Why was Jesus baptized?

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Why was Jesus baptized? We're going to answer that question. At first glance, it seems that Jesus' baptism has no purpose at all.

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John's baptism was the baptism of repentance, but Jesus was sinless. Even John was taken aback at Jesus coming to him.

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John was aware that he, a sinful man, was unfit to baptize the spotless

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Lamb of God. I need to be baptized by you, and you are coming to me? Jesus replied that it should be done because it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.

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Jesus was about to embark on his great work, and it was appropriate that he be recognized publicly by his forerunner.

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John was the voice crying in the wilderness, prophesied by Isaiah, calling people to repentance in preparation for their

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Messiah. By baptizing him, John was declaring to all that here was the one they had been waiting for, the

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Son of God, the one he had predicted would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

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Jesus' baptism by John takes on an added dimension when we consider that John was of the tribe of Levi and a direct descendant of Aaron.

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Luke specifies that both of John's parents were of the Aaronic priestly line.

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One of the duties of the priests in the Old Testament was to present the sacrifices before the

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Lord. John the Baptist's baptism of Jesus could be seen as a priestly presentation of the ultimate sacrifice.

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Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus' baptism also showed that he identified with sinners.

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This symbolized the sinner's baptism into the righteousness of Christ, dying with him and rising free from sin, and able to walk in the newness of life.

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His perfect righteousness would fulfill all the requirements of the law for sinners.

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When John hesitated to baptize the sinless Son of God, Jesus replied that it was proper to fulfill all righteousness.

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By this, he alluded to the righteousness that he provides to all who repent.

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In addition, Jesus coming to John showed his approval of John's baptism, bearing witness to it that it was from heaven and approved by God.

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Perhaps most importantly, this baptism recorded the perfect embodiment of the

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Trinity. The Father's pleasure with the Son and the descending of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus is a beautiful picture of the

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Trinitarian nature of God. The Father loves the elect from before the foundation of the world.

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He sends his Son to seek and save the lost, and the Spirit convicts of sin and draws the believer to the

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Father through the Son. All the glorious truth of the mercy of God through Jesus Christ is on display at his baptism.

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That answers the question, why was Jesus baptized? Research this question further on our website,

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