One of Jesus’ first public recorded acts, that began his ministry, was his baptism by John. Some may think it strange that the Son of God would want to be baptized. Many may ask why the Savior would do this. Did Jesus need forgiveness of Sin?
Jesus was not baptized for the forgiveness of sin, because we know that he had no sin. (Heb. 4:14-15 KJV) “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. So, why would the Savior be baptized? Look at Jesus words to John when John forbade him to be baptized. Christ said, “Permit it now, for it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Christ being God’s son had to be baptized in order to obey God’s command. Christ could not refuse to obey a command of God and fulfill all righteousness; therefore, it was necessary that he do this to obey, because that was God’s command to all mankind and for Jesus not to have obeyed this command would have been wrong.
The idea of the Christ seeking baptism that he might fulfill all righteousness should stress to us the importance of following all of God’s wishes for us. We should see from Jesus example that God desires that all his commands be done. Christ at one time reprimanded the Pharisees with the following words, (Luke 11:42 KJV) “But woe unto you, Pharisees! For ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Christ criticized the Pharisees because they had only done that part of the law which they wanted and not the whole. We need to make sure that we seek to know what God’s will is for us and then do it all. If Christ would submit to baptism, to fulfill all righteousness, then we must understand that God desires and demands that we seek to keep all of His will and word.
Following Christ baptism, we see all three members of the God head present. The Spirit came down on him like a dove, and the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” We see that both the Father and the Spirit acknowledge Christ. In just these few verses in Matthew we see three witnesses to Christ’s divinity - John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit, and the Father. What a tremendous sight that must have been to behold.
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