Baptism

A Note About Baptism…

“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,” (Matthew 3:1). John the Baptist was the forerunner of the Messiah as foretold in prophecy, (Isaiah). He was a “wild man” who wore a camel’s hair garment with a leather belt. He ate locus, wild honey, and lived in the desert. He was called John the Baptist because “his practice was to baptize those who responded to the message he proclaimed and sincerely repented of their sins,” (Easton). The Gospel account of Matthew goes on to record, “then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins,” (Matthew 3:5-6).

Yet, in verse 13 of the same account, we find Jesus coming to John to be baptized. “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him,” (Matthew 3:13). Yet, John’s baptism was the baptism of repentance, but Jesus was sinless and had no need of repentance. Even John seemed taken aback at Jesus’ coming to him. So why was Jesus baptized? Scripture gives us the answer in Matthew 3:15 in Christ’s own words as John himself protested Jesus’ request. But Jesus answered him “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. (ESV). One scholar writes, “There was no particular precept in the Old Testament requiring this, but he chose to give the sanction of his example to the baptism of John, as to a divine ordinance,” (Barnes).

Simply, it seems Jesus chose to be baptized as not only a confirmation of John’s ministry, but also as an example for us to follow. John Gill writes, “as it became Christ to fulfil all righteousness, moral and ceremonial, and baptism being a part of his Father’s will, which he came to do, it became him to fulfil this also. And since it became Christ, it cannot be unbecoming of us to submit to this ordinance; and since he looked upon it as a part of righteousness to be fulfilled by him, it ought to be attended to by all those who would be accounted followers of him.” May we all follow Him in His example to us!