recounting the details of Jesus’ baptism, John’s Gospel highlights the same result that has been emphasized in all of the other Gospels: that the Spirit of God descended on Jesus, anointing him as the Son of God (John 1:32–34). Among the Gospel writers, only Matthew brings up the subject of baptism by presenting an element of the account that the other writers do not include: John himself was hesitant to baptize Jesus.

The response of Jesus to John’s reluctance is informative, both in terms of addressing our question and in terms of exposing an essential feature of Matthew’s theological framework.

3:15).

Something significant is taking place here.

As a result, please allow me to provide this paraphrase: Jesus is carrying out his responsibilities as the obedient Son of God by exercising the needed righteousness of surrendering to God’s will to repent and turn from his sins (i.e., to live in the world wholeheartedly devoted to God).

How Does a Sinless Man Repent?

There are a few of parts to this that we need to examine in order to fully comprehend it. According to Matthew’s definition, righteousness is whole-person behavior that is in accordance with God’s will, nature, and upcoming kingdom. The apostle Paul uses this term in a variety of different contexts, but Matthew’s usage is more characteristic of the Old Testament notion of heartfelt, steadfast devotion to God. By consenting to John’s baptism, Jesus demonstrates to the world that he is the good and obedient Son of God who fully fulfills God’s desire.

  1. It is an urgent invitation to realign our values, habits, affections, thinking, and conduct in light of a different worldview, one that is anchored in the revelation of God’s nature and impending rule (Matt.
  2. In a nutshell, repentance implies “take up your cross and follow me!” Not in the sense of turning away from sin (which our repentance must involve, although Jesus’ does not), but rather in the sense of devoting himself to completely carrying out God’s purpose on earth.
  3. In this way, whatever reservations we (and John) might have regarding why Jesus would be baptized by John are dispelled.
  4. Consequently, he must adhere to the God-ordained message of life-dedication proclaimed by John in order to save his soul.
  5. 1:18–2:23), and what he will continue to do in the following stories (Matt.
  6. — Jesus is the culmination of all of God’s activities in the world.
  7. In order to fulfill God’s promise to send John as the ultimate herald of the King’s coming, Jesus now falls into line with this and submits himself to John’s baptism.

Jesus as the Last Adam

There are a few of components to this that we must examine in detail. According to Matthew’s definition, righteousness is whole-person action that is in accordance with God’s will, nature, and coming kingdom. Although Paul employs this term in a variety of contexts, Matthew’s use is more indicative of the Old Testament idea of heartfelt, steadfast devotion to God. The fact that Jesus submits to John’s baptism demonstrates that he is the good and obedient Son who fully carries out God’s desire.

  1. The appeal to “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt.
  2. Briefly stated: “Become a disciple!” is the meaning of repentance.
  3. In order to fulfill God’s promise to send John as the ultimate herald of the King’s coming, Jesus now falls into line with this and submits himself to John’s baptism.
  4. Because He is a virgin-born, divine-incarnate person who is the only one of his kind on this planet, Jesus yearns to be completely obedient to the Father (i.e., righteous).
  5. Using the term “fulfillment” of all righteousness refers to what Matthew has been arguing frequently from the beginning of his book (Matt.
  6. 4:14–16; 5:17).

All of God’s rescuing action is directed toward and completed in him. In order to fulfill God’s promise to send John as the ultimate herald of the King’s return, Jesus must first submit to John’s baptism before he can fulfill his own.

Why Did Jesus Need to Be Baptized?

There are a plethora of hypotheses as to why Jesus agreed to be baptized. If He was blameless, as the New Testament asserts, then His baptism had to have had a hidden agenda behind it, right? Some believe that John and Jesus plotted or conspired together in order to gain attention for Jesus’ ministry; others believe that Jesus came as a representative of the sinful human race; still others believe that Jesus submitted to baptism as a foreshadowing of his death and resurrection; and still others believe that Jesus’ baptism made the act of baptism work for everyone else.

  1. For example, despite the fact that John and Jesus were cousins, we have no proof that either of them spoke before the time of the baptism.
  2. But, most importantly, John’s baptism was not primarily a baptism of repentance as some may think (the turning away from sin).
  3. Those who were baptized had previously confessed their sins and desired to be united with the future Messiah and His kingdom.
  4. His job was to prepare the way for Jesus’ arrival, not to remove sin from the world.
  5. Jesus requested John to baptize Him merely as an act of obedience to God’s intentions, rather than as a religious ceremony.
  6. That promise was fulfilled by Jesus.

The Baptism of Jesus

According to BibleStudyTools.com, the Baptism of Jesus is referenced in the Gospel Bible books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, among other places. In this account, we observe that Jesus comes up to John and wants to be baptized with his disciples. After preaching the Gospel for three years and baptizing individuals who repent and seek to restore their connection with God while looking forward to the coming Messiah, John was ready to retire. John is taken aback by the fact that Jesus, the spotless Son of God, is seeking to be baptized, since he believes that he should be the one asking Jesus to baptize him!

When Jesus is baptized, it is a symbolic expression of His submission to His Father as well as the beginning of His earthly ministry.

In the moment that Jesus rises out of the water, John sees the Spirit of God descend upon him like a dove, and they hear God’s voice from heaven exclaim, “This is my Son; the beloved; whom I have approved.” You may learn more about the Baptism of Jesus by reading the whole scriptural passage.

Why Did Jesus Have to be Baptized?

According to Jesus’ response: “Truthfully, really, I say to you, unless one is born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” ESV translation of John 3:5 “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” Peter instructed them. 2:38 (Acts 2:38) In accordance with this, baptism now saves you, not as a removal of filth from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, not as a removal of dirt from the body.

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6:4 (Romans 6:4) And Jesus appeared to them and said, “Come, follow me.” “Everything in heaven and on earth has been handed to me as a result of this revelation.

In fact, from now until the end of the ages, I will be with you at all times.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB) According to Alfred Edersheim’s The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (Book II, Chapter XI2) and the lecture notes of Dr.

Image courtesy of Unsplash/Linus Nylund

Why was Jesus baptized?

  • But John attempted to dissuade him by asking, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (I need to be baptized by you.) — Matthew 3:14 (NASB) It’s an excellent question: What was the reason why Jesus Christ needed to be baptized? That’s essentially the question that came out of the lips of John the Baptist when Jesus stepped forward to be baptized in the Jordan River, according to the Bible. He was well aware that Jesus was the Messiah, the world’s rescuer. Consequently, John said, “Do you come to me if I need to be baptized by you?” John raises an important argument, which I agree with. What sin did Jesus do that necessitated his repentance, if John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance, remains unknown. There wasn’t one to be found! He was just amazing! He has never committed a sin! If someone needed to be baptized between John and Jesus, it was very definitely John who needed to be baptized. “Let it be so now
  • It is fitting for us to do this in order to complete all righteousness,” Jesus said in response to John’s protest (v. 15). As a result, John cooperated. However, the response “to accomplish all justice” does not really provide us with a satisfactory resolution, does it? What did Jesus intend to say? There are at least three options to consider in this case. First, it is possible that Jesus was baptized in order to connect with people whom he had come to rescue. In the words of theologian Albert Barnes, “When John appeared on the scene, the crowds gathered to hear him speak and to be baptized with him.” There was an unparalleled movement towards God that occurred over the entire country. Then Jesus realized.that he, too, ought to identify himself with this march toward God.” It was John’s baptism that signaled the people’s decision to move away from sin and toward God. Jesus desired to be identified with this turning point. Doesn’t that make sense, to say the least? Possibility2: Jesus was baptized in order to commemorate the beginning of his public mission on earth. After all, because John would be transferring authority to Jesus as soon as he was ready to begin his ministry, what better site to do so than near the Jordan River, where John had been working for a long time to assist people in turning away from their sin and preparing themselves for Jesus’ arrival? This is another alternative that makes sense. Jesus was baptized in order to ceremonially wash himself before to being filled with the Holy Spirit, according to possibility number three. Until recently, the only man permitted by God to enter the Holy of Holies, the most sacred place in the temple where God’s Spirit resided, was the Jewish high priest. The high priest would also always wash his hands before entering the Holy of Holies as part of a ritual washing before entering the Holy of Holies. The situation was different in Jesus’ case because heaven was about to open above the Jordan River, and the Holy Spirit was going to leave heaven and come down to meet Jesus up close and personally. It is possible that Jesus was baptized in order to prepare himself for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, similar to how he was washed in the Jordan River. All three of these alternatives make a great deal of sense to me right now. And there’s a high probability that when Jesus was baptized, he had all three of these things in mind. But there’s one more thing I don’t want you to overlook. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove, according to all four Gospel writers — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — who all recorded this event. But allow me to pose this question to you: Exactly what was Jesus up to when the Holy Spirit fell upon him is unknown. The incident did not take place when he was being baptized. Jesus had already completed his baptism and was on his way out of the water when we arrived. Only the book of Luke provides us with a detailed account of what Jesus was doing. Observe closely the passage in Luke 21: “During the time when everyone was being baptized, Jesus was also baptized. “And as he was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove,” the Bible says. Was Jesus doing anything specific when the Holy Spirit fell upon him? He was PRAYING at the time. Prayer was a top priority for Jesus, according to Luke’s narrative, which makes this very obvious to us. Consequently, Jesus prayed before and often during the most significant times of his career, as well as thereafter. After praying all night, he decided on his twelve disciples (v. 6:12). During the time he was praying, Peter made the excellent confession that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God” (v. 9:18). He was meditating before teaching his students the Lord’s Prayer for the first time (11:1). “Father, forgive them, for they have no idea what they are doing,” Jesus pleaded as he hung on the cross. And, just before he died, he prayed, “Father, I entrust my spirit into Your hands,” he said. Does it seem to you that Jesus may have done so, at least partially, to persuade you and me that we, too, should be praying before and even during our most significant times in life? Yes, I believe so. For Jesus, communicating with the Father was of the utmost importance. It should also be a primary priority for you and me, as it should be for everyone. Prayer was the gasoline that propelled Jesus’ most effective ministry, and it will continue to be the fuel that propelled ours. First Christian Church in Victorville is led by Dane Davis, who is also its Lead Pastor. Visit our website for additional information, and come to worship with us tomorrow at 10 a.m.

Why Was Jesus Baptized and Did He Need to Be?

According to the Bible, Jesus was completely without sin. Jesus was personally tempted, according to the story of his life (Matthew 4:1-11), yet he did not succumb to his wicked urges, as recorded in the Bible. Thus, it is difficult to comprehend why Jesus was immersed in water at the outset of his worldly ministerial career. Even John the Baptist was taken aback by Jesus’ desire to baptize him, and he expressed amazement at the request. John, who had expected to be baptized by Jesus, was perplexed as to why Jesus needed to be baptized as well.

Jesus didn’t leave John, or any other future Christians, hanging without providing an explanation.

As the final atonement for sin and death, Jesus fully and completely took our place in every manner.

When Was Jesus Baptized?

Several passages from the Gospels, including Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, and Luke 3:21-22, describe Jesus’ baptism. Matthew’s Gospel has a more in-depth description of Jesus’ baptism. “After that, Jesus traveled from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.” When he refused, John tried to dissuade him by asking, “Do you want to come to me and be baptized by you?” ‘Let it be so at this time; it is lawful for us to do this in order to complete all righteousness,’ Jesus responded. After that, John agreed.

At that time, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on his shoulder.

It appears in all three narratives that Jesus’ baptism was a critical initial step in the beginning of his ministry, which would last nearly three years and finally lead him to his death on the cross.

Jesus’ baptism took occurred at a time when John had already begun baptizing people for the sake of repentance, at which point the timing was appropriate.

According to John, a person’s ancestry to Abraham was no longer sufficient for redemption. He preached a message of repentance, baptism, and the need of bearing virtuous fruit in the lives of those who heard him.

Why Was Jesus’ Baptism Important?

The fact that Jesus did not need to repent or turn away from sin was evidenced by his baptism, which served as a sign to John and subsequent generations of believers that he was the promised Messiah. This affirmation brought John’s goal to prepare the way for the Messiah to a successful conclusion. The story of Jesus’ baptism is a magnificent depiction of the loving unity of the Trinity — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This point in his life marked the beginning of his ministry, during which he was totally immersed in the human experience as the spotless lamb of God sent to rescue the world.

The baptism of Jesus does not have to be difficult to understand, even if it may raise some concerns.

But his baptism serves to affirm him as the Messiah and to reveal his readiness to assume human form in order to be the ultimate atonement for all sin and death.

When Jesus was nearing the conclusion of his life, he directed his followers to go and make disciples in all nations, baptizing them in the names of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (See:Matthew 28:19).

Why Did John the Baptist Baptize Jesus?

John the Baptist was Jesus’ older cousin, and he was known as “the Baptist.” Only a few months before Mary got pregnant with Jesus, his mother, Elizabeth, was expecting their son, also named John. Zechariah was the name of his father, who was a priest. According to Luke’s Gospel, Elizabeth and Zechariah were “righteous in the eyes of the Lord, obeying all of his rules and decrees without fault” when it came to marriage (Luke 1:6). It should come as no surprise that John, a godly man selected to prepare the way for Jesus, was born to two parents who were both sincerely committed to God’s will and principles.

  • John appears in the Gospel narratives for the second time, this time immediately before Jesus began His ministry.
  • However, John was able to rectify those incorrect assumptions.
  • (Matthew 1:3) John described himself as the fulfillment of the prophecy in the book of Isaiah that God would send a messenger before the Messiah, paving the way for him to come (See:Isaiah 40:3).
  • John cleared the way for the future Messiah by teaching repentance, righteousness, baptism for the remission of sins, and of the might and grandeur of the one who would come.

Jesus told John to baptize him, and John complied with Jesus’ instructions. The baptism of Jesus by John was the penultimate stage in preparing the way for Jesus’ arrival.

What Does Baptism Symbolize?

The New Testament has a wealth of information and insight that can assist us in better understanding the purpose of baptism. Baptism is performed for the purpose of sin remission (See:Acts 2:38). In order to be baptized, we must first repent, which means we must turn away from our wrongdoing, and then accept the forgiveness that Jesus gave through his death and resurrection. Baptism is a representation of our religious beliefs (See:Acts 8:12-13). A new believer (someone who has demonstrated confidence in Jesus) gets baptized after repenting and being immersed according to the paradigm we find in the New Testament.

  1. Baptism is a representation of being buried with Jesus and risen to life with him (See:Romans 6:3-4).
  2. It is also the mechanism by which we are raised up into new life in Jesus after our baptism.
  3. However, Jesus saw that he needed to be baptized, which is why he requested John to perform the ceremony.
  4. He demonstrated that baptism is something that all Christians must perform as a stage in their religious journey.
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How Did God Respond to Jesus’ Baptism?

God’s affirmation of Jesus’ baptism was reported in Matthew’s Gospel as a tremendous act of God. The heavens opened as soon as Jesus was baptized and climbed out of the water to face the people. “The Spirit of God began to descend like a dove and alight on him,” says the narrator. ‘This is my Son, whom I adore; with him I am pleased,’ a voice from the heavens said” (Matthew 3:13-17). Immediately following Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit fell upon him. A indication that Jesus’ ministry was being enabled by the Holy Spirit and that it would usher in peace between humans and God was signified by this event.

Photograph courtesy of Getty Images/gldburger In addition to being a writer and a minister, Pamela Palmer is the founder of upheldlife.com, a website where she publishes devotionals and religious resource pieces on a weekly basis to encourage people to keep religion at the center of their lives.

She works in pastoral ministry, where she has the opportunity to be a little part of many people’s emotional and spiritual journeys, while also being a small part of her own.

Pamela married the guy who was meant to be her husband, and they had two lovely children. She has been published on herviewfromhome.com, and you can follow her at upheldlife.com or on Facebook.com/upheldlife. She can also be found on Twitter @upheldlife.

Why Was Jesus Baptized?

Transcript of the audio We finish the week with a question from Bob, a podcast listener who writes in to pose a basic question, but one that is also quite well-thought-out and insightful. Simply simply, why did Jesus insisted on being baptized by John the Baptist rather than anybody else?

Matthew as Our Guide

Matthew 3 has the most detailed account of Jesus’ baptism to date. So, let us go to Matthew for guidance in addressing the question: Why did Jesus insist on being baptized by John the Baptist? As far as Matthew is concerned, there are at least two aspects of John’s baptism that are pertinent to the question of why Jesus would insist on being baptized in this manner. “Through John’s baptism of repentance, God established a people of God in preparation for the future Messiah.” First and foremost, according to Matthew 3:6, people were coming to be baptized in order to confess their sins.

That is the first and most important step.

New Identity

To begin with, John makes it abundantly clear that his baptism of repentance heralds the birth of a people of God in preparation for the coming Messiah, and that in doing so, he imbues this people with a distinctive identity that is not identical with their Jewishness, but rather with their repentance. Matthew 3:9 demonstrates this. “And do not dare to claim to yourself, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ because I tell you, God is able to bring up children for Abraham from these stones,” he says to the Pharisees who had followed him out to the river.

It implies that there is no redemption and no security in identifying your ancestors as descendants of Abraham.

He has the ability to create saints on his own, if he so desires, out of rocks.

For example, they do not rely on their race or religious heritage by declaring, “We have Abraham as our father,” as the Pharisees did.

Fitting

Now, when Jesus enters the scene, John exclaims, “Wait a minute.” “Do you come to me if I need to be baptized by you?” “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (See Matthew 3:14 for more information.) In other words, he makes it quite obvious that Jesus does not require this baptization. He is under no need to repent. He is not required to confess any of his misdeeds. So, what brings you here today? “Jesus fulfilled all of the requirements of righteousness that would have been needed of mankind before the court of God.” Answering the question, Jesus says only one thing, and it is quite significant.

It is appropriate.

It is appropriate.

It is appropriate to fulfill all of the requirements of righteousness.

Moreover, the fact that he chose to participate in the baptism of repentance despite the fact that he had no crimes to repent of is indicative of the fact that the righteousness he desired to accomplish was the righteousness that was demanded not of himself but of every sinful man.

Securing Righteousness

Jesus has just finished reading Isaiah 53. Indeed, Isaiah 53 served as his life’s purpose. He then read the following passage from verse 11: He will make many righteous by virtue of his wisdom, says the righteous one, who is also my servant. Many people will be considered as righteous as a result of the righteous one. Why did Jesus insist on being baptized, I believe, is because these new people, who were being collected by John the Baptist on the basis of repentance and faith, rather than on the basis of Jewishness, would need to be justified at some point.

According to Paul in Philippians 3:8–9, they would need to be justified by someone else’s righteousness.

Jesus fulfilled all of the requirements of righteousness that would have been demanded of mankind before the court of God.

How, and why, did St. John the Baptist baptize Jesus? — GetReligion

What would have been the baptismal formula used by John the Baptist when he baptized Jesus, according to Gerald’s question? In the 2nd Century, the phrase “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” was first utilized. THE ANSWER FROM THE RELIGION GUY: Even a very critical scholar such as John Dominic Crossan believes that Jesus’ baptism, done by his cousin John the Baptist, who was “preaching in the desert,” marked the beginning of his public ministry and that it is historical truth. Also widely agreed upon is the fact that John would have benefited from complete immersion in the waters of the Jordan River (those loud amens you hear are coming from Baptists).

  • Three baptisms are shown in the Acts of the Apostles during the early phase of the Christian movement, each conducted in the name of Jesus and not the Trinity (as is the practice of modern-day “Oneness” Pentecostals), and each is performed in the name of Jesus and not the Trinity.
  • As Dale Allison points out, “the Son is baptized, the Father speaks, and the Spirit descends” in the New Testament.
  • As a result, by the first century, the mention of the Trinity had become a permanent part of Christian baptism.
  • 70.
  • This work might have been written as early as A.D.
  • Paul also finished 2 Corinthians with this well-known Trinitarian benediction, written around the year A.D.
  • Immersions are prescribed in the Hebrew Scriptures (or Old Testament) for different purification rites, which are most prominently observed today in Orthodox Judaism’s mikveh bath for women following their menstrual cycle.
  • “Blessed are you, Adonai, Ruler of the universe, who has sanctified us with the mitzvoth and ordered us concerning immersion,” says a traditional spoken expression in the Jewish language.

It’s crucial to remember, though, that John was not the one who presided over conversion ceremonies. Follow the link to read ” How and why did St. John the Baptist baptize Jesus?” written by Richard Ostling.

The Baptism of Jesus Christ

From Galilee to the Jordan River was the first leg of Jesus Christ’s journey during the early years of His ministry. The preaching and baptizing of John the Baptist took place in the vicinity. Jesus approached John and requested to be baptized. John was adamant about not doing it since he believed that Jesus should be the one to baptize him. He inquired as to why he was required to be baptized by Jesus. The Savior taught that in order to be faithful to the commands of Heavenly Father, he needed to be baptized first.

Afterwards, when Jesus had been baptized, he immediately ascended out of the water; and John looked up and saw that the heavens had been opened vnto him, and that the Spirit of God had descended like a dove and had fallen upon Jesus.

3:44–46, page 802 of the LDS edition of the King James Bible, according to the JST.) Baptism is modeled after Jesus Christ, who established the standard for us.

Baptism is a covenant or pledge made to Heavenly Father in which we agree to do the following:

  • “enter into God’s flock”
  • “be called his people”
  • “ready to bear one another’s burdens”
  • “comfort those who are in need of comfort”
  • “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places”
  • “serve him and fulfill his commandments” (SeeMosiah 18:8–10 for further information.)

When we receive the sacrament on Sundays in church, we should remember Jesus Christ’s Atonement as well as the commitments we made to our Heavenly Father when we were baptized in order to be reconciled with Him. Color the flannel-board figures before mounting them on a heavy-weight piece of paper. Remove them off the page and use them to retell the narrative. “Jesus Christ’s Baptism,” as the phrase goes. The dove, the heavens opening up, the sacrament trays, and John the Baptist baptism Jesus Christ in the Jordan River are all images that come to mind.

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Whittaker.

Why Was Jesus Baptized?

In this image, the Baptism of Christ is shown by Pietro Perugino. Is it possible that you’ve asked, “Why did Jesus have to be baptized?” It’s a valid question, and it’s one that John the Baptist himself ponders on sometimes. It is recorded in Matthew’s gospel that “John attempted to block him by saying, ‘I require to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me” (Matthew 3:14). According to Luke’s gospel, John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, not a baptism of immersion (Luke 3:3).

When it comes to Jesus’ mission and identity, what does his baptism disclose to us?

Think about our first question: “Why does Jesus go to be baptized if he has no sin for which to repent?” Let’s think about it.

He permits himself to be counted among sinners, despite the fact that he is already referred to as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Jesus’ humble surrender to John’s baptism is an indication of his absolute acceptance of the Father’s mission, as is his total submission and acceptance of the Father’s mission.

  1. TheCatechisminvite us to consider Jesus’ baptism in light of his agony and death, as described in the Gospel of Matthew.
  2. In the prophet Isaiah, we find several allusions to the Servant of God.
  3. Following the Servant’s suffering (v.
  4. 6), take our sin upon himself (v.
  5. 8), even though he has done nothing wrong (v.
  6. 10).
  7. 12).

From his baptism onward, Jesus takes on the identity of the Suffering Servant, and this is the beginning of his ministry.

The link between Jesus and the suffering Servant is first made by John the Baptist, who is also known as the Baptizer.

He establishes for his disciples the connection that Jesus is the Suffering Servant who was prophesied to appear in Isaiah Chapter 53.

He communicates this knowledge to his disciples, who abandon John the Baptist and come to follow Jesus at his direction after hearing it.

Jesus’ baptism marks the beginning of his role as the Suffering Servant, who would bring healing to his people by his suffering and death.

Jesus’ baptism establishes the tone for the rest of his work and purpose on earth.

If you are feeling trapped by sin, the complexity of life, or your own brokenness, don’t give up!

In his baptism, Jesus demonstrates to us that he is not content to stand by and watch while sinners strive to find healing and righteousness.

It is only when we connect with Jesus in our sin, addiction, brokenness, and so on that it is possible to be overcome and cured on the Cross.

As we commemorate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord this Sunday, may the Holy Spirit give us the strength to welcome Jesus into the hardest places in our hearts and allow us to experience the changing love of God.

What did it mean when John baptized Jesus?

Viewers’ perceptions of the power of perspective were altered by the film The Sixth Sense, directed by M. Night Shyamalan and released twenty years ago. It’s possible that if someone had stopped watching before the climactic “revelation,” they might have provided a relatively cohesive explanation of the narrative. However, as soon as they reached the conclusion, everything they had previously assumed about the film had to be re-evaluated, and their otherwise pretty clear narrative synopsis would have failed miserably.

  • Baptism now has a specific significance for many Christians, as follows: The ceremony serves as an external symbol of the welcoming of new members into the church as well as the forgiveness of sins by God.
  • The problem is that we make a mistake that is reminiscent of the Sixth Sense by assuming that because baptism is what it is, baptism has always meant what it is now.
  • The Greek term baptizome means “to plunge,” “to drown,” or “to sink,” depending on who you ask.
  • A baptismal ceremony was performed by John the Baptist to commemorate the formal completion of an individual’s path toward conversion, according to Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian.
  • This may explain why John chose to be baptized in the Jordan: In The Rites of Christian Initiation (Liturgical Press), Maxwell Johnson tells how Israel crossed the Jordan River to reach the Promised Land for the very first time.
  • Advertisement The baptism of Jesus makes perfect sense in this context.
  • In the moments before the temptation, Jesus must decide whether or not he would rest on his privileged position or if he will go out to announce the in-breaking of God’s kingdom by his words, acts, death, and resurrection.
  • They were better able to comprehend how his baptism was more than a single event; it marked the beginning of his journey through life and death.
  • The heavens open, the Spirit descends, and the names of God’s children are spoken again and over again.
  • What are our plans for the future if we are satisfied to rely on the relationship that was established at the time of our baptism?

Also published in the January 2019 issue of the United States Catholic Weekly is this article: (Vol. 84, No. 1, page 49). Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Why Did John Baptize?

One of the best explanations of water baptism is found in Romans 6:1-7. It teaches us that we must die to sin, be buried in water, and then be raised to walk a new life, just as Christ died, was buried, and was raised. This baptism places someone “into Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27). With the opportunity for “newness of life” (Rom. 6:4) through submitting to Christ in baptism, there is no wonder why Paul claims that if someone “is in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Cor. 5:17). We’re also told, “if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Rom.

What wonderful assurance from God’s word!When considering this point in the context of the entire New Testament, one question that naturally arises is, “Why did John the Baptist baptize?” If baptism is to unite someone with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, how is it that John could baptize people before Jesus had even died?

Jesus’ death had not occurred at this point; therefore, all who wanted to live godly lives were to submit to the Law of Moses (Heb.

Didn’t the Law of Moses enforce animal sacrifices as part of God’s plan for the forgiveness of sins?

4).

First, it must be established that John the Baptist was not a member of the Baptist Denomination, nor did he start the Baptist Church.

The very first time that the word church is used in the English Bible is found after John the Baptist had already been executed (Matt.

The church that Jesus refers to is also called the kingdom (Matt.

1:13-14), and John the Baptist never saw the kingdom on earth (Matt.

The Bible never mentions a Baptist Church.

The reason why he was given that title is because he appeared on the scene preaching baptism (Mark 1:4).

John the Baptist came before Jesus, and John the apostle was chosen by Jesus (Matt.

John the Baptist was executed in the middle of Christ’s earthly ministry (Matt.

As far as we know, John the apostle was the last of Jesus’ apostles living, surviving about sixty years after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.

However, the only words of John the Baptist we have recorded are found in books written by men other than him.

John the apostle was not related to Christ in the flesh, but was known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20-24).The Old Testament prophets, Isaiah and Malachi, prophesied of John the Baptist’s coming.

Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken’” (Isa.

Its first fulfillment had to do with the Hebrews’ return to Israel from Babylonian exile.

God promised through Malachi, in the final book of the Old Testament, “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me.

3:1).

4:5).Since both Isaiah and Malachi prophesied that he would come before Christ to prepare the way for him, the ministry of John the Baptist can be summed up with the word forerunner or preparer.

3:7).

He came preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt.

4:17), which was also the same thing Christ sent His apostles to do on their first mission (Mt.

John, in the spirit of Elijah, prepared the world for Jesus.

1:16; Gal.

Without John’s and Christ’s preparations, the gospel may have been rejected.WHY JOHN BAPTIZEDIn his preparations for the Messiah, John “came baptizing in water” (John 1:30-31).

Those who received John’s baptism confessed their sins (Matt.

They did all of this “for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4) in an attempt to “flee from the wrath to come” (Matt.

Though a person under the Law of Moses was still bound by the laws found therein, being baptized by John also prepared a person for the Lord and His kingdom and covenant (Luke 1:17).THE AUTHORITY OF JOHN’S BAPTISMJohn’s baptism is the first type of many baptisms in the New Testament.

Some of them are metaphorical, and some of them are physical.

3:5-6); the water baptism Jesus received (Matt.

3:11); baptism of suffering (Matt.

10:2); and the water baptism of the Great Commission (Matt.

4:4-6).

When discussing the Holy Spirit with them, Paul told them that John’s baptism is outdated, saying, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus” (Acts 19:4).

Clearly, the baptism that is by Jesus’ authority is that “one baptism” mentioned in Ephesians 4:4-6.

28:18-20) and “every creature” (Mark 16:15-16).

19:16-22).

3:21).

6:1-7).CONCLUSIONJohn the Baptist was a key character before and during the ministry of Christ.

Without John the Baptist, the nation of Israel would have not been prepared for the authoritative teaching of Christ and His kingdom.

Though John’s baptism was for “repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4), it was only authoritative for a few years.

9:15-17), the water baptism of the Great Commission took the place of John’s baptism.

1:6-10; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 6:1-7).Except where noted,Scripture quotations are taken from theNASB.Copyright by The Lockman Foundation

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