WHY WAS JESUS BAPTIZED IF HE HAD NO SIN?

WHY WAS JESUS BAPTIZED IF HE HAD NO SIN? John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. People came confessing their sins. Jesus had none, which is why John objected. “I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” Matthew 3:14 KJV Jesus answered him directly. “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.” Matthew 3:15 KJV Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He was obeying the Father, not repenting of sin. His righteousness was already perfect. His baptism also served a specific purpose in John’s ministry. John tells us exactly what that purpose was. “That he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.” John 1:31 KJV God had told John how to recognize the Messiah. The Spirit would descend upon Him and remain. When that happened, John could identify Him by the sign God had given. “And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.” John 1:34 KJV This was the public identification of the Messiah at the beginning of His ministry. John had been preparing Israel for His arrival. Now he could point to Jesus. Notice who is present at the baptism. Jesus is in the water, the Holy Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father speaks from heaven. “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 KJV The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are present together. The Father identifies Jesus as His beloved Son. Jesus did not become the Son of God through baptism. The sinless Christ entered the same water where sinners were confessing their guilt. He had come to redeem them, and that work would take Him to the cross. Jesus was baptized because He came to fulfill the Father’s will. Scripture gives us the reason in His own words. “To fulfil all righteousness.” #MoreJoyMinistries