Our Lord Jesus Christ began his public ministry when he was 30 years old, by receiving Baptism from John the Baptist. Each of the four Gospel writers take note of this event and at least mention in in their respective books. However for most people it is somewhat of a mystery as to why Jesus asked John to Baptize him.
There are primarily two schools of though on Baptism. There are those who believe the Biblical view, that baptism is for the forgiveness of sin. There are also those who believe it is nothing but symbolic of the change in their life. The goal of this essay is not to defend the Biblical teaching of Baptism, however it is enough to note that neither of these views explain why Jesus was Baptized. He had no sin that would be washed away. There was no change in his life that would be symbolized. Jesus was sinless for his entire life, and most definitely a believe in God for his entire life.
In Matthew 3:15, Jesus gives a very brief statement regarding the purpose of his Baptism. John had just protested saying that he was the one who needed to be baptized by Jesus. Jesus simply tells him to “Permit it now; for thus it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Again, this is not a very clear statement. Jesus simply states that it is proper to do so. that it will fulfill all righteousness. Jesus himself was already righteousness, John was the administrator of the baptism and certainly did not receive righteousness by doing so. Something however did happen here.
This is the first time that Jesus made a strong association between himself and sinners. By submitting to a Baptism that he did not need, he was in effect publicly making himself to be viewed as one of us, as one who is under the law. Even now, whenever someone is baptized, they are joined in the Body of Christ with all others who have received this blessed sacrament. By receiving John’s Baptism, Jesus connected himself to all the sinners who had received John’s Baptism. In this act, he expressed his willingness to take the sins of the world upon himself. He is assuming his redemptive office, as our perfect high Priest.
The other two persons of the Trinity immediatly express their approval of Jesus taking on the office. The Spirite decends upon him as a dove and the Father Speaks to all present that he is pleased. John understands this and refers to Jesus as “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
This is the beginning of Jesus public ministry, and what a fitting beginning it is. The very Son of God humbles himself and shows us his willingness to take our sins upon himself.
SOLI DEO GLORIA
