Gospel

Why Was Jesus Baptized?

by Roland Crim
12/12/17
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Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. Matthew 3:13-15 NIV

Why did Jesus insist that He be baptized by John? Christ certainly did not need to be baptized. He had never sinned. So, why then did He insist on the baptism?

Christ tells us that it had to happen in order to fulfill all righteousness. So, what does that mean?

Christ was leading a new group of people, those who were not ethnically Jewish, into righteousness. The righteousness was through Him. Thus, it was fitting that Jesus should participate in a baptism, even though it was not required. Those who sought the righteousness which Christ provided would confess their sins and then be baptized by John. They would be following after what the Savior had done. Jesus led by example. What He asks of us, He first did.

Christ did much that He did not have to do. He washed the feet of the disciples, when it would have seemed more proper for the disciples to wash His feet. Christ was the servant of all rather than being served by all. What man finds proper, is not deemed so by God. Christ came to serve and not to be served.

Have you been led into righteousness through Christ? In Him you are a new-born creation!