Chapter 13.

Jesus Was Baptized.

 

Why was Jesus baptized?  He was sinless.  He had no need to repent.  John the Baptist was reluctant to immerse Him.  But, Jesus said, “We must do it to fulfill all righteousness.”  Righteousness is the trait of living in accord with what God says is right.  So, we must assume that the Trinity had decided that Jesus should be baptized, and Jesus was acting in accordance with the Trinity’s will.  Also, Jesus is the Head of the Church.  In general, we expect leaders to follow the rules of an organization.  So, Christians might think it odd if Jesus had not been baptized, since He told us to baptize those who join the Church.

 

Matthew captured the majesty of Christ’s baptism in just five verses.  The language used in the King James Version of the Bible is wonderful -- but archaic.  Enjoy it.  And. then, we will weave together the whole story using all the pertinent verses in the Gospels.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 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. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 

(Matthew 3:13-17 KJV)

 

·        Jesus walked from Nazareth to Bethabara, 60 miles, to be baptized by John the Baptist.

 

... it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee ...  (Mark 1:9a KJV)

 

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.  (Matthew 3:13 KJV)

 

·        John was reluctant to baptize Jesus.

 

... John tried to prevent Him [vigorously protesting], saying, “It is I who need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”  (Matthew 3:14 AMP)

 

·        Jesus said it must be done.

 

... Jesus replied to him, “Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.”  (Matthew 3:15a AMP)

 

·        John immersed Jesus.

 

... [Jesus] was baptized of John in Jordan.  (Mark 1:9b KJV)

 

Then John permitted [it and baptized] Him.  (Matthew 3:15b AMP)

 

... when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying ... 

(Luke 3:21a KJV)

 

·        The Holy Spirit descended like a dove.

 

After Jesus was baptized, He came up immediately out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he (John) saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him (Jesus).  (Matthew 3:16 AMP)

 

... straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon  him. (Mark 1:10 KJV)

   

... the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him ...  (Luke 3:21b-22a KJV)

 

·        God expressed His approval.

 

... behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased and delighted!” 

(Matthew 3:17 AMP)

 

... there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  (Mark 1:11 KJV)

 

... a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.  (Luke 3:22b KJV)

 

 

Jesus Was About 30 Years Old.

 

Looking ahead ...

·        Jesus was about to spend 40 days alone in the wilderness

·        return to Bethabara where John was preaching

·        meet His first Apostles, and

·        attend a wedding in Cana of Galilee.

In Cana He would say to His mother, “My hour has not yet come.”  Thus, He indicated that He had not yet begun His teaching Ministry.  That would not begin until He turned 30 -- the age at which most Jews believed a man could begin teaching about spiritual and religious matters.  The activities listed above would take place in the next 50 days, and since Jesus would turn 30 in the closing days of the year, we believe that Jesus was baptized in the first week of November, A.D. 26.  After describing Jesus’ baptism, Luke noted ...

... Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age.  (Luke 3:23a)

 

 

John Proclaimed,

“Jesus Is the Messiah!”

 

After he Baptized Jesus, John’s sermons changed.  He began to say, “This Man from Galilee is the Messiah we have longed for.”  The Apostle John recorded ... 

John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”  (John 1:15 NLT)

The Baptist emphasized the fact that Jesus had pre-existed in Heaven before He came to Earth.  John was six months older than Jesus in human terms, but John knew Jesus was a visitor from eternity past.