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There are competing interpretations for this answer, but those below pretty much sum it all up:One perspective:Since very early on in the Law (Torah...Pentateuch...first five books) whenever something or somone was consecrated (set apart unto God for His purpose) they were subject to an immersion (a plunging into a bath...a mikvah) which not only represented a cleansing but a burial to its old being and purpose and a birth into a new being or purpose...so Jesus in order to begin His messianic ministry had to be immersed to fulfill this commandment of the Lord's righteousness. Another:Jesus lived His entire life as an example for us humans. He was completely sinless, so He did not need to be baptised. But He did this as an example for us to follow. Another:The baptism held by John was a baptism for the repentance of sins, but Christian theology has always held that Jesus was sinless and without blemish. You can see the tension this causes even in the New Testament by comparing the baptism accounts in Matthew and Luke versus the account in John. In John, which is almost universally held to be the last Gospel written, note that John the Baptist is initially unwilling to baptize Jesus and has to be reassured by Christ before John will proceed.

The baptism is generally understood to be a self-identification or alignment on the part of Christ with sinful humanity. Not that he in any way approved of the sin, but that he loved them enough to become one with them and remove their sin.

Another:Everything that Jesus did while physically in this world was in keeping with God's will (John 6:38), and was to serve as an example to all who desire to "follow His steps" (1 Peter 2:21).

Since John's baptism of "repentance for the remission of sins" (Mark 1:14) was of no "benefit" to Jesus, who was "without sin" (Hebrews 4:15), what remains is that Jesus was obedient to God's will in this regard specifically as an example to believers. This is revealed in Jesus' reply to John's reluctance:

Matthew 3:13-15 - 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?" 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.

Based on the meaning of the original Greek in this passage (from Strong's Greek Lexicon), a far less elegant but completely viable alternative rendering of Jesus' statement would be: "By this means, we'll provide a noteworthy and appropriate example of what is necessary to be completely acceptable before God." That it was acceptable is beyond doubt:

Matthew 3:16, 17 - 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."

Teachings on this passage often center on "This is My beloved Son," taking that alone to be the reason for God's pleasure, which misses the point. God was "well pleased" because of Jesus' obedience to His will.

Later, Jesus would teach that those who believe in Him must be baptized (Matt. 28:19, Mark 16:16), as would His apostles (Acts 2:38). Jesus' submission to the baptism of John served as precedent and exemplary proof that baptism isn't an "option;" it's a commandment that must be obeyed in order for one to "put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27), and be "well pleasing" to God.

Hebrews 5:9-11 - And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek," of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

[Quotes from NKJV]

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Related Questions

Are you baptised in Jesus name?

Yes I am baptised in the name of Jesus, as a infant.


Was Jesus baptised and if so by hume?

yes JESUS was baptised by john the baptist


How did Jesus get John to baptise him?

Jesus Christ walked down to the river Jordan to bathe in the holy water and relieve his sins, John knew of the importance of Jesus and baptised him in the waterAnswer:John recognized Jesus as the one who did not need to repent and be baptised. Rather, John said he needed to be baptised by Jesus (Jesus was sinless). But Jesus insisted that John should baptise Him in order to fulfill all righteousness.


Who baptised Jesus and where was h baptised?

Some of Jesus' disciples were baptised by John Baptist in the river Jordan, and the others were baptised by the earlier disciples, probably also in the Jordan river.


Why Jesus was baptised?

So that he would be filled with the spirit before his work.


Who Baptist Jesus and where?

John the baptist Baptised him in a special lake ,but heres an interesting fact, Jesus was only baptised so he could relate to us ,he wasnt baptised because of sins because he had no sins!I'm assuming you meant, "Where was Jesus baptised?" He was baptised by his earthly cousin John the Baptist in the Jordan River.


Can you get baptised at an old age?

yes,because Jesus is baptised in old age


Jesus was baptised by John the?

Baptist.


Was Jesus a baby when he was baptised?

No, he was a man.


Is John who baptised Jesus is one of the twelve disciples of Jesus?

No


Was John Baptized by Jesus?

Not really, Im a Protestant. The thing is that we dont baptise infants full stop. This is because infants dont know what theyre doing so youre just getting them wet. Jesus got baptised when he was a grown man so we baptise people when theyre already old enough to know what theyre doing, im 17 and just got baptised. And yes we baptise in water.


Who did Jesus baptised?

the Bible has no record of Jesus baptising anyone, but it is possible that He did.